My mother is 93yrs suffering from vascular dementia. She has spent the last 4yrs of her life in a nursing home. Distressing as this is, it is even more distressing when she is agitated and aggressive ( unlike her personality)
However at Christmas time my sister and I noticed how much calmer she seemed when given a teddy bear. After observing this for a few days we decided to buy a doll for mum.
The benefits have been fantastic. She is less distressed, agitated and aggressive but what is more outstanding is her ability to speak perfect sense to the doll itself. We have been able to use this as a form of communication and our times with mum are much more pleasant and interactive.
Interesting to note is my friends mum who also suffers from alzheimers and lives at home is also benefiting immensly from a doll they bought for her mum after my relating my own personal experience with mum.
We would appreciate any feedback others may feel or have experienced in connection with this form of therapy.
However at Christmas time my sister and I noticed how much calmer she seemed when given a teddy bear. After observing this for a few days we decided to buy a doll for mum.
The benefits have been fantastic. She is less distressed, agitated and aggressive but what is more outstanding is her ability to speak perfect sense to the doll itself. We have been able to use this as a form of communication and our times with mum are much more pleasant and interactive.
Interesting to note is my friends mum who also suffers from alzheimers and lives at home is also benefiting immensly from a doll they bought for her mum after my relating my own personal experience with mum.
We would appreciate any feedback others may feel or have experienced in connection with this form of therapy.