Alzheimer’s Patients and Play Therapy

Kaiser Health News wrote about a new and somewhat controversial therapy being used with Alzheimer’s patients, known as “doll therapy.” When Pretend Play Is Real For Alzheimer’s Patients explains that “[n]ursing homes and other senior facilities nationwide are using a controversial technique called doll therapy to ease anxiety among their residents with dementia. Senior care providers and experts say the dolls are an alternative to medication and help draw in elderly people who are no longer able to participate in many activities.” 

As elder law profs, we know how important it is to educate our students about autonomy and avoiding stereotypes, so some may be wondering about the therapeutic benefit this therapy might have with elders. An expert from the Alzheimer’s Association expounded on that point: “[c]aregivers aren’t trying to make their charges believe the dolls are real infants, and they don’t want to infantilize the seniors … They are just ‘trying to meet them where they are and communicate with them in a way that makes sense to them.’” The article refers to some studies on this therapy, features stories of individuals with family members who have undergone the therapy and discusses some of the concerns about such therapy such as the perception that may arise as a result of elders playing with dolls.

The story made me think of Paro, the therapeutic robot which is used for some similar reasons, such as “to reduce patient stress… stimulates interaction between patients and caregivers… and improves the socialiazation of patients with each other and with caregivers….”