Tears of Laughter

Project helps families find solace during dementia journey

An Edinburgh Napier degree show project is helping families find solace during a dementia diagnosis – by bringing laughter to the fore.

Tears of Laughter, by fourth year graphic design student Claire Todd, encourages families to journal the lighter, funnier moments they experience with someone affected by dementia as an alternative coping method for the condition.

Alongside the journal, Claire has also designed a series of stickers and shapes that can be used to illustrate the book with memories. Storytelling dice also act as a prompt for those wishing to use the resource.

The eye-catching journal – which is currently on display as part of Edinburgh Napier’s 2023 Degree Show at its Merchiston campus – is bright, tactile, and full of fun and has been developed with the support of several families who currently have a loved one affected by dementia.

Claire was inspired by her own experiences with dementia after her gran, Gladys’ own journey with the condition sadly came to an end in 2021.

Although she didn’t journal at the time, the 21-year-old and her family from Fauldhouse, West Lothian would regularly reminisce about some of the funnier things her Gran had said during their many visits to see her.

And it was from here, and a desire to document many of these memories, that the idea for Tears of Laughter was born.

Claire said: “The idea for Tears of Laughter really stemmed from my own experience of watching my gran suffer from dementia. It was a really tough time for the family, but the funny things she’d say and do would make us laugh and lighten the situation by a fraction for a moment.

“It was those moments that helped us cope and provided us with lighter memories during a tough time. The funny things she said made care home visits bearable and it strengthened the bond with my gran at a time when it was difficult to bond.

“Tears of Laughter is a resource that allows adults and grandchildren affected by dementia to document the funny and lighter memories during their loved one’s dementia journey. Ultimately it creates a personal journal of nicer memories to look back on during a tough time. The journal is somewhere to escape the darkness of dementia for a moment and is a space to reflect on those nicer memories.

“As a family, I feel we had to use humour to cope. It was the only way of finding some light during that time. Dementia is a really upsetting disease to watch someone you love suffer from, so using humour would sometimes reduce its full impact.

“I really hope the idea behind this journal can help families find just a little bit of happiness during this tough time. I love how my knowledge in graphic design through my studies has given me the toolkit to design material to potentially help those who are struggling.”

Claire’s project, along with many others, is currently on display at Edinburgh Napier’s 2023 Degree Show as its Merchiston campus. The show, which is an annual celebration of talent from its School of Arts and Creative Industries, until 8pm on 1 June.

More information on the show can be found at www.napier.ac.uk/degreeshow.