What if there was a cable channel with programming designed for people with AD?

My dad passed away two weeks ago after many years with AD but I always thought there should be a cable channel that doesn't show a lot of weird commercials or TV shows. No matter what we were watching on TV; even the food channel, there was always something popping up that confused or scared him.

What if there was a channel carefully programmed for people with AD that included benign TV shows and commercials? Something that you knew if you tuned in, there would be nothing there to scare or confuse.

Old Andy Griffith Shows, craft shows, Lawrence Welk (Dad loved the music), Jackie Gleason, even old sports games. He didn't know if the game had already been played or not but he enjoyed watching football. Cooking shows, easy game shows, say, using decks of cards (wasn't there a show called Joker's Wild?) old comedies...anything entertaining, straight-forward programming. Nothing weird like on TV today.

There was a commercial for milk that involved people wearing masks and trying to sneak into a milk factory. It was all very dark and gloomy and it really unnerved Dad. Even commericals with talking animals greatly confused him.

I'm not saying we should stick people in front of a TV and walk off. But every caregiver knows that you can't constantly entertain them 24 hours a day. So to know you can turn on a specific channel and not worry would have been a relief for me.

There are so many specific types of channels out there but very few are suitable for people with AD.

How do I go about doing this? I know nothing about this type of thing at all. Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Edina

My inclination, Edina, would be to keep people with Alzheimer's away from the TV screen. They need direct stimulation. One-on-one. I think the TV acts to dull their minds. Their senses. Gives them more of a false sense of reality. Makes them more confused. They need more human contact. Far more than they get. TV is a crutch. A poor substitute for the real thing. Human contact. --Jim

Hi Edina,
I think that is a marvelous idea! I know, my MIL loved to watch golf matches, and the weather channel. If I needed to get ready to go somewhere, I asked her to watch the weather for me, and let me know what it was going to be like. Or, if the "old timers" were golfing, she would love to watch them!

As you stated:
"I'm not saying we should stick people in front of a TV and walk off. But every caregiver knows that you can't constantly entertain them 24 hours a day. So to know you can turn on a specific channel and not worry would have been a relief for me."

Nothing wrong with using it as occasional relief. I do not believe TV dummies people up, unless they let it. Many members' Loved Ones enjoy watching old shows and movies.

The thing is, you have to monitor the viewing, like our children. Perhaps taping a couple of tapes with exclusive viewing choices. You may need to create your own, personal channel , without commercial interruptions.

I do not see anyone creating a channel geared toward this, simply because of the profit factor.

Hi Maebee,

I thought of the profit factor too that's why I was thinking of PBS and have it run off of pledges.

I know what you mean, Jim, about the TV. One on one is best, of course. For the person that is at home with a caregiver, usually a wife or husband, this gives the caregiver time to do housework or whatever else that may need to be done.

Dad & I used to watch a low impact, seated exercise show together and we'd sit and follow the exercises. He didn't do them correctly but who cares? At least he was moving his limbs and trying!

We also played Black Jack but I dealt the cards face up and at least had him counting. Unfortunately, there came a time when he couldn't do that any more.

If anyone sees this post and knows how to do this sort of thing, please take the ball and run with it! You never know about certain TV shows, though. My Dad thought I Love Lucy was hilarious one week. The next week, it really irritated him.

If all else fails, create your own programming on a DVD or VCR tape like Maebee suggests.

Thanks for your ideas.

Edina

Edina,
Thank you for brining this idea to us.
My ADLO loves westerns, but he may start confusing the violence with reality some day.
I will try to record some things that might be entertaining but that don't require following a plot to be enjoyable. Animal programs that don't include predator-prey interactions might be one he would like.

Namaste.

I don't have EOAD, I have neuro-cognitive lupus. Even now I can't tolerate any of the night-time dramas, they are too violent and too complicated and have too many characters. I will watch an old show such as Fraser. I have many videotaped hours of the various Star Treks, The Honeymooners, Colombo, etc., that I watch over and over. I like music shows and travel shows.

I don't like shows like American Idol or Survivor because there are too many changes, too many people, and too much suspense. They don't hold my attention and I get distracted, even though they might seem like simple shows to others.

I agree, a startling commercial can break my concentration and ruin a show for me.

Let's hear it for videos and DVDs!

Iris L.

Hi folks,

My computer has been down for a couple of weeks so just getting back online. Thank you all for your comments.

Iris, your comments have given us a lot of insight. Many shows and even commercials are too violent, camera shots too fast or have just bazaar elements to them that make them difficult to follow, are confusing or scary.

Recording shows without commericals is a great idea. Something that will engage and educate. I'm still mulling this all over.

Thanks!

Edina

I know this is an old post (Sept.) but here in NYC we have a channel on cable called TV Land where they show all the oldies but goodies: Leave It To Beaver, Bonanza, Hogan's Heroes, M*A*S*H. They are still interrupted by modern day commercials, but the channel sounds like something ADers would like, or so I thought.

So I put that channel on for Mom and found she did not care for it. She was, at best, disinterested. She prefers NCIS, the SyFy channel, and other action shows. I don't know if she is "following" the plot, but she is engaged, entertained, and expresses great interest with noises and facial expressions.

The Alzheimer's Store has videos for ADer of puppies, babies, and stuff like that which Mom would adore. But I can't afford them. Nevertheless, they are there for others.

Just some thoughts.

You know, that is funny because some of my hubby's favorite type movies are like Raiders of the Lost Ark and stuff like that. I guess the more action, the better cause then they don't fall asleep -- he must challenge their mind somehow.

I also imagine watching repeats is easier because somewhere in there they might remember the plot, or it might make it easier to figure it out, since it's in their old memory banks, so to speak.

The "they" in my paragraph sounds so cold. I don't mean it that way. I know there are many ADers who still manage quite well and can follow some movies. I'm just sayin' . . .

WOW! Hubby and I were discussing this subject recently. We've noticed when we put a movie on (any kind) my Aunt seems to stay more focused, even if she doesn't understand the plot. For some reason it holds her attention more than even the old show station. (lol can't remember the name of it right now)Must be the commercials. I have noticed that when I mute the commercials that confuses her too. I can't stand regular TV so it's automatic for me to mute it. So now when we have her for the day we just put on movies either from cable or the computer. Hubby has his puter going through the TV. No matter what kind it is she stays focused and seems to enjoy them more than a station with commercials.
Btw, we don't just put her in front of the TV and leave her. We're with her constantly unless I have chores to do. Like cooking, laundry, etc.