Heck if they have a bit of Mark Twain in them... the story may be even better than the reality.

This is a technique that is used with children who are working to improve cognition

I have been trying to think of things to do with my mother, and this sounds perfect.

This is an excellent approach for stimulating dementia patients. I routinely use it with my mother who suffers from mid-stage Alzheimer's disease. I will show her an unusual photo from a newspaper or magazine and simply ask her to explain in her own words what she sees andthinks is going on. It doesn't matter what she comes up with. I always compliment her answers. What is important is not what she says but rather that she is mentally stimulated and engaged. It is also fun for me to listen to and discuss her often improbable explanations. Pictures involving small children or animals work well.

A few years back my (now deceased) dad was telling my husband and me about things in his childhood. It all sounded reasonable. Then he mentioned about his uncle killing someone and having to leave town. And of course I asked him for details--he did just what the article said and clammed up. He couldn't remember anything else. I have no idea whether it was true.

My grandmother, towards the end, had stories about specific places she was in Florida in her youth. She had never shared these stories before. They all sounded reasonable until she got to one detail. Then I began to question whether anything she had said was true.

Likewise, my mom started telling people she taught at a reform school. After dealing with my dad and grandmother, I just let her tell it and entertain people. Later, I would let people know the truth.

It is a tricky situation to deal with and differs for each one.