How to meaningfully reconnect with those who have dementia

Thirty years ago,

I walked into a nursing home,

and my life changed forever.

I was there to visit my grandmother Alice.

She was a very powerful woman

who had lost a battle with a stroke
that stole her ability to speak.

Alice had just three forms
of communication left.

She had this sound
that was like, "Tss, tss, tss,"

that she could shift in tone

from emphatic, "no, no, no,"

to enticing, "yes, you've almost got it."

She had an incredibly
expressive index finger

which she could shake
and point with frustration.

And she had these enormous pale blue eyes

that she could open
and close for emphasis.

Wide open seemed to say,