About The doll approach

I was born in Pincourt, a charming little town in Quebec.

I have 40 years' experience as a registered nurse in psychogeriatrics and other areas of nursing. I graduated from Collège Bois-de-Boulogne de Montréal in 1993.

My length of service began at the age of 19 in 1983. I've worked in a number of hospitals and nursing fields, including psychogeriatrics, psychiatry, childcare, medicine/surgery, oncology, palliative care, emergency care, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), and as a preceptor/trainer in care and techniques. Founder of the Doll Therapy concept care in long-term facilities (CHSLD) and hospitals in Quebec in 2013, in pre-schools and special children's classes with autism. Assistant Head Nurse in psychogeriatric departments, long-term care facilities Coordinator.

I offer conferences and training for Senior homes and Alzheimer Societies. I'm currently working in partnership with the SAHR Société Alzheimer du Haut-Richelieu and CDS Boutique le Concept du Sablier.

I am currently working part-time as a retired nurse re-employed at CIUSSS de L'Ouest-de-L'Ile-de-Montréal since 2020.

I made my first realistic reborn doll for my 87-year-old mother in 2012. When I realized how much it had helped her, I thought I'd give it a try with the residents where I worked at Ste-Anne's Hospital.

In 2013, with the collaboration of a nurse clinician in the living environment we successfully carried out clinical research with a few baby dolls with selected residents. Subsequently, with the support of the recreation department as well as the TES (special education technicians) I implemented the doll care approach.

In 2020, with the support of an Alzheimer's Plan Territorial Resource Nurse, our center extended my concept of realistic reborn baby doll therapy by adding a therapeutic doll to the majority of departments.

I then created a training program and trained unit staff to use the doll care approach with selected elderly residents.

When we look at the Alzheimer Society of Quebec's 2023 statistics, it estimates that in Canada, Alzheimer's disease is on the rise, with 565,000 Canadians and 152,000 Quebecers living with the disease or another neurodegenerative illness, and that within 10 years, it could increase to 67%.

The innovation of the doll care approach certainly contributes to increasing the quality of life of residents living in institutions and at home. I invite you to consult my interesting book on Complementary Care Therapy the doll approach for children and seniors living in long-term care facilities from Éditions Crescendo released in 2020. It includes essential elements for implementing this innovative approach in centers, as well as touching case histories with residents.