Welcoming Wilf and Winifred to the Family

We had a truly special day here at Haddington recently, as we introduced two very sweet new additions to our little community – Wilf and Winifred. These lifelike dolls have already brought so much comfort and joy to our residents, and it’s been lovely to watch everyone welcome them with such care and warmth.

As part of our approach to dementia care, we use doll therapy as a gentle way to support our residents' emotional wellbeing. It’s amazing how something as simple as holding or cuddling a doll can help ease anxiety, bring back happy memories, or just make someone feel calm and content. There’s no medication involved – just that natural sense of comfort and connection that comes from nurturing.

One of the best parts of the day was when we all sat together to choose names for the dolls. There were lots of lovely suggestions (and a good few giggles too!), but in the end we settled on Wilf and Winifred. Naming them really helped make them feel like part of the family.

Since then, it’s been lovely to see how much the residents enjoy spending time with them. Whether it’s gently rocking them or just having them nearby during quiet moments, the dolls have already made a big difference to the atmosphere in the home. There’s a real sense of calm and purpose when the dolls are around. It’s small things like this that really do make all the difference, and remind us why we do what we do. We’re so proud to care for our residents in a way that honours who they are and what brings them comfort.

If you’d like to see the kind of thoughtful care we offer at Haddington, we’d love to show you around. Get in touch to arrange a visit – we’ll have the kettle on.