Facility: Hôpital de Réhabilitation Villa Medica 225 Sherbrooke Street East Montreal, Quebec H2X 1C9 www.villamedica.ca 152 beds (30 for convalescent care, 122 for rehabilitation)

Liaison: Hazel Lefebvre Director, Rehabilitation Program (514) 288-8201, extension 4281 hazel.lefebvre.vmed@ssss.gouv.qc.ca

The program

Villa Medica is a rehabilitation facility for adults.  Our program there started in January 2003.  It was agreed that our pilot project would focus primarily on amputees. Usually between the ages of 45 and 80. these patients have undergone amputations as a result of their diabetes. Amputees often feel depressed when faced with the significant change in lifestyle brought about by their amputation. Clowns help to reach out to them by being out of place themselves in the hospital, through their clumsiness and incapacities.  They go from room to room, encouraging patients to accept their amputation, to become comfortable with their prostheses, and to interact with others.  Sometimes the clowns are asked to accompany patients during physiotherapy or occupational therapy, to encourage them to try harder.  Our clowns also visit patients in the orthopedic surgery and burn units, and sometimes those suffering from aphasia.

Some results

	We have achieved our goals in regard to hygiene and respecting patients and staff: our clowns do not interfere with the usual operations of the department.
	Our presence is perceived to reduce stress (83%) and entertain patients (66%).
	According to staff, the clowns’ visits affect socialization and communication (83%), and improve patients’ spirits (49%).

What they have to say

“I didn’t notice anything negative about the clowns.  There is one man who can’t wait for them to come!  The staff laugh with them, make jokes, for some of them, it even cheers them up!”  (A nurse)

“With time, we get to know them!  We talk about things, they respect me, I respect them.  We get along well.  Their presence is amusing, it puts people in a good mood!  It’s relaxing.  It doesn’t tire me out; on the contrary, it energizes me!”  (A patient, after ten weeks of clown visits)

“We think less about our aches and pains, and it helps to pass the time.  We can have pretty black thoughts, lying in a hospital bed.  For example, I have a pacemaker and a concussion, but we still want to live!  Those clowns are pretty good!  I think they help, they entertain us!”

“I took the time to look after those poor guys . . . It’s my good deed for the day!”  (A patient, after the clowns’ visit)

“I saw the clowns about four times.  They help with my physiotherapy exercises.  For walking and knee-bending, especially, the clowns’ presence helps patients try harder.  People are usually very receptive, the clowns have a good rapport with the patients, there is a lot of fun.”  (A physiotherapist)

“A woman was complaining of pain in her phantom limb.  She explained to us how she could still feel her foot, even though it wasn’t physically there any more.  Dr Fifi suggested kissing it better and gave her phantom foot a kiss.  Frogge patted it.  The woman laughed and told us that there weren’t many doctors who kissed patients better.  And especially not their phantom feet!  She reacted really well.”  (A Dr Clown artist)

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