Watching TV is a challenge

Sandi Roe

I know this is the least of our problems, but since we stay home a lot we watch TV, all the time 🤦‍♀️problem is he absolutely cannot follow any new program, so we continue to watch all the old shows we’ve seen a dozen times. They are new to my LO but I just can’t continue to watch them. He says turn on anything but then complains it’s stupid. I get that familiar is what he maybe understands, he always wants me with him, I’m going nuts trying to adjust to this impossible life , he’s 86, I’m 81… we were widowed and have been together for 15 years… I’m not willing to “ de on the hill” as one brave member said. Sorry this is so much less than everyone is going through, just venting 😔

Quilting brings calm

any chance you can have a tv in a different room for you once you get him started on a program? One that airs several episodes in a row on USA, TNT, etc?

Bailey's Mom

My HWD and I used to watch a movie on tv every night with dinner. It became impossible for him to follow the plot of any shows or movies or figure out who the characters were…he always said we've seen this before, this is stupid, this is boring, and would become angry with me because I picked such a bad movie. He decided on his own that we wouldn't watch tv or movies anymore and now we eat in the kitchen…he never mentions it. I miss watching movies, but not the anxiety of watching them with him. Lately I've been staying up most of the night watching youtubes and binging shows on netflix…anything to turn my mind off of this terrible life. Otherwise I just worry all night about what is to come and don't get any sleep anyway. I don't want to 'Die on the Hill' but am afraid that is going to be my fate.

tucson anne

Have you tried All Creatures great and small? My husband can't follow the story line but loves the animals, scenery and beautiful charaters. No long movies. Also endless videos about war on You Tube. And if he likes music, lots of symphonic concerts on You Tube. I tend to watch one program with him after dinner and then race to get him in bed so I can binge what I want!

CGLisa

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/71977/watching-tv-is-a-challenge

I am going through the same thing, the only thing he can keep up with are the old TV shows and like you said then he starts with how dumb or stupid they are. Becomes very frustrating for me who has already seen these shows 100 times. My LO is only 57 we have been married 38 years but this is so very hard.

Sandi Roe

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/235845#Comment_235845

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/235874#Comment_235874

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/235874#Comment_235874

lenbury

We have several shows that have multiple seasons that my wife can watch over and over. Great British baking, call the midwife, downtown abbey are some. I usually am able to do chores etc while she watches.

Grandot

I’m experiencing the same problem. We found a series of programs on National Parks on PBS. They show beautiful scenery and the narrative is slow. Just a suggestion.

Carl46

We went through that. The shows she liked were police procedurals like SVU and NCIS, and I got pretty tired of them. As her illness progressed, she couldn't tolerate the violence, so we no longer watch them or the news. She can tolerate PBS shows like Nature and Antiques Roadshow pretty well, but not for more than an hour or two at a time, and only if I talk about the shows while we watch them.

jehjeh

That’s the thing about this disease. All those little things add up for the caregiver. My DH couldn’t make it to the bathroom twice today. He wears Depends but the 2nd one leaked a little. I didn’t mind getting him cleaned up and reassuring him that it was not a problem. And it wasn’t. But when I finally get all the tasks done and settle in for an hour of me time only to be interrupted by his running commentary on any show I choose, that’s when the prayers for patience begin.

debriesea

if I’m not interested in whats on the TV, I do things while sitting there like my Sudoku puzzles, reading, being on my phone, etc. It doesn’t bother him and I’m still with him.

JC5

TV seems to be the only form of entertainment for my husband these days. Fortunately when I have time I’ll watch my own in another room. I am finding that he has that thing on all day from the time he gets up to bedtime. He will walk into another room and turn that tv on too so now 2 are on and no one really watching! The constant “noise” is getting to me! But I guess I know where he is!

trottingalong

I’m in the same boat. I do convince him to watch an hour of a show I like per night. If it doesn’t bother him, I get in an extra episode. Because we only have one tv and he wants me near him, I will sit next to him and turn on Netflix on my iPad, put my headphones in and watch a movie. He’s perfectly content holding my hand and watching something he has seen a million times on YouTube. I will say though, I do get frustrated with some things he has watched over and over and over. I’m 68, he’s 81 and we have been together 34 years. I love him dearly and would do anything for him, but I do feel like my life is slipping away.

