Acknowledgements. Introduction. Gary Mitchell. 1. Dementia and Society. Gary Mitchell. 2. A Review of the Empirical Evidence. Gary Mitchell, Brendan McCormack and Tanya McCance. 3. Doll Therapy and Dementia Care: Through Kitwood's Ideas. Gary Mitchell and Jan Dewing. 4. The Ethics of Doll Therapy. Gary Mitchell and Michelle Templeton. 5. Palliative Care, Dementia and Doll Therapy. Gary Mitchell and Helen Kerr. 6. Newcastle Doll Therapy Programme: Practice Development by Clinicians for Clinicians. Ruth Lee and Ian Andrew James. 7. A Family Experience of Doll Therapy. Jessie McGreevy. 8. Tales from Care. Marsha Tuffin. 9. Experiences of Doll Therapy. Caroline Baker. 10. Best Practice Guidelines. Gary Mitchell. References. Index.
Understand doll therapy and its many benefits for people with dementia with the first theory and evidence-based book on this intervention
Gary Mitchell is a dementia care advisor for Four Seasons Health Care in the UK. Previously a dementia care nurse, Gary's role now relates to the development, implementation and evaluation of best practices in dementia care throughout a number of care homes in the UK.
An honest and eye-opening exploration of the use of dolls in
improving the lives of people with dementia. I found the key to
opening my eyes was the statement that we shouldn't look at the
dolls but look at the person. Enough beneficial examples are given
for me to feel comfortable about the judicious use of dolls while
empirical investigations tease out who they are good for and under
what circumstances. -- Professor Richard Fleming PhD, Director,
NSW/ACT Dementia Training Study Centre, Adjunct Professor, Wicking
Dementia Research & Education Centre, University of Tasmania
Allowing people with dementia a soft toy or doll has raised
disproportionate anxiety. This book explores thoroughly every
argument about whether the practice is right or wrong, but finally
reminds us to be kind, and humane above all else. -- June Andrews
FRCN Professor Emeritus of the Public Understanding of Dementia
Gary Mitchell has refreshingly delved into controversy, effectively
dispelling stereotypical, preconceived judgements surrounding the
practice of using dolls in dementia care. Whether regenerating past
relationships, or regaining the space held in the world, he has
provided an impetus to developing an increased open-mindedness in
the provision of encounters that encourage positive ageing, this
respecting meaningful experiences based on deferential reciprocity.
Demonstrating another valuable way forward in the provision of
person-centered dementia care and preservation of personhood.
Delightful and insightful. -- Leah Bisiani, Dementia Consultant,
MHlthSc, "Uplifitng Dementia",
http://shimmeringspirit.wix.com/uplifting-dementia
This is a book that is very over-due in the dementia care
field...Gary writes in an engaging and accessible style providing a
comprehensive range of theoretical and practical illustrations of
why every hospital, care home or day service, where people living
with a dementia may find themselves, needs to ensure that dolls are
an integral part of their repertoire of approaches. This is a book
which has at its core the recognition that the real heart of all
our human experiences is the need for love; and when we are facing
the many losses and challenges of the journey of dementia, we need
to be sure love is there for us even more. -- Sally Knocker,
Consultant Trainer with Dementia Care Matters
For some people the mere mention of Doll Therapy will induce fears
of infantilisation and invalidation and will be quickly dismissed
as inappropriate. I admire the fact that this author lays out his
own initial thoughts of this nature at the start of the book.
However, he then goes on to piece together a compelling and
well-constructed book that will challenge any practitioner to
dismiss this as a valid form of non-pharmacological intervention.
The book wrangles with the ethical dilemmas of Doll Therapy, it
uses well researched evidence and highlights many personal stories.
He gives detailed practice examples from some very well respected
services and he ends by offering some very useful practice
guidelines. For such an evidence based book it is an emotionally
challenging read and I would encourage anyone in search of the best
forms of human intervention for people with dementia and their
families to read this. Enjoy the challenge, then make your mind up;
I suspect you might change your view by the end. -- Henry Simmons,
Chief Executive, Alzheimer Scotland
I was asked to review Doll Therapy in Dementia Care by Gary
Mitchell. To be honest I was reluctant to believe this could be
used to alleviate distress or agitation. After reading the book two
times as a person who has Alzheimer's and PCA I thought it was
written by a person who clearly had empathy and clearly illustrated
how individuals at a later stage of dementia could satisfy their
inner feelings of need, being loved and wanted. The most important
aspects of care that a family want for their loved ones is ensuring
they are content and happy within their environment. It can be very
difficult for relatives watching their mum or family member
cuddling an inanimate doll. Yet perceptions can change once they
see their "loved one smile with pleasure at holding something close
to love again." The image of an older person cuddling and singing
to a doll can seem strange and incongruous. Yet I realise I had the
same need and when my grandson was born I was doing the same thing
but instead of being a doll it was a real baby. I couldn't get
enough. I had such a yearning to hold, love and want to have this
baby as much as I could. The moral and ethical dilemmas should not
supersede the reality of the beneficial impact - every person has a
vivid desire to express affection, physical nurturing and emotional
attachment that is clearly stored in the repository of their brains
irrespective of what type of dementia or stage they are at. -- Liz
Cunningham, person living with dementia and Ambassador and Dementia
Friendly Communities Champion for the Alzheimer's Society
|
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
