A Plymstock woman has donated a collection of cuddly toys and dolls to a local care home – to help residents who have dementia.
Mother of two Kelly Freeman presented the bears and dolls to Wisteria House Dementia Care just before Christmas – and her generous gift was gratefully received.
Wisteria House owns two care homes in Plymouth specialising in quality of life for elderly people living with dementia. It is estimated that approximately 15 percent of the people living in the homes engage positively with either doll therapy or pet therapy.
“It is important that the staff team treat the doll or artificial pet as though they are real…”
Kelly decided to provide the soft toys and dolls to Wisteria because her mother has Alzheimers and she was impressed with the quality of care and support provided by staff.
Kelly said:
“The residents’ reactions were magic. The staff were all very grateful for the donation. Each bear and doll came with a name and Christmas bell for the residents to enjoy.”
She added:
“The staff team at Wisteria House, together with supporting families and close friends are very generous with their time and affection. We do not believe the individuals engage in this type therapy from a lack of or substitute for affection. We believe it is from missing something to nurture or care for although sometimes a sense of purpose can be a reason.
“Most normally only engage with only one specific doll or pet and are reluctant to share unless they are confident you can love their baby or pet as they do; they are constant companions and are with them when they sleep and eat their meals.
“…it gains trust with supporting the individual to take their medications…”
“It is important that the staff team treat the doll or artificial pet as though they are real, for instance the way a member of staff holds a baby, that their presentation is to a high ‘well loved’ standard including for instance helping the baby doll to put on the appropriate night clothes and have a high chair and appropriate food at meal times. That their pet is well brushed, stroked, hugged and well fed.
“The dolls can also help the staff team with communication, for example a lady was incredibly reluctant to have a seat belt on in the car, but when a member of staff put her special ‘toddler’ doll named Sam into his own seat on the mini bus and put the seat belt on Sam, she could see what we wanted her to do.
“When the staff team are trying to communicate with an individual living in later or advanced stages of dementia, who are now unable to verbally communicate, it helps if the member of staff first shows how loving they can be towards their baby or pet first by stroking the cat or being affectionate towards their baby, it gains trust with supporting the individual to take their medications and so on.”
For one lady living at Wisteria House her favourite day was when a birthday party was held for her ‘toddler’ doll called Sam, complete with birthday cake, balloons, presents and cards and inviting the staff team’s younger children. Even the other people living with dementia in the home and the lady’s own grandchildren, were fully engrossed in her positive sense and her own unique feelings.
