Nancy, your idea of making cloth dolls for nursing homes is absolutely lovely! My father is in a nursing home and I have seen how the ladies with dementia love to carry around a doll with them. One lady in particular carries her "baby" with her, and the other ladies gather around her in their wheelchairs and take turns holding the baby. It's a sweet social time for them, and they enjoy it so much. By doing this you would give comfort to those who have had so much taken away from them.