Care and Share Project

Dolls For People With Alzheimer’s

(Fall 2012)

 

The Care and Share Program was developed by Renee Gauthier of the Ottawa Doll and Collectors Guild after being told by a neighbor, who worked in a long term care facility, that many residents enjoyed cuddling with the center’s clinical doll but they only had one doll. Renee soon set things into motion and members of the Guild have been collecting and redistributing clean, gently used baby dolls to long term care residents for over 12 years, distributing more than 800 dolls so far.

When Maine-ly Dolls Club President, Anne S, told members about this program they were eager to develop a similar project to distribute dolls locally.

While researching for the project we learned that the benefits to patients are:

• Can help calm agitated persons
• Provides an opportunity to interact with others
• Can help recall happier times
• Gives residents something of their own to be responsible for

Club members are searching at thrift stores and yard sales for clean, used dolls which they can contribute.  If you can donate dolls for us to distribute please keep the following in mind.

Dolls  need to  be:

• Baby type with soft, floppy bodies, vinyl head,  painted or molded hair and painted or permanently open eyes.
• 14″-20″ long
• No Cabbage Patch Kids or all cloth dolls

Used dolls will be accepted if they are in good condition.  Dolls do not need to be clothed.  After cleaning the dolls, members will dress them in preemie sized infant clothing and wrap in a soft blanket for distribution.

To date (05/10/14) club members have donated 60 dolls to area nursing facilities.

This baby was purchased new at KMart for a very reasonable price.  She is the perfect size for some of the more frail residents. 

This cutie is 16" and can easily be cuddled by residents.

After Babies are dressed they are wrapped in a soft blanket ready for their new owner.

Donations that can not be used for the Care & Share Project will be used for other purposes at the discretion of the club officers.