“Nurturers by nature”: Pearl’s Memory Babies in Lexington

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – For people with dementia, the smallest things can make a big difference, especially when it comes to emotional connections. Sayre Christian Village has given dementia patients a little joy through their work with Pearl’s Memory Babies.

“With dementia residents often need to feed and therefore having a baby or puppy to feed is really important because they have a purpose and they think of things outside of their normal pains that accompany the aging process. Says Elise Hinchman, vice president of marketing and development for Sayre Christian Village.

That’s the idea behind Pearl’s Memory Babies, a group that brings lifelike dolls and puppies to dementia patients and the elderly. On Friday, the group visited the Christian village of Sayre and brightened up the patients’ day.

“Seeing residents’ eyes light up and seeing how they interact with their babies and dogs is fair, it is cup filling for me and it really reinforces the why behind why we do what we do” , says Karen Venis, CEO of Sayre Christian Village.

Sayre Christian Village says people with dementia remember history, so they are often nurturers by nature.

“A person never forgets education, they never forgets how to love, they never forget that feeling,” says Sandy Cambron, President of Pearl’s Memory Babies.

“The isolation that we had with COVID is real and so for these people to be able to interact with these babies and make these dogs their own, it will give them a sense of purpose which is what we all need to this stage and time during the pandemic, ”says Venis.