Doll Therapy for Oxley Home Care's Dementia Clients

One of Oxley Home Care’s dementia clients Betty, lives in with her daughter Jane and was withdrawn and would hardly talk before she formed a bond with her doll David. The Care Manager discussed the doll therapy with Jane and they decided to see what would happen.

Betty took to the doll immediately. “When she is with David, she will talk about her son David, whereas at other times she won’t speak or may not remember any of our names or who we are,” said Jane. Betty would get agitated and distressed and this upset the rest of the family but when the doll was brought to her she always calmed down.

“One time when we had some family friend over Betty began to pace and wouldn’t sit still, so we brought the doll over in a toy stroller, as soon as it was there she was calm the whole way through, every now and again reaching down to pat it on the head.”

Another Oxley Home Care’s client also lives with her daughter Mary. “My mother has Parkinson/Dementia and when she moved into our family home, she picked up my daughter’s baby doll. She took to a doll like you would not believe. She cuddles with it, sings to it, and dresses it. She had 6 children and 14 grandchildren and caring for children was a majority of her life."

"When I first saw her with these dolls I was shocked. But the Care Manager from Oxley Home Care told me that it was normal for someone with Dementia. It took a while for me to get used to it, but in time I saw how it made her feel happy and she felt that she has a purpose and something to care for again. I would recommend this type of therapy to anyone who has dementia as I can see firsthand how this calms them and comforts them”

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