פרויקט שילוב טיפול באמצעות בובות לאנשים עם דמנציה בבית אבות - קידום מעורבות בפעילות משמעותית

Abstract

Occupational therapy treatment for people with dementia in nursing homes faces two major issues: Coping with challenging behaviors, such as shouting and wandering, and finding activities residents can engage in over time. There is preliminary evidence that doll therapy can address these issues. The article describes a project, led by occupational therapists, of integrating doll therapy in a nursing home in Jerusalem. The project aimed to improve the quality of life of residents living with dementia by reducing challenging behaviors and encouraging engagement in meaningful activities. There were two phases to the project: A preparation phase during which the management was recruited to support the project and staff members were trained, and an execution phase during which the treatment was administered. The article provides guidelines for implementing the project in nursing homes. Our experience from this project suggests that the treatment resulted in a reduction in challenging behaviors. In addition, it improved communication and facilitated engagement in activities. As doll therapy might raise objections among staff and family members, it is imperative that the issue be addressed when this treatment is implemented as part of the implementation. In the discussion, we addressed the ethical issues related to the use of a doll as a mean of treating people living with dementia. In addition, we discussed possible explanations for the treatment's beneficial effects from an occupational therapy perspective. The importance of the project is in providing an additional tool for occupational therapists and nursing home staff that can also be used in cases of advanced dementia. Doll therapy is an accessible, affordable, and easy-to-implement method for improving quality of life for people living with dementia.