Doll Therapy Program

Angie's Purpose Mission Statement

Angie's Purpose will make a difference in the lives of those living with dementia and their family or caregiver by providing a sense of purpose, comfort, companionship, reduce negative behaviors and symptoms and reduce falls for these patients.

Angie’s Purpose is an innovative and alternative treatment approach providing comfort, safety, and a sense of purpose.

“Each of us can inspire, innovate, and influence. It doesn’t matter what position you hold.”
Author Unknown

Taking Care of Patients with Dementia

Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD)

BPSD symptoms include agitation, sleeplessness, inability to care for oneself, wandering, restlessness, screaming, anxiety, hyperactivity, and sometimes violent activity.

The Responsible Party

These behaviors can be difficult to manage and distressing to the patient, caregivers and family.

Solutions & Methods

Common interventions to manage these behaviors include distractions, restraints, medications, and safety sitters.

Medical-Surgical Unit 3-month pilot study

Evidence reveals doll therapy helps to reduce behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), however no studies had been done to determine if doll therapy can prevent falls in the hospital setting. Doll therapy has been shown to decrease the use of sitters, restraints, and antipsychotic medications in the dementia patient population.

While doll therapy is used in long-term care facilities, there is very little research or evidence that doll therapy is utilized in the hospital setting. As a result, in 2018 when Angie was a manager of an adult medical-surgical unit, she conducted a research study to determine: In hospitalized dementia patients, does using doll therapy vs. no doll therapy reduce the BPSD during their hospital stay and decrease falls in this patient population?

Patients with dementia would be provided a doll during their hospital stay. Data was collected by nursing staff on the patient’s fall risk and behaviors before and after the doll was provided.

Year-Long Multi-Site Study Results

Reduction in negative behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), decrease in fall rates, and increase in nurse satisfaction.

Data analysis from all 6 hospitals, revealed there was a noticeable decrease in fall rates after the implementation of the doll therapy.
Symptoms noted on documentation logs that decreased with the doll therapy intervention: restlessness, moaning, impulsiveness, getting out of bed without help, wandering, yelling, fidgeting, crying, undressing, agitation, anxiety, wanting to leave, refusing care, throwing items, hitting staff, kicking, and pulling at lines, IVs, and/or telemetry leads.

Documented Details

177 patients were given dolls during this study.

26 patients had missing documentation stating whether doll helped or didn’t help - these were excluded.

83% of female patients given dolls (132 subjects) showed a reduction in negative BPSD after dolls given.

74% of male patients given dolls (19 subjects) showed a reduction in negative BPSD after dolls given.

The Nursing Perspective

85% of nurses report that doll therapy is not time consuming to work into their daily practice and recommend implementing doll therapy at hospitals.

“I handed out a baby today to a patient that was screaming all night and it was like we flipped a switch! It was AMAZING! I have chills! I am so excited!”
“The therapy helps greatly with the majority of patients. I’m always amazed with the men loving on their babies.”
“I’ve been grateful for doll therapy. I have seen many patients holding and cuddling babies on and off.”

How Doll Therapy Helps Nurses & Patients

A Calming Distraction

Calmed patient and provided distraction when the RN was doing morning assessments and med pass. Prior, she had been constantly trying to get out of bed without help.

Decreased Aggression

Agitated patient and aggressive with staff-very calm and caring to the doll and decreased her aggression toward the staff.

Clear Mindedness

An unforeseen benefit, a staff member reported a patient had been having incoherent speech the entire hospital stay, but spoke in full sentences about the doll after she received it.

Following Direction

Some patient ate and took their meds while holding the doll. Others talked and interacted with doll, rested with the doll, and often will fall asleep while patting the doll.