Now more than ever, our staff need to know a resident's story! From the moment we meet a new "admit," the "facts" begin pouring in - birth date, marriages, education, occupation, children, significant health issues, and on and on it goes. We have the DATA, but often don't discover the person until we read their obituary - it is filled with insight and stories we wish we had known. We need to meet the PERSON, not the RESIDENT. When we know their story, we can better meet their needs and provide true, person-centered care. The better we know them, the more likely we are to avoid the desensitization that happens because of what we see, hear and work around each day. We need to see our elders as individuals: Did we knock on his door? Speak to Mrs. Jones when we passed her in the hall? Respond to calls for help no matter how often they happen? Did we have a conversation during her meal? Come and learn as Cat teaches us the role we play in developing an elder's story, a process that ultimately helps us better meet the needs of people with dementia and helps us provide true, person-centered care and improve the quality of life of those we serve.