Thanks, Peter, for this link, which I finally got around to checking out this morning. I'm not sure I know anyone who has 15 minutes to spare for watching this award-winning short film, but it will give you a smile if you need one.
On a more serious note, validation does indeed make a difference: http://www.amazon.com/Validation-Breakthrough-Techniques-Communicating-Alzheimers-Type/dp/1878812815/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228373716&sr=8-1
This is also the context in which I first heard of it.
Also, the main actor of this short is on the TV series "Bones."
Moreover, I could have made that link look nicer, but forgot to html-code it. Sorry!