The Latvian Doctor Clown Association (Dr. Klauns) has launched a new initiative at Vidzeme Hospital in northern Latvia, expanding its work to provide regular emotional support for older patients. Alongside their long-established presence in the Children’s Department, specially trained doctor clowns will now also visit the Rehabilitation and Chronic Patient Care Department, as well as other areas across the hospital, including the corridors, outpatient clinic, admissions department and rehabilitation centre.
The Doctor Clown programme has been successfully operating at Vidzeme Hospital since 2014, bringing joy to young patients and helping to support their recovery. This latest initiative extends that care to older adults. To prepare for the expansion, members of the organisation completed specialist training tailored specifically to working with older people. The programme covered psychology, gerontology and communication techniques for supporting patients living with dementia, memory impairment and the effects of prolonged isolation.
Thanks to this specialist preparation, the doctor clowns will visit older patients not only with warmth and compassion, but also with a professional understanding of their specific physical and emotional needs. Their visits are designed to reduce loneliness, ease the anxiety that often accompanies hospital stays, and bring moments of joy, comfort and human connection to the recovery process.
A modern healthcare institution cannot rely solely on medication and technology. Successful recovery requires a holistic approach that brings together a wide range of methods to support a patient’s physical, emotional and psychological well-being. Older people are among those who often require the greatest support during a stay in hospital. Medical treatment becomes more challenging when patients feel lonely or isolated, so introducing doctor clowns into adult wards is a valuable addition to our hospital culture. They provide emotional balance and support that helps people recover as whole individuals.
Uģis Muskovs, Chairman of the Board of Vidzeme Hospital
SOURCE
Agnija Upīte
Public Relations and Marketing Specialist, Vidzeme Hospital Ltd.
