Several studies described the benefits of using dolls for nursing home residents with dementia. James et al 2006) observed increased bonding and communication when residents with dolls were gathered together; they named dolls after their children, gave piggyback rides, and changed the dolls' clothes. Mackenzie, James, Morse, Mukaetova -Ladinska, and Reichelt (2006) reported that staff generally had positive perceptions about providing dolls for staff agreed that lives of residents with dementia, and 69% of residents with dolls improved. Using a retrospective analysis of case records of nursing home residents with dementia, Ellingford, and Mackenzie (2007) found that positive behaviors, such as looking happy and engaging in activities, increased, and aggressive behaviors decreased more for residents with dolls than for residents without dolls