Doll Therapy Program

Angie's Purpose Mission Statement

Angie's Purpose is an innovative and alternative treatment approach making a difference in the lives of those living with dementia and their family members/caregivers by providing a sense of purpose, comfort, and companionship; reducing negative behaviors and symptoms; and reduce the risk of falls for these patients.

“Each of us can inspire, innovate, and influence. It doesn’t matter what position you hold.”
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Taking Care of Patients with Dementia

Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD)

BPSD symptoms can include agitation, sleeplessness, inability to care for oneself, wandering, restlessness, screaming, anxiety, hyperactivity, and violence.

The Responsible Party

These behaviors can be difficult to manage and distressing to the patients, staff, 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

Previous evidence reveals doll therapy helps to reduce behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) along with the use of sitters, restraints, and antipsychotic medications in the dementia patient population; however, prior to 2018, no studies had been done to determine if doll therapy can prevent falls in the hospital setting.

Likewise, while doll therapy had been used in long-term care facilities, there was very little research or evidence that doll therapy was being utilized in the hospital setting.

Given these limitations in evidence, in 2018 when program founder Angie Filipiak, RN, was a manager of an adult medical-surgical unit, she conducted a research study to determine: Do hospitalized dementia patients, exposed to doll therapy experience reduced BPSD during their hospital stay or a decrease in falls?

Patients with dementia 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 doll therapy.
Symptoms noted on documentation logs that decreased with the doll therapy intervention included: restlessness, moaning, impulsiveness, getting out of bed without help, wandering, yelling, fidgeting, crying, undressing, agitation, anxiety, requests to leave, refusing care, throwing items, hitting staff, kicking, and pulling at lines, IVs, and/or telemetry leads.

Year-Long Multi-Site Study Details

177 patients were given dolls.

26 patients had missing documentation stating whether or not doll helped these were excluded.

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

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

Program Valued by Nurses

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 (Testimonials)

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 patients ate and took their meds while holding their dolls. Others talked and interacted with dolls, rested with the dolls, and often fell asleep while patting the dolls."