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By placing a reborn doll in the arms of an Alzheimer’s patient can calm him down to the point of being able to communicate and receive instructions. It’s a really positive niche for the reborn artist.
At Ashcroft Care Home based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK, they reported this reborn Doll therapy has reduced the number of patients using psychiatric drugs from 92% in early 2008 to 28%.
Reborn dolls in particular seem to have the best effect with these patients, as they are much more lifelike than traditional dolls. The dementia area is a large market that is reasonably untapped reborn doll artists. In my research, I visited a website that showed the most poignant photographs of Alzheimer’s patients holding their dolls. They seemed happy and calm.
Many dementia patients suffer from agitation and distress, doll therapy can alleviate this. Patients with dementia can be withdrawn and communication between patients and carers can be difficult. reborn dolls have proven to be of great help in these areas. The British Psychological Society Conference presented this research in reborn doll therapy.
The doll therapy reborn seems to work very well with female patients as it takes them back to a time when they were housewives and highly productive. Due to the effects of dementia many of these patients still believe they are young, so when they adopt a reborn doll, brings back happy memories of parenting. Having a doll can awaken positive memories of being useful and needed; to be loved and to love.
Doll therapy is best introduced in the early and middle stages of Alzheimer’s. In the early stages the patient can get acquainted with the reborn the doll is not real but she will appreciate the pleasures of naming her and constantly changing her clothes. Women in the intermediate stages of the disease are likely to communicate with the doll; The Alzheimer’s patient can communicate with the doll by singing, talking and cuddling. They begin to get very attached to their doll and keep it with them for many hours of the day.
Introducing a doll in the later stages of Alzheimer’s isn’t as effective as it is in the early stages. Introducing a doll in the early stages will allow the owner to get used to it and as the disease progresses the bond is established and the patient will be able to gain comfort from the doll in the later stages as well.
Dolls rebornhowever, they are not a cure and the sufferer will not suddenly turn into themselves again due to a reborn doll but it is the comfort that the patient feels the real advantage of reborn doll therapy.
“I’ve worked with people with Alzheimer’s for 12 years and if you’ve ever seen one of my residents sing, coo, interact with the realistic doll, you would know it works. Many of our women were housewives and their number one priority was family. It was a time in their life when they were useful and had a purpose reborn the doll can take a patient back to a time in their life when they felt safe and in control. We must join them on their journey, not ours! “(A quote from a discussion forum for Alzheimer’s patients).
If you are touched by the story above and feel this could be your niche to create reborn dolls, we recommend that you visit local nursing homes first to get a better idea of what is needed. Nursing homes don’t always have the finances to buy at full price reborn dolls, so it may be necessary to get in touch with family members of patients. The positive effects of dolls must be demonstrated to the nursing home for them to support doll therapy.
Bring some evidence home about the positive effects of reborn dolls about Alzheimer’s and Dementia patients.
This is a very rewarding market to be in. Helping seniors live out their years feeling more comfortable and in control is a great gift than yours reborn dolls can give to society.
We wish you the best of luck. Fran and Nicola
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