Senior Living Program
"I have seen this group bring out a light in people who are typically quiet and do not speak...I never want to see a time when the Good Medicine Specialists are not at our facility.” – Activities Director, Heartland of Westerville Senior Living
The Good Medicine Specialists
Good Medicine Specialists are professional performers in comedy and improvisation. This is not a hobby, but a job they take seriously. Performers undergo extensive and ongoing training in artistry, infection control, hospital protocols and in special issues related to interacting with elderly and issues related to dementia care. Good Medicine Specialists are experts at reading a room and bringing their fun characters into situations in organic ways.
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Our History
Since the fall of 2017, the Good Medicine Specialists' whimsical and nuanced comedic performers work in pairs to provide one-on-one engagements to residents at senior facilities in central Ohio. The goal is to empower residents using physical comedy, humor, music, and more to reduce anxiety, sadness and isolation in the medical environment.
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The work is steeped in research in the concept of therapeutic and elder clowning. A pilot study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society reported that visits from therapeutic clown performers like the Good Medicine Specialists reduced moderate to severe behavioral symptoms of dementia and were as effective as medication in reducing aggression in those patients.
"Cannot tell you enough, how much we all love and adore you here. The smiles that you bring to our residents lasts for days and we laugh about your visits clear up until the next time you come. Our love affair can and will continue!" - Activities Director, The Gables of Westerville
Circle of Care Partnerships
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GOOD MEDICINE'S CIRCLE OF CARE PROGRAM
brings joy, laughter, and connection to older adults through room-to-room visits led by professional vaudevillian-style performers. With a deep focus on memory care and assisted living residents, each 90-minute to 2-hour visit features personalized moments of physical comedy, improvisation, resident interaction, music, and play. We visit twice a month, ensuring the program becomes a familiar and meaningful part of each community’s rhythm of care--something residents can look forward to and count on. Our Specialists are not just entertainers; they are compassionate souls undergoing extensive and continuous training. Specializing in issues related to interacting with the elderly and dementia care, they bring a depth of understanding that goes beyond the stage. Join us on this transformative journey, where laughter becomes a catalyst for healing, and our performers are the architects of joy. In the circle of care, we don't just visit – we create moments that resonate, fostering a tapestry of love and laughter. Below is a short video clip of Good Medicine’s founder doing this work in Chicago--it’s a great example of what we do. |
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“Good Medicine! They fill my heart with joy!...They lift all of our spirits up in this time when we need it the most." - Resident, Village At Westerville
Interested in this program for your facility?
Programs are partially subsidized by grants & contributions to allow greater access to facilities who need this most! For pricing, information and how to get started contact Program Director Kristie Koehler Vuocolo at [email protected].
Senior Living Virtual Visits
"During a time of uncertainty and isolation, Good Medicine has provided crucial outside interaction where patients don’t have to think about their medicine, their pain, or other needs, but instead laugh until their bellies hurt."- Activities Director, Heartland of Dublin
Brought to you by
Good Medicine is made possible in part by state tax dollars allocated by the Ohio Legislature to the Ohio Arts Council (OAC). The OAC is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically.
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