Using doll therapy to enhance the well-being of a person with dementia

The use of dolls to ease anxiety has become more popular in care facilities throughout the UK, especially for those caring for people in the mid to later stage of dementia.

Therapy dolls are designed to bring comfort and enjoyment when introduced in the right way and given to the right person. They also provide a number of positive outcomes such as improved communication, a renewed sense of purpose and reduced stress levels.

However, as with everything in life, you will find that what works for some may not work for others and should always be the choice of the recipient to participate.

Introducing Doll Therapy into a care setting must be done with great care so, we have pulled together some points to help.

• A clear understanding of how doll therapy works is essential.
• Do not use a doll that cries this could cause distress.
• Do not hand the doll straight to the person. Leave it where they can see it and if they want to pick it up they can.
• Dolls should be for single use only and not shared.
• Be careful that the person does become over-attached, prioritising the doll over their own needs.

Doll therapy needs to be met with sensitivity. We would recommend reading Doll Therapy in Dementia Care for more information.

Find have worked hard to research and produce a doll that is dementia-friendly. To find out more click here