Smiles speak a language that is almost universally understood. Smiles are one of the enduring forms of communication with someone who has dementia. When you smile, very good things happen. Smiles, especially combined with eye contact, convey kindness to the one you are smiling at. Even though Mama had a touch of glaucoma, she could still see faces. One of the best aspects of smiles is that they are contagious! When you see a smile, it is almost an automatic response to smile back.
