We had a conversation today.  It was short, but it is the best we've had so far.
Me: Hey!
FIL: What are you doing?
Me: I'm visiting you.  What are you doing?
FIL: I'm doing nothing.

Baby steps.
We heard from the case manager that we can't send him on to a rehab facility until he is restraint free for 24 hours.  The tech told us today he'd been without gloves briefly, and that he'd sat in a chair while they changed out beds for him.  That's big news.  He also tried to wiggle out of bed the whole time we were there tonight, and the only thing that kept him in was restraints.
Baby steps.
His new favorite word is "What?"

While we were touring rehab facilities, it was hard to see the people there...the loneliness.  Our tour guide at one place took us to a semi-private room to show it to us and was pointing all kinds of things out while we stood outside the door.  In the room was a naked man standing there looking at us.  Just because he may not be in his right mind doesn't mean we shouldn't still respect that he is a person.

Baby Steps.