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The Clock Stopped

BikingOldMan
BikingOldMan Member Posts: 14
10 Comments 5 Insightfuls Reactions 5 Likes 5 Care Reactions
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in Caring For a Spouse or Partner

In the middle of a concentrated time of reviewing important documents (…and needing a break) I was interrupted with DW coming into the room upset because the clock "stopped again!" and her TV shows were all mixed up "I give up!" she said.

I managed to not react and instead said kindly "Can you show me so that I can fix it?"

Once into the living room she pointed to the TV and said "See — that program is running overtime again. The program I wanted to watch should be on now at 11 — I'm going to miss it again!".

I then looked at the living room clock which read perfectly, and asked her to check her watch - she agreed that the two were the same. I simply stated that the problem couldn't be the clock. So "mr. Fixit" to the rescue brought TV to live from the DVR that she was watching, and her missing" program came to life!

The concept of watching a program that is being recorded on DVR vs watching that same program on live just isn't available to my MBA educated DW at this time. As much as I've tried to explain how to tell the difference between live and DVR it just hasn't taken permanent residence in her mind. She likes being able to fast forward through ads, and she does do that regularly, but sometimes she can't fast forward because she isn't watching DVR but is watching live.

Sometimes "Confusion reigneth supreme!" The TV control has been a continued source of confusion for her.

Comments

  • annie51
    annie51 Member Posts: 399
    250 Likes 250 Care Reactions 100 Comments Second Anniversary
    Member

    So sad to see our loved ones struggling with things that are so simple or that they were expert at before. The remote was one of the first things DH had trouble with. Now he doesn’t even know what the remote is. It can certainly try our patience as they lose abilities but you handled it well.

  • trottingalong
    trottingalong Member Posts: 753
    Ninth Anniversary 500 Likes 500 Comments 250 Care Reactions
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    The remote/tv has become a constant source of confusion and frustration.

  • BikingOldMan
    BikingOldMan Member Posts: 14
    10 Comments 5 Insightfuls Reactions 5 Likes 5 Care Reactions
    Member
    https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/254095#Comment_254095
  • wose
    wose Member Posts: 260
    250 Care Reactions 100 Likes 100 Comments 25 Insightfuls Reactions
    Member

    Yep, almost exactly the same here too. My DH keeps switching out remotes in different rooms, cause “ his won’t work.” It’s very frustrating because then all the remotes need to be reprogrammed. He has the TV on for 16 hours a day, so yeah we go thru a lot of batteries. The light not lighting up the remote does not compute anymore. Whoever said “patience is a virtue” surely was not kidding💜

  • Sunfish47
    Sunfish47 Member Posts: 6
    5 Likes 5 Care Reactions First Comment
    Member

    Yep ditto to all of this. My DH can’t operate the remote anymore and sometimes thinks it is his phone, when he can’t find his phone (which is most of the time - cuz he carefully hides it so no one will steal it).
    When his phone does occasionally show up, I put it on TikTok for him and he watches the same videos over and over. And can’t use his computer anymore, unless I put it on YouTube so he can watch videos.
    No computer ability is a good thing cuz in the early stages we lost money on two new iPhones he bought for an online scammer. That was back in 2021 when me and the adult kids realized his problems were real and got him to the dr and neurologist.
    DH also fell for a few less costly credit card scams, and when the statements showed up I had his cards cancelled. He doesn’t understand the concept of credit cards these days and no longer complains that he doesn’t have any.
    These days he carries no more than $50 cash in his wallet and he enjoys being the one paying when we go to Burger King. 😊
    I raised two toddlers and now I have a senior citizen toddler that shadows me constantly and can’t be left alone.
    So far I am able to cope.

Commonly Used Abbreviations


DH = Dear Husband
DW= Dear Wife, Darling Wife
LO = Loved One
ES = Early Stage
EO = Early Onset
FTD = Frontotemporal Dementia
VD = Vascular Dementia
MC = Memory Care
AL = Assisted Living
POA = Power of Attorney
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