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🧸 Doll Therapy and Dementia: Comfort, Controversy, and Compassion

  • melissajlong
  • Oct 23
  • 4 min read

By Melissa J. Long, CTRS | October 23, 2025


Caring for someone with dementia often requires creativity, compassion, and person-centered approaches. One therapy that continues to spark both heartfelt praise and professional debate is doll therapy.


Used for over 30 years in memory care and home care settings, doll therapy is a non-pharmacological intervention designed to reduce anxiety, agitation, and other behavioral challenges. But while many caregivers swear by its effectiveness, others still question whether offering dolls to adults maintains dignity and respect.


In this blog, we’ll explore:

  • What doll therapy is

  • The benefits and challenges

  • Real-world caregiver experiences

  • How to use it ethically and effectively


💡 What Is Doll Therapy?

Doll therapy involves offering a realistic-looking baby doll (or sometimes stuffed animals) to a person living with dementia. The goal is to soothe emotional distress, provide a sense of purpose, and engage a nurturing instinct that may remain strong even as memory and cognition decline.

It’s not about pretending the doll is real—it’s about meeting the person where they are emotionally and psychologically.

“It’s not childish. It’s person-appropriate. The doll can offer emotional support when words and logic no longer do,” says Alisa Tagg, a Certified Dementia Practitioner and activity director with decades of experience in memory care.

✅ Proven Benefits of Doll Therapy

Though research is still emerging, existing studies and anecdotal reports suggest significant improvements for some individuals with dementia who engage with doll therapy:

  • 🧘 Reduced anxiety and agitation

  • 😊 Increased happiness and calmness

  • 🍽️ Improved appetite

  • 🚶 Less wandering and pacing

  • 💬 Fewer negative verbal expressions

  • 👀 Greater focus and engagement


In environments where behavioral medications are often the first line of treatment, doll therapy presents a safe, side-effect-free alternative.


⚠️ The Controversy: Dignity, Perception, and Family Concerns

Despite its benefits, doll therapy remains controversial—particularly around issues of dignity and perception.


Common Concerns:

  • “It’s childish.” Critics worry that giving an adult a doll diminishes their adulthood and could be seen as infantilizing.

  • Family discomfort. Some loved ones may feel disturbed or saddened seeing a parent or partner care for a doll.

  • Public reaction. When visitors or passersby make comments like, “Oh, isn’t she cute!”—it can be unintentionally condescending.

  • Logistics. What happens when the person becomes upset if the doll is missing or broken? Who cares for the “baby” when the individual cannot?


These are valid concerns. But they can often be addressed through education, empathy, and preparation.


🧭 Guidelines for Ethical, Person-Centered Use

To implement doll therapy in a way that respects the individual’s dignity and maximizes success, consider the following best practices:



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1. 🧭 Follow Their Lead

  • If the person is interested, offer the doll. If they aren’t, don’t push.

  • Some may call it a doll; others may call it a baby. Respond based on their reality.


2. 🧠 Educate Family Members

  • Talk to families before introducing doll therapy.

  • Share the potential benefits and reassure them it’s about comfort, not infantilization.

    • Encourage them to observe how their loved one responds.


3. 🛠️ Plan Ahead for Emotional Reactions

  • Be ready to “babysit” if the person can't care for the doll.

  • Have duplicate dolls available in case of loss or damage.

  • Staff and caregivers should be trained on how to handle distress or separation.


4. 🔁 Stay Flexible

  • Doll therapy works for some, not all.

  • If it doesn’t soothe or starts causing more stress than comfort, it’s okay to try other interventions like music therapy, aromatherapy, or sensory stimulation.


5. 👶 Encourage Intergenerational Interaction

  • When possible, allow safe, structured visits with children.

  • Research shows older adults with dementia benefit emotionally from interacting with children, especially when nurturing instincts are still strong.


🗣️ Real-World Insight

Alisa Tagg shares a pivotal experience from 25 years ago when a state surveyor questioned her use of doll therapy:

“They gave us a citation, claiming dolls weren’t age-appropriate. But I stood by our approach. We responded to the plan of correction by emphasizing education on person-centered care. It felt like a win for engagement and dignity.”

Today, regulations have shifted to prioritize person-appropriate over age-appropriate care—recognizing that what comforts and calms one individual may not work for another, and that's okay.


📚 Resources for Caregivers & Professionals

If you’re exploring doll therapy for a loved one or as part of your care program, here are helpful resources:


💬 Final Thoughts

Doll therapy is not a one-size-fits-all approach. But for many individuals living with dementia, it can offer comfort, connection, and calm in a world that often feels confusing and overwhelming.

What matters most is not whether a therapy looks age-appropriate—but whether it feels right to the person receiving it.

If holding a doll gives your loved one peace and purpose, then that connection is what truly counts.


💌 Have questions about doll therapy? Drop them in the comments or contact us—we’re here to help.

 
 
 

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