ABSTRACT
Depression is one of the most common mental health issues among the elderly. Depression is characterized by persistent sadness, feelings of guilt, lack of confidence, and loss of interest. Stress in the face of changes in decreased ability or physical strength, as well as deterioration in health and physical illness, social position, finances, and income, causes depression in the elderly. Treatment and therapy efforts to improve the elderly's condition are required. Laughter therapy is a non-pharmacological therapy that can help the elderly reduce their levels of depression. Laughter makes people feel relieved, light, and happy. The goal is to determine the best method or steps for laughter therapy for the elderly in order to reduce depression. Methods: The study was conducted using the keywords “Laugh Therapy” AND “Depression” AND “Elderly,” search articles in databases such as Google Scholar and Pubmed. From the 873 search results obtained, screening was performed, and six journals that matched the PICOT inclusion criteria, problems, and research objectives were obtained. According to six peer-reviewed journals, the majority of laugh therapy methods for the elderly employ laugh simulation and humor. Conclusion: Laughter therapy is an effective method for treating depression in the elderly. As a result, laughter therapy has the potential to be used as an intervention in nursing practice, particularly in nursing homes.
