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Doll therapy for those living with dementia

Doll therapy is a type of therapy for people with dementia which involves using lifelike dolls or soft toy animals. On this page, you will find out more about the benefits of doll therapy, when it should be considered and challenges that may be faced.

What is doll therapy?

Doll therapy is when a person with dementia is given a doll or soft toy to engage with to help relax and calm them, providing great support.

How a doll can be beneficial for people living with dementia

They can promote feelings of relaxation and pleasure and are used as a form of therapy rather than simply ‘playing’ with a toy.

Comfort

Holding or just being with a doll or soft toy animal, such as a cat or dog, can be particularly helpful for people who are withdrawn, restless, distressed or anxious, improving their wellbeing and ability to communicate. The sensation of holding a doll or toy animal can be soothing.

Connection

If the person is interested in a doll or soft toy, use it as a way to connect with them. You could ask them questions about the doll or animal, referring to it as he, she, or they.

Sense of purpose

The act of ‘caring’ for the doll or soft toy can help give a renewed sense of purpose. The feeling can help them connect to the outside and have a knock-on effect on their energy, activity levels and mood.

Communication

If the person with dementia has difficulties communicating, you could make observations about the doll or toy animal instead. For a doll, for example, you could say: “Doesn’t she have a nice face?” or “What a pretty dress.” For an animal, you could say: “What lovely fur”, or “It looks like (name of a pet from the past)”.

When to consider doll therapy

There is evidence showing that the use of dolls or soft toy animals can be particularly helpful for those who may not be engaging with others or who are restless, distressed or anxious, improving their well-being and ability to communicate.

Doll therapy for young onset dementia

If there are younger people in the family, such as grandchildren or, in the case of young onset dementia (where symptoms develop before the age of 65), the person’s own children, playing with or talking about the toy together could help them interact and foster feelings of closeness.

If it doesn’t go as planned

If the person shows no interest, don’t try to press it on them. Some people with dementia simply aren’t interested in dolls and soft toys, but you can always try again another day.

Challenges of doll therapy

Self-care

Someone with dementia may neglect themselves and their own needs in favour of taking care of their doll or soft toy. They may show this by trying to feed their own food to the doll, or putting it to bed in their own bed, while they sleep in a chair. A way to avoid this is by keeping the toy out of their sight during meals or making it something they use during the day.

Attachment in a group setting

The person with dementia may become very attached to their doll or toy animal and be upset if someone else picks it up. You should avoid having the toy out in situations where this may happen, for example, in a communal area of a care home.

If the person with dementia has young children or grandchildren, you could keep the toy in the person’s bedroom or provide the child with a similar doll or animal so they are less likely to be attracted to their special toy.
If the person with dementia has home carers or is in a care home, ensure the care staff know that the doll or animal is important to them to avoid it being misplaced or handled by other people

If the person seems to believe the toy is real – for example, referring to a doll as their ‘baby’ – do not try to correct them as this may cause distress

Consider buying a duplicate doll or soft animal in case the original gets lost or needs to be cleaned

Sources of support

If you need advice on dolly therapy or any other aspect of dementia, please call the Dementia Helpline on 0800 888 6678 (Monday-Friday 9am-9pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am-5pm, every day except 25th December), email helpline@dementiauk.org or you can also book a phone or virtual appointment with an Admiral Nurse.

Dementia UK resources

Frequently asked questions

For some people with dementia, doll therapy can be effective in giving the person feelings of comfort, improving wellbeing and encouraging communication through the doll or soft animal toy.

Many healthcare professionals encourage trying doll therapy for those who have dementia, due to its benefits. While it may not work for everyone, for some it can be a source of comfort and joy.

Some people with dementia experience ‘sundowning’ – a state of intense confusion and distress that typically occurs in the evening. They may feel a strong need to go home, even if they are already at home, or to collect their child from school, even if they are grown up. Having a doll or toy animal to focus on at this time of day may ease these feelings of distress and insecurity.