Researchers Uncover 2 New Breakthrough Therapies for Calming Alzheimer’s Patient
Studies show that weighted blankets and doll therapy can improve the well being of seniors with dementia—and provide added reassurance to families.
If someone you love has Alzheimer’s disease, you know all too well the emotional toll it takes on both the afflicted individual and their family. A person with dementia can feel like they’re spiraling out of control, struggling to hold tight to the memories and basic capacities that make them whole and functional. Meanwhile, you watch the person you once knew slowly slip away, wishing there was something… anything… you could do.
DH Beacon, a new innovative company specializing in lifestyle products for dementia patients is proud to introduce two novel, non-drug therapies that show great promise at nursing homes and senior care centers across the nation: doll therapy and weighted blankets (available soon).
Doll Therapy
Bringing Smiles of Joy to Seniors with Dementia
Many people with Alzheimer’s are no longer able to participate in the activities that once brought them happiness and fulfillment. As a result, they may become bored, depressed, and even agitated. Doll therapy involves the use of realistic-looking dolls in a controlled setting to help combat these dementia symptoms and improve mood and functioning.
Why dolls? These lifelike “babies” engage seniors by providing a tool for social interaction and attention, invoking memories of caring for a child, encouraging simple decision-making, and providing a sense of responsibility. Patients often take the dolls under their loving care, singing to them, rocking them to “sleep,” and changing their clothes.
Science firmly supports the practice of doll therapy, with a growing number of studies demonstrating that therapeutic engagement with a doll can improve the overall well-being of dementia patients in a variety of ways. Dolls in senior care settings have been shown to:
- Improve communication between the patient and caregivers/staff
- Boost the patient’s mood
- Foster more social interaction
- Reduce withdrawal and despondency
- Reduce wandering and other dangerous behaviors
- Calm anxiety and promote better sleep
- Improve eating and drinking habits
- Serve as a distraction from an upsetting event
Therapy dolls are not toys
D.H. Beacon has designed dolls specifically for dementia and Alzheimer’s patients with special features that enhance their therapeutic benefit. The D.H. Beacon Alzheimer’s Doll named “Annie” is a 16 inch vinyl doll.
The most notable thing about the “Annie” therapy doll is its weight. At 3 lbs, this doll feel more like a real-life baby than a toy. What’s more, when held, they apply pressure to the body, helping to promote a sense of calmness and contentment in the patient.
Unlike dolls with stationary eyes—which can cause agitation in a person with dementia when they put the baby to bed—the D.H. Beacon Alzheimer’s “Annie”Doll has eyes that close when the doll is placed in a horizontal position. It’s also infused with a natural lavender scent, which is proven to have a calming effect. “Annie” can wear real infant clothing (size 3 months), allowing a dementia patient to choose different outfits and dress and undress their doll.
Order Your Alzheimer’s Doll Today!
Weighted Blankets
Like a Warm, Loving Embrace for Distressed Patients
Weighted blankets are like traditional blankets, but with plastic pellets sewn into them to provide added heft. Their weight can vary anywhere from 2 to 10 pounds and up, depending on the intended user. When draped over a person, these blankets form to the shape of the body and create the pleasant sensation of being embraced or massaged.
Therapy using weighted blankets is nothing new; they’ve been used for years for children with sensory disorders such as autism and ADD / ADHD. Studies show the blankets are useful in treating the symptoms of restlessness, depression, paranoia, PTSD, and even insomnia. Newer research shows they can also be effective in treating the anxiety that affects approximately 70% of people with Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, in one study, 63% of dementia patients reported less anxiety after using a weighted blanket.
Order Your Alzheimer’s Blanket Today!
Which Product Would Work Best for Your Loved One?
“The D.H. Beacon Alzheimer’s Doll is an all-natural, inexpensive way to bring comfort to both patients and families at a time when they need it most. We recommend this product for any and all patients living with dementia. Being able to love and care for a doll could lessen stress in some people living with dementia and may help with general feelings of well-being. It could even reduce the necessity of pharmaceutical interventions,” explains Jeff Holtzman, founder of D.H. Beacon. 
The D.H. Beacon Alzheimer’s Blanket was developed exclusively for treating anxiety in elderly dementia patients, with a “just right” weight of 3 to 5 pounds. Featuring ultra-soft material, this blanket is available in a variety of vibrant, eye-pleasing colors, with textures added to some to provide sensory stimulation. Coming soon…
The D.H. Beacon Alzheimer’s Blanket & Doll Deluxe Bundle Package are powerful tools for patients with dementia who exhibit distress and nervousness, according to Jeff Holtzman. They provide a grounding sense of safety, comfort, and security when an elderly person is feeling scared and confused. Beyond this, a therapy blanket or doll can give family members the tremendous comfort of knowing their loved one can be easily soothed when they’re not around.” Buy both and save on the Deluxe Bundle Package! Coming soon…
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