BPS

My wife watches anything that is on. She can't follow it but that doesn't seem to bother her, but what she likes is the old music. She can't remember much of her past but when the old songs are on she remembers the words to those and quietly sings along with them. That doesn't work for long periods of time because there no motion to watch.

Anna2022

My DH has lost the ability to follow plots but he still likes to watch. When I asked one time whether he knew what was going on, he said no but that he just takes each scene as independent moments. Seems to work for now. He can connect with the good guy/bad guy themes pretty well so that helps when choosing programming. He will watch series on Netflix, Apple TV, PBS Passport over and over because he forgets he has seen them. I usually watch awhile then drift off to another room or the table (open concept layout helps here!) and do other things. I'm in the same "room" which he likes but I'm not stuck watching.

Chris20cm

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/71977/watching-tv-is-a-challenge

I have the same situation with DW, who watches sitcom re-runs constantly, like Friends and Roseanne and The Office. The laugh tracks are extremely annoying so I go to a different room and practice some music. But if I want to watch something worthwhile, I wait until a commercial comes on, then change the channel, and she doesn't remember what she was watching, so that doesn't bother her. Although if I leave the room for a minute, she snatches the remote and switches back to Friends. Then I wait for the next commercials.

CindyBum

All these "little things" add up to a very frustrating way of being. I get on my computer when my DW watches "The Incredible Dr. Pol" or "Blue Bloods" for the 900th time. That works some, but like with your LO, she wants me not only by her side, but paying attention to the tv. This grip she tries to keep on me is so friggin' annoying. If I even shift in my chair, she'll ask me where I'm going. Gaahhhhhhhh

My latest attempt at things —- I sit with her for an hour watching the tv with her, then tell her I'm going to go do a little project for 15 minutes. So far…sort of working. I usually take at least a 1/2 hour to do these projects and it gives me a break.

Hang in there. It's no small thing what you're dealing with.

l7pla1w2

We have a ritual each evening of taking a (small) bowl of ice cream to the den to watch TV. DW doesn't really follow things, and I know to avoid programs that are too complex or have too many characters. She'll sit with me, but when we've finished the ice cream, she'll use that as an excuse to take the dishes into the kitchen. Sometimes I pause the program, sometimes not. However, I know at some point I have to pause the program and check up on DW in the kitchen, because she has a sweet tooth and is probably taking more ice cream or something else. She also might be slipping the dog extra treats. By going into the kitchen I can moderate her worst behaviors, but it sure messes with the continuity of a program.

I'll add that she is much better watching TV in the afternoon, before sundowning begins. In the evening she's likely to nod off while sitting with me. So far she hasn't reached a stage where she wants to sleep for long stretches, which would give me some "me time".

Karl38

I have many of the same problems discussed here. We like to watch tv in the evening, and my wife wants me near by. She can't follow a plot or remember characters, etc., but she likes I Love Lucy reruns on Paramount+. There are 6 seasons with many episodes in each season. She watches them over and over and does't remember any of them. I set her up with apple EarPods linked to the tv sound with bluetooth so I don't have to hear it. I use a laptop to do many things while she watches tv. My laptop has a plugin headset so I can watch YouTube or a movie with my own sound. Sometimes I read magazines or a book. This is not the greatest but works for us. My big question is, how long is this going to go on?

RetiredTeacher

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/71977/watching-tv-is-a-challenge

My husband has difficulty walking even with a walker and prefers to sit all day and evening and watch rerun....70's reruns and old westerns. The same ones over and over again. It is painful for me. He also wants me to sit next to him...driving me nuts! I'm 68, he's 76 but now is more like 85. I read a book, play pinochle on my phone, do hand sewing...etc. I look forward to him falling asleep in his chair so I can get other chores done or at least have a few minutes to myself. I don't have suggestions for your hubby but you need to find hobbies or activities you can do while neing with him. Small ear phones and pandora music help.

JDancer

I watch or work on my laptop while DH watches game shows or sports.

He also watches a continuous loop of Sport Center for hours each morning. He's newly amazed every time they show the top ten plays. It breaks my heart.