Thinking creatively allowed Gabby to deliver comfort to a 77-year-old patient with severe dementia and anxiety who would regularly become anxious and agitated. His son was the only person with the ability to calm his father, but he could not be at the bedside around the clock. Gabby thought a mannequin in the room in the image of the patient’s son might provide comfort and allow the man to stay calm and rest.

She stuffed an isolation gown for the body and a pillowcase for the head and attached a life-sized photo of the son’s head to it. She placed the mannequin in a chair in a reclined position and covered it with a blanket. It worked amazingly well.

When the son could not be in the room, the patient would look over at the chair and talk to the mannequin. The entire nursing staff assisted by addressing both the mannequin and the patient each time they would enter the room, saying hello, goodnight, and is there anything you need? During the evening, a mask was placed on the mannequin to simulate sleep, which also helped the patient to rest.

Gabby’s patient-centered approach targeted this patient’s specific health needs, resulting in the desired outcome of decreased anxiety and a better patient care experience for the duration of his stay.