But aging does not end an individual's capacity for humor. One resident always gives a colorful response when I ask her how she is feeling. To share humor, the caregiver and the resident must find a way to relate to each other's reality. I saw that even residents with Alzheimer's could share humor, depending on the severity of the dementia. Laughter, smiles, playfulness, and touch are effective ways to relate with these residents.
Laughter especially can serve to trigger a connection.
As I continue my analysis, there is still much more to discover. At the same time, my research has become an emotional journey that has reminded me of difficult decisions that may not be far away for me and my family, that has forced me to see my aging self in the eyes of my new aged friends, and that has taken me full circle back to a time when I was a young boy visiting my grandmother at a nursing home. It's been a rewarding experience. Lance Lippert , who holds a Dissertation Research Award from SIUC, plans to use his research findings in teaching organizational and health communication. His doctoral adviser is speech communication professor Phillip Glenn.