soothing video programs for PWD?

ninalu

Hi everyone, 
I'm looking for tips on "video" programming that can be present in the background and provide a comforting experience for a bed / chair bound LO. 

A friend recommended Zinnia TV (programming for PWD) - does anyone here use this and would you be willing to comment on how it works for you?

My mom with late-stage Alzheimer's loves animals and nature, and gets a lot of pleasure from both. I'm planning to make a favourites play list of streaming programs that feature long scenes of  nature and animals but without a lot of narrative or long-form storytelling. I was thinking of combining the video with classical music in the background, which mom also loves. 

Happy to post back the list I compile. Thanks in advance!

SunnyAB

Cat TV and Dog TV sound very much like what you are describing. They are supposed to be shows for animals while their owners are at work all day. My Mom used to watch Dog TV because it was soothing and she liked the scenery. It is nature videos with the nature sounds included. No talking. My Mom actually had a Dog TV channel through her satellite carrier, but I found plenty of these videos on youtube and will sometimes put on a 9 hour Cat TV video just for the enjoyable and relaxing nature sounds. I can get caught up in watching the video too.

sophirolr

The pet channels are very interesting for my neighbor with dementia. After I came across https://www.firesticktricks.com/pvr-iptv-simple-client-on-kodi.html , I decided to make a selection of channels about animals and nature so that he could view them and not search between other channels. I also connected a channel with classical music, which he loves and it calms him down. He was very grateful to me for this, as I can see that it is easier for him now

ninalu

Thank you for this, SunnyAB and sophirolr -- this is perfect.

I'll share back anything I learn that works well for us.

sunnydove

My mom has the same interests. If you subscribe to any networks for streaming programming, Disney has hundreds of episodes of both regular America's Funniest Videos as well as AFV Animal Edition. Hulu now has lots of regular America's Funniest as well, but different seasons than offered on Disney. Nat Geo Wild is part of Disney so you get all the wildlife programming they offer as well. We watch Nat Geo Wild through cable and also use the streaming service. 

If you have a smart tv, there are free channels. We discovered TBD when it was originally offered through our cable service but now it's on the free side. They show animal videos all day long through Pet Collective. My mom absolutely loves it and because it's just the videos without an announcer/tv host or laughter soundtracks, it's more soothing to listen to and can fade into the background easier than the commercial show options. 

Of course there's no shortage of funny animal videos on youtube. You can also just search for "cute" or "calming" videos cater to whatever mood you are trying to create. Good luck!

CatsWithHandsAreTrouble

I know in general that aquariums have been proven to sooth people, not PWD specifically, but it does work. Depending on how you collect your videos for the feed, you can find footage of fish tanks and aquariums on YouTube. You can just mute the video's sounds if they're not good and play music on a second device.

mommyandme (m&m)

We watch many animal shows… those listed above for sure.  The Pet Collective is a very fun one.  It’s on Samsung TV but also some of them are on YouTube.  I’ve invested in most of the streaming platforms because of musicals, ballets, even Dancing with the Stars which is also on Disney+.  I mostly stay in animal or musicals.  Some of the variety shows like Carol Burnett have been a little chaotic for mom.  Although Andy Griffith and Little House on the Prairie are good sometimes.  I also use the Fish Tank relaxing videos.

SarahN

My mom gets overstimulated by any TV shows.  She has always loved birds and nature so we pull up the YouTube app on the TV and search for “birds and sleep.” Sounds weird to include the word sleep in the search but this ensures it is low stimulation and more relaxing.

ninalu

sunnydove, Cats, m&m, and sarahN: thank you for sharing your tips. it's super-helpful for me!

May flowers

My FIL ended up that way too. He used to like old shows like Gunsmoke, and newer shows like Heartland, but he ended up hollering at the characters on TV. The last series we tried to watch with him was Little House on the Prairie. He did enjoy the book on tape though, much calmer.

He didn’t mind baseball, so when the TV was on, it was usually that. I didn’t think about animal shows, that’s a good idea!

mommyandme (m&m)

Somethings changing in mom.  Seems like TV might be over stimulating for her.  Yesterday I played her CDs,  I turned the TV volume off and put different nature, flower YouTube videos on.  Of course I sat with her all day to change it to a different scenery but it was actually a nice day.

Jo C.

Not comfortable with that link as it mentions that one can get into legal trouble; also is selling product to avoid that.

J.