alzheimer's and dolls?

Question

When an alzheimer's patient (in middle to late stages, i.e. not knowing it is 2006, beliving they are decades younger, etc) becomes attached to a doll and begans to treat that doll like it is real, is it better to tell them it is fake or to play along and act like it is real. Removing the doll is not an option because it has made a noticable inprovement in the individual and helped to improve the quality of life.

Answer 1

At this point the person is dying, their mind is almost dead. You do what you do for any dying patient you make them comfortable in their last hours.

If the doll helps, and they are in the later stages of the disease, then the best thing to do is to let them have the doll. You don't need to act like the doll is real, unless the patient confronts you. Then you just humor them and go on. They will forget about it soon enough.

Alzheimer's is one of the toughest diseases. When Ronald Regan was in his final stages Nancy Regan stayed by his side, even after he forgot her; she had no choice she loved the man. If you love your patient then you do the best that you can. If that means letting them have a doll and letting them talk to it then go ahead and let them do it. Just try to keep them comfortable. If you take away the doll, or if you deny it's existence then whom do you hurt? You hurt your patient. If you humor the patient, then whom do you hurt? No one in his or her right mind is going to believe that you think the doll is real. They will only see someone who loves a person and is trying to give them comfort in the final hours.

Answer 2

Essentially the patient has regressed to childhood as far as brain function goes. Let him/her have the doll and don't interfer with the belief that it's real or not. The person may be in their 60s, 70s, or 80s but they are mentally a 2 year old because of the disease. You never know. there may be some communication that is actually acheived through the doll.