EDUCATION TO OVERCOME ELDERLY ANXIETY WITH LAUGHTER THERAPY IN THE WORK AREA OF LINGKAR JATI PLAJU PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER, PALEMBANG CITY - Akhriansyah, Mareta; Surahmat, Raden; Agustina, Nuriza; Amalia, Amalia (Stikes Syedza Saintika Padang, 2024)
ABSTRAK Lansia seringkali dihadapkan dengan berbagai permasalahan psikologis seperti ansietas yang dapat mempengaruhi hubungan interpersonal, konsep diri, fungsi kognitif, status fisiologi dan aspek kehidupan sehingga perlu perhatian agar kondisi tersebut tidak memberikan dampak negatif pada kondisi kesehatan lansia. Terapi tertawa merupakan salah satu intervensi nonfarmakologis untuk mengurangi kecemasan dan stres. Kegiatan Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat ini dilakukan bertujuan untuk memberikan alternatif solusi melalui kegiatan penyuluhan kesehatan dan demonstrasi untuk meningkatkan pengetahuan lansia tentang pencegahan dan mengatasi ansietas dengan peragaan terapi tertawa yang dilakukan pada 30 orang lansia di wilayah kerja Puskesmas Lingkar Jati Plaju Kota Palembang. Dari hasil pre test didapatkan jumlah nilai 124 dengan rata-rata nilai 4,13 setelah dilakukan pelatihan kemudian dilakukan post test didapatkan hasil jumlah nilai 251 dengan rata-rata 8,36, hal ini menunjukaan peningkatan pemahaman lansia. Selain itu hasil wawancara diketahui bahwa lansia yang menjalankan terapi tertawa merasakan ketenangan, sehingga kecemasan yang dirasakan berangsur berkurang. Dengan melakukan terapi tertawa, oksigen didalam otak menjadi seimbang yang membuat seseorang merasakan perasaan tenang, bahagia dan rileks. Terapi tertawa tidak hanya dapat mengatasi ansietas, namun dapat pula menurunkan tingkat depresi, tekanan darah sehingga diharapkan agar terapi tertawa dapat dijadikan salah satu solusi untuk mengurangi kecemasan pada lansia guna mengingkatkan kualitas hidup lansia kearah yang lebih baik. Kata Kunci: Ansietas, Lansia, Terapi Tertawa ABSTRACTElderly people are often faced with various psychological problems such as anxiety that can affect interpersonal relationships, self-concept, cognitive function, physiological status and aspects of life so that attention is needed so that these conditions do not have a negative impact on the health condition of the elderly. Laughter therapy is one of the non-pharmacological interventions to reduce anxiety and stress. This Community Service Activity was carried out with the aim of providing alternative solutions through health education activities and demonstrations to increase the knowledge of the elderly about preventing and overcoming anxiety with a demonstration of laughter therapy carried out on 30 elderly people in the work area of the Lingkar Jati Plaju Health Center, Palembang City. From the pre-test results, the total score was 124 with an average score of 4.13 after the training was carried out, then the post-test was carried out, the total score was 251 with an average of 8.36, this shows an increase in the understanding of the elderly. In addition, the results of the interview showed that the elderly who underwent laughter therapy felt calm, so that the anxiety felt gradually decreased. By doing laughter therapy, oxygen in the brain becomes balanced which makes a person feel calm, happy and relaxed. Laughter therapy can not only overcome anxiety, but can also reduce depression levels, blood pressure so that it is hoped that laughter therapy can be used as one solution to reduce anxiety in the elderly in order to improve the quality of life of the elderly towards a better direction.Keywords: Anxiety, Elderly, Laughter Therapy