Is “Picture Talk” a Valuable Intervention In the Care of Persons with Dementia?

In recent years, I have used pictures I’ve taken on my smartphone or received from others, as part of how I relate to my patients.  Pictures are a powerful way to share common human experiences that even my advanced dementia patients can find interesting. Most of these pictures are of my dog or grandchildren or places in the area that have a story associated with them.  I commonly will then ask my patients about their experiences with similar circumstances.