Kayla The Comfort Doll had me smiling even before she made her debut.
Late one evening, while visiting residents in the nursing home where my father lived, I heard an elder shout, “Children…where are the children?” Sitting erect in her bed she wanted to be sure “her children” were safely tucked in for the night. Long after my father died, I continued visiting the residents I had known and even those I didn’t, such as this elder. I tip-toed into her room and in a gentle voice said, “Shhhh. Your babies are all bathed and in bed.” She sighed with relief and rested back into her pillows. The staff thanked me.
I thought of this concerned grandmother when Ashton-Drake Galleries contacted The Caregiver’s Voice about reviewing Kayla The Comfort Doll.
Kayla was delivered to our small rural post office. Unlike big-city crowded post offices, ours is easier going where we know each other’s names and take a more personal interest in one another’s lives. The postal employee was curious and eyed me with one of those looks I couldn’t ignore. I realized he was anticipating a juicy morsel of information or the answers to: What have you ordered here, Brenda? How do you plan to use this doll? Wink. Wink.
Even before Kayla came out of her box, she was the subject of several discussions. Bottom line: Comfort or therapy dolls provide comfort to people with Alzheimer’s or other causes of advanced cognitive impairment. Intrigued, the postal clerk volunteered that his grandmother had lived with Alzheimer’s and would have liked holding Kayla.
I took Kayla to a home where she was unveiled to eager arms.
While people with late-stage Alzheimer’s may have moments of lucidity and express concern for their children, holding a real baby may pose a safety issue. Due to the unique nature of how the brain functions for each person with advancing dementia, a potential behavioral episode would risk the safety of a child. Having someone nearby is optimal.
Enter Kayla – a life-like collectible doll from the Ashton-Drake Galleries.
While family members may fear that a loved one will realize a comfort doll is not real, Kayla looks, weighs, and feels like a real baby. She looks endearingly into your eyes. Her gaze radiates deep into the hearts of those who hold and are comforted by her.
Adopting a comfort doll is worth the investment for those with advancing dementia who still care about the welfare of their children. Kayla’s “adoption fee” runs less than a day of in-home care. Variety of activities for people with dementia are key. Instead of relying on TV, Kayla and other therapy dolls engage loved ones with a sense of purpose lots of love and affection.
After telling my Kayla-review volunteers about my experience at the post office, one of them asked about the phrase “comfort doll.” We searched online and fortunately, found dolls that are comfort therapy dolls. Kayla was the top selection.
From Ashton-Drake’s Facebook page.
Since 1985, The Ashton-Drake Galleries has been recognized as the premier source for a wide variety of collectible dolls, doll accessories and collectible plush. Over the years, Ashton-Drake collectible dolls have been recognized with dozens of top-level industry awards for the unrivalled beauty and exceptional craftsmanship.
The postal clerk asked if I get to keep the items that I review. I informed him that The Caregiver’s Voice gives almost everything we receive to those who can make better use of them. He was impressed.
You may adopt Kayla from Ashton-Drake. In the months ahead we’ll figure out a way to gift Kayla to a loving home.
HELP us find a loving family for Kayla. Share your ideas in the comments section below.
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