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Doll therapy: a way to restore power

La thérapie par la poupée : une façon de redonner du pouvoir

You’ve probably seen seniors in care homes looking after a doll, but do you know the therapeutic benefits? In fact, offering a doll to a person with loss of autonomy gives them the chance to give back in return... Some might think this tool is infantilizing, but it’s quite the opposite!

Indeed, it is proven that a doll entrusted to someone can give them a great sense of usefulness. On a daily basis, as people's cognitive deficits increase, their decision-making powers are increasingly taken away from them. For their well-being, we take care of all their needs... By giving them a doll, we help restore their power, and thus a social role, and thereby reduce their anxiety and agitation.

In addition, people with Alzheimer's disease will handle and rock their doll, which will allow them to express feelings of tenderness. These women and men who have given their entire lives now only receive care, attention, and some cuddles. But to give? Dolls are used by people with dementia who will handle and rock them to express feelings of tenderness, both in groups and individually.

This calming activity awakens maternal feelings and restores a social role to users, helping to reduce daily stress and agitation. When the doll is used in a group within a reminiscence activity, it allows your residents to socialize in a family context. The realistic weight of the doll also helps reduce stress by acting in the same way as weighted blankets and therapeutic cushions. It should be noted that realistic features, such as weight, closing eyes, and a soft texture, promote better acceptance of the doll. It is truly a tool to be favored!

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