Baby dolls - Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia Message Board

cottonconley · 09-12-2006, 01:30 PM

Have any of you had experience with providing life-like baby dolls to your loved one (or patients) with Alzheimer's, and if so, have any of them been men? What has your experience been?

Martha H · 09-12-2006, 01:37 PM

One of my uncles had Alzheimer's. They lived far from me, but we got a picture of him once, sitting on a couch holding a large teddy bear. Behind him on the back of the couch were several more stuffed animals. He was about 88 and died soon afterwards.

The thing is, as the disease progresses, the victims become more and more childlike. If they enjoyed dolls and teddy bears as kids, they will also enjoy them as advanced AD patients.

It is a harmless thing, and if it makes them feel happy, go for it!

love,

Martha

Choquis · 09-12-2006, 03:14 PM

My mother enjoyed holding a stuffed animal. We had another friend (with AD) that carried a life like doll around all the time and treated it like a baby. That was one of our clues that there was something wrong. If it comforts them...male or female....so what! It's probably more common in females, but if a male is comforted by a stuffed animal or doll....give them one. At that stage it is about making them comfortable, not about how it looks to others.
God Bless and Prayers,
Choquis

LuvMyLilDoggie · 09-12-2006, 04:18 PM

My dad doesn't have dolls or stuffed animals but he has a real toy poodle that he carries around with him almost everywhere he goes and does NOT like being without that dog. He treats the dog just like a stuffed animal. It has to sleep with him and be with him all the time except for when he goes to the bathroom.

I think whether it be a man or woman, stuffed animals or dolls are fine as long as it makes the patient happy and content. That's one of the biggest goals and too often, it's one goal that seems impossible to achieve. So whatever works......

Love, Barb

angel_bear · 09-12-2006, 05:12 PM

Doll Therapy, if used properly, can be exceptionally effective ... my ex-charge enjoyed carrying around a little stuffed dog, yet I know of another lady who has a proper (expensive) therapy doll ... and yes, there are a couple of gentlemen who enjoy cuddling a doll or even taking 'baby' outside in a stroller for a turn around the garden.

Doll therapy can be a great distraction if an unwanted behaviour is happening or about to happen, and it can also sooth if the person involved is upset.

It can also backfire big time (I've raised enough kids, why you giving this to me? Take it away ......... !) which doesn't mean it won't always work, just not that time.

Give it a go.