Empowering the Elderly Through “Laughter Therapy” to Improve the Quality of Life of the Elderly in the Limo Sub-district Work Area

FIKES UPNVJ - The presence of chronic diseases in the elderly has a significant impact on various aspects of their lives, especially on the decline in quality of life. Chronic diseases accompanied by comorbid diseases dramatically disrupt the quality of life, so adjustments for the elderly are very necessary. One of the solutions carried out together with partners to improve the quality of life of the elderly with chronic diseases is through empowering the elderly with "Laughter Therapy."

On August 15, 2024, the Community Service Team of the Faculty of Health Sciences (FIKES) UPN "Veteran" Jakarta consisting of lecturers and students, chaired by Ns. Duma Lumban Tobing, M.Kep., Sp.Kep.J, together with Ns. Chandra Tri Wahyudi, M.Kes., M.Kep., and Ns. Sang Ayu Made Adyani, M.Kep., Sp.Kep.Kom, as well as five nursing students from the Nursing Profession program, two undergraduate nursing students, and two diploma nursing students, carried out a series of community service activities themed "Empowering the Elderly through Laughter Therapy to Improve the Quality of Life of the Elderly" at the Dahlia Senja Posbindu, Limo Village, Limo District, Depok City. This activity aims to improve the knowledge and ability of the elderly in recognizing and early detecting problems that can affect their quality of life and providing alternative solutions through laughter therapy.

The event started at 07.00, starting with a free health check for the elderly, including checking blood pressure, blood sugar, and uric acid. After the health check, the elderly were directed to fill out a pre-test with the help of the students.

This activity was attended by the Head of the Limo Village PKK Team, Mrs. Lia Kamelia, SPd. She conveyed the importance of strengthening family resilience through stress management by conducting laughter therapy with the family at home.

The Head of the Dahlia Senja Elderly Community Posbindu, Mrs. Hj Ratna Hapsari, said that although simple, laughter has many benefits and is easy to understand and do. She also invited the elderly to practice laughter therapy with their families.

The series of events continued with a presentation of material by Ns. Chandra Tri Wahyudi, M.Kes., M.Kep., who explained about chronic diseases in the elderly, the definition of quality of life, and the characteristics of the elderly with good quality of life.

Next, Ns. Duma Lumban Tobing, M.Kep., Sp.Kep.J, gave a presentation on laughter therapy, including the definition of laughter therapy, its benefits, types of laughter therapy, and the steps to implement it.

After the presentation of the material, it was continued with a demonstration and redemonstration of laughter therapy. The elderly were trained to do 6 types of laughter therapy including enthusiastic laughter, appreciation laughter, milkshake laughter, silent laughter without sound, lion laughter and laughter from the heart to heart with gradual smiles.

Before ending this community service event, the elderly were asked to fill out a Post-test assisted by students.

This activity was closed with a closing statement from the head of the community service team, Ns. Duma Lumban Tobing, S.Kep. M.Kep. Sp. Kep. J who provided positive reinforcement and introduced the jargon "Happy Elderly with Laughter Therapy HA...HA...HA..." which means that laughter therapy can make the elderly happy.