Watching TV is a challenge

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?

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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".

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.