Doll therapy has been criticized for increasing serious distress in dementia patients when a patient loses their doll/believed their doll has passed away. In addition, several studies have shown that too much engagement with dolls can cause exhaustion in dementia patients.

University of Illinois at Chicago

- Infantilization of dementia patients
- Limited patient autonomy 
- Increased distress

Ethical considerations of doll therapy for dementia patients

Mitchell, G., & Templeton, M. (2014). Ethical considerations of doll therapy for people with dementia. Nursing ethics, 21(6), 720-730.

Ethical considerations of doll therapy for people with dementia

Doll therapy has been criticized for infantilizing dementia patients. In other words, a number of people believe that this practice enables treating dementia patients in a patronizing manner, essentially how a parent might treat a young child. This can diminish a dementia patient's sense of personhood and individuality.

Infantilization of dementia patients

Doll therapy has also been criticized as inappropriate care for a dementia patient when people with dementia may not be able to maximize their earlier level of autonomy. Some dementia patients might lack the cognitive capabilities to make complicated decisions about the care they receive. 

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