When a person has Alzheimer's, they reach a stage where they become disinterested in the world around them.
They become uncommunicative.
They withdraw into themselves.
It is difficult to interest them in activities. They become unresponsive to many things. This usually happens in the middle to late stages of the disease.
However, there is a unique therapy that has been found to be effective for women with Alzheimer's.
It is called Doll Therapy. When women with Alzheimer's disease are given a baby doll to hold, they often respond to it. They hold the doll as if it were a real baby. They look at it. They talk to it. They sing to it. They interact with it.
Experts suggest that the doll brings back happy memories of when these women were mothers of infants.
Doll Therapy can be used with men as well as women, by the way. Here we are talking about using it with women, and it is usually more effective with women than with men, but you can certainly try it with men as well.
For Doll Therapy to be effective, it is recommended that you use a doll that is as lifelike as possible.
The Ashton Drake dolls are a good choice. They make dolls that look and feel like newborns. They can be ordered at www.ashtondrake.com.
The doll can be a girl or a boy. Neither has been shown to be more effective; it is simply a matter or preference. Women may prefer the clothing of girls to that of boys, however. They can be more fun to dress.
Doll Therapy can be introduced in the early to middle stages of Alzheimer's. Women in the early stages of the disease, who are still more aware of the world around them, will still likely enjoy the doll. They will enjoy dressing and undressing the doll.
(A lifelike doll will be able to wear real newborn baby clothes). They may not talk to it or sing to it, but they will probably name it and enjoy holding it.
Women in the middle stages of the disease are likely to talk to the doll and sing to the doll. They may forget the doll's name and may find it difficult to dress and undress the doll. They are likely to begin carrying it around with them quite a bit.
Doll Therapy is less effective if introduced in the late stages of the disease. It's best to introduce it early on. That way a person is already accustomed to the doll as the disease progresses.
You don't have to do anything special to introduce Doll Therapy to a person with Alzheimer's.
Just give them the doll. They will do the rest.