Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia
Corso di laurea in infermieristica - Sede di Modena
| Thesis Title | Nursing care for patients with dementia: doll therapy as a non-pharmacological intervention |
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| Name | Carp Nicola Madalina |
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| Supervisor(s) | Mussi Chiara |
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| Academic Year | 2021/22 |
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| Thesis type | Non research thesis |
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Abstract
Dementia is a chronic degenerative disease with global cognitive involvement, generally irreversible. It has an important impact worldwide, given the progressive increase in life expectancy and aging, and today proves to be exponentially increasing. Dementia was therefore defined by the WHO (World Health Organization) as a global public health priority. The therapeutic approach includes holistic interventions that provide a synergistic approach between pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments. The limited effectiveness of drug therapies, however, leads to an increasingly search for non-pharmacological interventions in order to improve care and contain cognitive and functional decline, by therefore increasing the overall quality of life of the patient and his caregivers. This paper aims to illustrate the benefits of doll therapy in the management of the patient with BPSD, (Behavioral and Psychological Signs and Symptoms of Dementia) such as aggression, anxiety, depression, apathy and wandering. The therapy is person centered and aims to preserve and enhance the patient's cognitive, relational and empathic abilities, thanks to the theory of attachment and therefore the role of mothering towards the doll. Doll therapy is widely used especially in residential facilities, as it has been shown that this practice is able to promote the well-being of the person by reducing the symptoms of BPSD, especially aggression and apathy.
