Doll Therapy in Dementia Care ─ Evidence and Practice

Mitchell, a dementia care advisor and former dementia care nurse in the UK, offers a guide for all health care workers, families, and care partners to the use of doll therapy with people with dementia. He introduces dementia, its manifestations, and how doll therapy fits within non-pharmacological interventions, then outlines the research on doll therapy; the work of Tom Kitwood in person-centered dementia care and its application to doll therapy; the ethics debate surrounding the therapy; the importance of palliative care in dementia and the role of the therapy in that context; and the role of the Newcastle Doll Therapy Programme in shaping practice. The book ends with a description of one family's experiences, reflections from senior dementia leaders, and recommendations for healthcare providers, family members, and care partners for implementing the therapy. Annotation ©2016 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)

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.