What are thoughts about giving elderly a baby doll?

There is a basket of dolls kept at my LO’s MC unit, and the care staff uses them to comfort the more agitated residents, and some of the more calm ones.

Anything that can bring peace and comfort is worth a try.

I too have done the stuffed animal and mom would often pet for a while and then set aside. I also hear that dolls are perfect especially if they are still in the caring for a child mind frame.

I too have done the stuffed animal and mom would often pet for a while and then set aside. I also hear that dolls are perfect especially if they are still in the caring for a child mind frame.

We didn't give my mother in law a doll but we gave her a stuffed dog that looks identical to her dog and is about the same size. She lives in a memory center and we took her dog in.

We just thought the stuffed dog was cute and she had some smaller stuffed dogs before the Alz that she liked. When we gave it to her, she knew it was not a real dog. Now approx. 6 months later she thinks the stuffed dog is her real dog. She came to this on her own. We never tried to tell her the stuffed dog was real.

Now she takes pieces of her meals to feed the stuffed dog, tells us the dog barked at people, sometimes she says the dog is barking too much and can we take her for a few days etc. She has the stuffed dog on her lap all the time now.
She hugs it all the time especially when she watches TV.

My husband is a little weirded out by her not knowing it's a stuffed dog, but he sees the comfort it brings her. Now when he visits he addresses the dog as if it were real which makes his mom happy.

I had a great aunt with dementia and she had a doll. She interacted with her doll a lot and it brought her comfort, solace, and joy. In a time of literally losing ones mind, I’d find that to be a help

This is not unusual. Her mind can no longer differentiate between a living baby and a doll. Don't let it upset you and let her enjoy the doll. Maybe even buying it clothes to dress it. A blanket to wrap it in. It is a tool to curb anxiety and is used in NHs.

I would mention it to her Dr. just so he knows there has been a change but her will probably tell you its normal.

Sure, tell him. I’m sure he could tell you what he has observed with other patients. I think it would be useful to discuss any concerns addressing different behavior with him.

Best wishes to you and your family.