Lifesize dolls for elderly residents

Sadly, the staffing level is not sufficient enough, at times, to supervise care home residents while they are being allowed to carry out certain domestic or hobby related tasks. I currently visit a care/nursing home daily, and the onus on the staff to ensure the safety of residents at all times is, understandably, very great. As a result, allowing residents independence can be somewhat curbed, unfortunately.

When they are available, a life like robot dog and cat - perhaps more than one, would be great - able to walk and go up to a resident who is sitting, and put their head in their lap to be stroked. Residents who don’t like dogs or cats could wear a bracelet tuned to keep the robot away from them. Like robot cleaners and mowers, they would be programmed to keep a distance from anyone on their feet, to avoid accidents - just be mobile when people are sitting. The cats could even purr!
People in homes should all have access to and be encouraged to enjoy the garden, ideally they should all have sensory areas and no poisonous plants. They could help by pulling up weeds and dead heading, and perhaps planting some annuals in the spring, but it would need a member of staff or experienced volunteer to always be around. Washing up would just mean loading a dish washer, probably not practical to let residents in the kitchen. I expect many (women) would enjoy the occasional browse around the shops - but would have to be accompanied. Suitable man/woman power is the problem if there are no family/friends around.

The adult size ones are much more creepy than the babies..

Not a bad idea, I found that when I was working in a nursing home doing activities with the residents, if anyone came in with a baby they played pass the baby.

I wouldn’t like a pet doll ..

It’s a doll ...
that brings comfort to many ...
If properly done they are beautiful

I agree with MOnica

I'm not in a care home but I might be some day. Even now whenI can get out and about the reason I visit Gransnet is the dearth of people my own age who are intellectually and experientially lively as Gransnet posters.
I'd be very lucky if I found such in any care home!

My mother's (dementia only) care home had an area with a proper cot and life size baby dolls.
Can't say that my mother ever showed any interest - maybe she'd had enough with 4 of her own! - but I'm sure others did.

Unless there's dementia, though, I can't imagine this being a 'thing'. It would IMO seem very patronising.

My mother had vascular dementia. I think she'd have taken one look at these and been mildly interested. Something different to look at and one would assume the people on 'tour' would also chat with the patients. Or residents as I think we're supposed to call them. One of the ladies in my Mum's home had a baby doll which Mum found awful. However, a life sized puppy in a basket which 'breathed' was her pride and joy as she sat and stroked him for hours on end. He sits in my bedroom now.

Good God, is that all old women are thought to be interested in - babies and knitting -. How offensive and patronising. How about helping them be more interested and involved in life. many people before they go into care have been muddling on at home with domestic tasks, gardening etc even if no longer efficient in those jobs. Go into care and all that is done for you and people just sit and stare. Get them up get them helping in the garden, helping with domestic tasks, laying and clearing tables, washing up etc. Do not patronise them with baby dolls (then probably snigger at them behind their backs).

Sarah65 suggested giving reborn dolls. ?

No, not unreasonable but not addressing the question in the OP.

Another poster mentioned “reborn baby” dolls in the same context.
Not unreasonable?

Here are the figures.

Am I looking at a different link ?
No mention of ‘baby’ dolls. These are life size figures intended to spark memories and instigate conversation.

The dolls are adult-sized; not babies in the main.

My mum was very happy holding a ‘baby’ I just tried it as an experiment and she used to love it rocket and talk to it, occasionally if she was in a bad mood she’d chuck it across the room (presumably she never did that to me) she went through a few but never seemed to notice the difference when I got her a new one I think a ‘baby’ (not a reborn though I think they are ugly and creepy yuk) is a great idea to try for some but not every dementia patient of course all are different, but I ve got to say I m not sure about those lifesize ones in the article so it depends how it’s handled
My mum loved it when a dog came to visit I think she would have loved a resident cat on her lap

I think a lot depends on each individual. People with dementia for instance still behave in very different ways, some might be comforted by having a realistic baby to cuddle, others would freak out by the lack of interaction with the doll.

My mother has Alzheimer's and loves to see young children, often chatting to them or pulling faces to make them laugh but at the moment, she likes their reactions to her so a doll would not be a substitute. But maybe in the future? She also loves to look at cats and dogs so an "animal" might be a possibility.

I personally find these real life baby dolls creepy but can see how they could be a comfort to some people but the most important thing is the understand how dementia affects different people and not lump everyone together.

For years I have longed for a humanoid robot - I don't think I shall live to see the day.

To my way of thinking, it is the communication and company I believe the elderly living alone would value, I certainly would.
Dolls of any size would not interest me.

It sounds very selfish but I wouldn't be able to tolerate small talk: 'Did you see that programme on telly last night?' sort of conversations but I would love to discuss interesting topics such as one hears on TED talks.

Giving them reborn dolls to care for is the ultimate in patronising!

One of the many reasons I would HATE to go into a care home. Just as mum who is 101 who is brighter than many people of a much younger age would have the screaming ab-dabs.

Dementia apart of course.

I think it's patronising. What makes "them" so sure old people want to remember days gone by? Some might actually prefer living in the present,

My great aunt lived in a care home with some friendly cats. She had no animals in her "ordinary" home life but loved these cats and talked to them and encouraged them to sit on her lap. Life would have been pretty empty without them I think.

I had a beautiful doll that looked like a real sleeping baby, GD couldn't bear to be parted from it and took it home. I have a drawer full of beautiful baby clothes but she prefers the little fluffy pram suit andI just know it will be murky grey now.