Can Baby Dolls Calm Dementia Patients?

“To see the light in her eyes when she has a baby in her arms, I don’t care if it’s real or if it’s pretending,” said Ellen Swarts. “If that gives her comfort, I am A-OK with it.”Many caregivers resist the idea of using baby dolls as a therapy for Alzheimer's patients because they don't want to treat a person living with dementia like a child.This is not the case. Many of our experts including Rachael Wonderlin and Nancy Wurtzel havewritten about the wonderful calming effect baby dolls can have on patients in memory care facilities.The Importance of Socialization in Dementia CareBaby dollscalm patients, help raise thereself esteem, can help them tocommunicate with others, and often helpsolve problems with patients who are"antsy" or prone topacing and wandering.I highly recommend that you read the story below; and then, decide if your loved onemight benefit from a baby doll.Subscribe to the Alzheimer's Reading RoomEmail:By Anna GormanKaiser Health NewsSitting beside a neatly made crib, 88-year-old Vivian Guzofsky held up a baby doll dressed in puppy dog pajamas.“Hello gorgeous,” she said, laughing. “You’re so cute.”Guzofsky, who hasAlzheimer ’s disease, lives on a secure memory floor of a home for seniors.Learn More -Memory CareNearly every day,she visits the dolls in the home ’s pretend nursery. Sometimes shechanges their clothes or lays them down for a nap. One morning in August, she sang to them:You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. Yo...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - Category: Neurology Tags: alzheimer's awareness alzheimer's baby dolls alzheimer's care dementia care dementia help for caregivers elderly dementia care help alzheimer's help with dementia care memory care Source Type: blogs