| Reborn doll therapy has been used in recent times | | | | extremely attached to their doll and keep it with them |
| with great success in the treatment of Alzheimer and | | | | for many hours of the day. |
| Dementia patients around the world. It can have such | | | | Introducing a doll in the late stages of Alzheimer’s is |
| a positive effect that the patient’s psychotropic | | | | not quite as effective as in the early stages. By |
| drug dependency can be reduced. | | | | introducing it earlier the patient becomes used to the |
| At Ashcroft Care Home based in Chesterfield, | | | | doll and they will be used to getting comfort from it. |
| Derbyshire, UK, they have reported that reborn doll | | | | |
| therapy has cut the number of patients using | | | | Reborn dolls however, are not a cure and the sufferer |
| psychotropic drugs from 92 per cent at the start of | | | | will not suddenly transform back to their former self |
| 2008 to 28 percent. | | | | because of a reborn doll but it is the comfort the |
| Reborn dolls in particular seem to have the best effect | | | | patient feels that is the real benefit of reborn doll |
| with these patients, as they are so much more lifelike | | | | therapy. |
| than traditional dolls. The dementia area is a large | | | | “I have worked with people with Alzheimer's |
| market that is reasonably untapped for reborn doll | | | | disease for 12 years and if you ever witnessed one of |
| artists. In my research I visited a website that showed | | | | my residents singing, cooing, interacting with the life-like |
| the most touching photographs of Alzheimer’s | | | | doll, you would know that it does work. Many of our |
| patients holding their dolls. They appeared happy and | | | | ladies were homemakers and their number one |
| calm. | | | | priorities were family. It was a time in their life when |
| The reborn dolls seem to alleviate the agitation or | | | | they were useful and had a sense of purpose. Giving |
| distress suffered by the dementia patient. They help to | | | | someone a "doll" brings them back to that safe and |
| reduce withdrawal and help overcome communication | | | | secure time in their life. We must join them on their |
| difficulties between the carer and the patient. This | | | | journey, not ours!!!” (A quote from a discussion |
| research on reborn doll therapy was recently | | | | forum for Alzheimer’s patients). |
| presented at a British Psychological Society | | | | If you are touched by the above story and feel this |
| Conference. | | | | may be your niche for making reborn dolls, we |
| Reborn doll therapy seems to work extremely well | | | | suggest you first visit your local nursing homes to get |
| with female patients as it takes them back to a time | | | | a better idea of what is needed. Nursing homes do not |
| when they were housewives and highly productive. | | | | always have the finances to buy full priced reborn dolls |
| Due to effects of dementia many of these patients still | | | | so you may need to get in touch with the family |
| believe they are young, so when they adopt a reborn | | | | members of patients. This is possible if the nursing |
| doll, it brings back happy memories of parenthood. | | | | home believes in your work and the positive effect |
| Having a doll can reawaken positive memories of | | | | your dolls have on the patients. |
| being useful and needed; being loved and of loving. | | | | Take some evidence to the homes with you about the |
| Doll Therapy is best introduced in the early to middle | | | | positive effects of reborn dolls on Alzheimer’s and |
| stages of Alzheimer's. In the early stages the patient | | | | Dementia patients. |
| may know the reborn doll is not real but will enjoy the | | | | This is a very rewarding market to be in. Your reborn |
| pleasures of naming it and constantly changing it’s | | | | dolls are not only going to a good home but are helping |
| clothes. Women in the middle stages of the disease | | | | people in the last years of their life to feel more |
| are likely to communicate with the doll; they may sing | | | | contented and comfortable. |
| to it, talk to it, rock and cuddle it. They start to become | | | | We wish you luck. |