What Does Spring Smell Like?

 

What does spring smell like?  

What do you think is a beautiful sound?  

If those questions made you pause for a second and reflect, that’s exactly the point. These are examples of “beautiful questions,” open-ended prompts designed to push you beyond your everyday thinking and invite you to look at the world a little differently. Writer and artist Anne Basting developed beautiful questions as a way to creatively engage people, particularly older adults with impaired cognition. These questions are part of what Dr. Basting calls “creative care,” a method that fosters meaning, conversation, and storytelling for those who otherwise have difficulty communicating. But anyone can ask and answer a beautiful question.  

In this special bonus episode ahead of season 3 of the Age of Aging, Dr. Basting joins Jake to discuss the power of beautiful questions and shares a couple of her favorites.  

We want to hear from you! 

We’re inviting you, our listeners, to respond to the question: What do you think is a beautiful sound? Your answer could be featured in Episode 1 of Season 3. Call ‪(571) 449-6474 and leave a voicemail with your name, where you’re calling from, and your response. 

Each episode this season will feature a new beautiful question, along with responses from our listeners. There are no right or wrong answers; we want to hear your unique perspectives! 

 

Resources 

  • Please call ‪(571) 449-6474 to leave your response. 

 
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I Had My Old Girl Back

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Dementia in 2025: An Expert Roundtable