The Westview News

Press Release
Kind Donation of Lifelike Baby Dolls
Date
October 19, 2021

     Recently, local resident Amanda Whitaker donated a set of lifelike baby dolls to Westview Health Care Center’s Therapeutic Recreation Department to provide a realistic feeling of human contact to the residents at the Dayville skilled nursing facility. At a time when many intergenerational interactions are challenging for seniors and the rest of their families, these dolls can provide a safe and easy way for Westview residents to once again experience the delight of holding an infant. In her own life, these dolls have contributed feelings of parental pride and joy to Amanda at times when she needed that emotional support.

     Regarding her discovery of these dolls and her contribution to Westview, Amanda commented: “I started to learn about these dolls through the internet and ordered a couple so that I could experience the benefits that many of the online reviewers suggested these dolls could provide. I found that their lifelike appearance, body weight, and the texture of their skin and hair offered me a sense of motherly responsibility when I would hold them. When I began to think about how they could also provide this feeling of family love to some of our community’s seniors, I reached out to Westview to coordinate this donation and I was so pleased to personally bring in the dolls. Seeing the smiles on the faces of the residents holding the dolls was the gift that I received that day.”

     David Panteleakos, Administrator of Westview Health Care Center, appreciates the thoughtfulness of Amanda’s gift and the special moments that these dolls provide for Westview residents. “Amanda’s generosity in sharing these dolls with Westview is a wonderful gesture," Mr. Panteleakos remarked. "Holding a baby is a guaranteed method of providing joy to our residents. By donating these dolls, she has also donated hours of shared smiles, warm feelings, and loving conversations between the residents and staff of Westview Health Care Center.”

Westview Health Care Center is a 103-bed inpatient skilled nursing facility, which includes a distinct and self-contained 28-bed sub-acute short-term rehabilitation unit and outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapies including: Sports Medicine, Adolescent/Pediatric, Adult and Aquatic Outpatient Centers, all dedicated to providing outstanding quality health care services. The facility is located in Dayville, Connecticut and is ranked among the top nursing facilities in the nation according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service; and U.S. News and World Report for the past 13 years.