Aug 2021
Doll donations bring joy to residents
After carers from Chilterns Court Care Centre in Henley-on-Thames appealed on a local Facebook recycling group, the home was delighted to receive donations of dolls for use by residents at the home who are living with dementia.
The Henley Recycle Facebook group was started during the pandemic while charity shops were closed as a way for people to get rid of their unwanted items or to request second-hand things rather than buying them new.
The group has grown to over 3,000 members with daily posts offering a range of household and garden items.
Hannah Fearn, Carer at Chilterns Court, decided to post in the group to request dolls specifically those residents who are living with dementia. In her post she said:
“Having things such as baby dolls really support the elderly. It is so calming for them, and they love the experience of holding a baby again.”
Dolls are often used as a form of comforting attachment therapy for those living with dementia.
Chilterns Court’s Care and Dementia Lead, Denise Hayes, explained: “Here in our dementia household each of the residents is on a different journey. Something that one person finds comforting may not have the same effect on another, so we like to encourage the right form of support for each person.
“Several of our residents find it therapeutic to hold and care for a doll as it helps them to reminisce and takes them back to when they were a new parent or grandparent, which is often a time they associate with feelings of great happiness, love, and contentment.”
There was a large response to the post, and the home received donations of five dolls, a mix of new and second-hand.
Denise added: “Although they might seem simply like children’s toys, to our residents the dolls mean a lot more. We are so delighted that this kind donation from our local community here in Henley will have such a positive impact on the lives of some of our residents who are living with dementia.”
After cleaning and quarantining the dolls for the recommended time, they were introduced to the residents and were an immediate hit.
Delighted by the new additions, many residents chose a favourite to hold and tend to, and the dolls’ comforting effect was immediately clear.