TVs in NHs

southlucia

Registered User
Dec 19, 2011
166
0
Yet again, I arrived at the NH to find that 'Jeremy Kyle' was on the TV in the lounge. Yet again, I asked for something more appropriate. One of the carers changed the channel, but this just resulted in another 'aggressive' programme being screened. Last week they had 4music on! I can see how this affects residents.

My dad is now at an advanced stage of his illness and doesn't notice the noise anymore, but he was previously very bothered by any background noise. I'd brought this up with management many times in the past, but it seems the TV is still just there to entertain the carers!!

From the experience I have with my dad, I understand that the brain becomes unable to distinguish background noise from any other noise. Many a time someone has posted on here about the confusion with TV, and the fact that noise becomes an issue.

My dad worked in TV production for many, many years, but when dementia hit him very rapidly, he thought the TV crew where there, in his home. I'd be talking to him on the phone; I could hear the TV blaring, and Dad would be telling me that they were filming in his house. They were all there, making a noise and getting in his way. He made them all sandwiches and tea, but they didn't bother with that: they were too busy.
I understood this, because his previous career was further confusing the issue.

All the residents at this NH have moderate to advanced dementia. This NH also claims to deal with challenging behaviour; so why oh why, do they not understand ? I already know the answer, but it frustrates me so! I have suggested some calming music, but I guess that would just bore the carers! :rolleyes:
 

fizzie

Registered User
Jul 20, 2011
2,725
0
I think it is outrageous some of the rubbish they put on TV. If you have the energy do put your thoughts in writing to manager - it has to be recorded then and at least considered. It also annoys me that they majority do not put on the subtitles. about 60% of people over 60 have hearing loss, a home is a very busy environment and people who actually do want to watch a programme can often follow it with subtitles but wouldn't be able to otherwise because of the background noise and bustle. I have a peronsal campaign in every care home i go to to ask them to put subtitles on. I am going to write to all of them in my county with a well thought out email. I think I have an obsession lol
 

rhubarbtree

Registered User
Jan 7, 2015
501
0
North West
Those poor residents having to put up with that programme or modern pop music. Why do some workers think they are entitled to be entertained while working (builders drive me mad too). Hope you have the strength to continue dialogue with home manager, not just to help your relative but all the residents.
 

onlyme1

Registered User
Sep 10, 2011
105
0
scarborough
what a good idea to have subtitles on, I'll 'action' it next time I visit my parents, they've been in a care home 2 yrs now. Although I hate the thought of carers thinking I'm interfering, I check with people what they fancy then find something like it and put it on! sunday afternoons we usually have a musical on and about 5 sorts of sweets to hand round, just like an ordinary family. I even put mum's spare slippers on!
 

Kevinl

Registered User
Aug 24, 2013
6,053
0
Salford
The staff put on what they want to watch as far as I've see, Corrie, East Enders, Emmerdale all soaps but all with an underlying tension, arguments and conflict, hardly suitable viewing for anyone let alone to someone in a confused state.
K
 

Dustycat

Registered User
Jul 14, 2014
215
0
North East
Oh don't get me started on this. TV in the lounge of my father's home is my bugbear. I have tried everything. Even suggested that the activities coordinator go through the TV magazine and identify suitable programmes. It does my head in when it's just a background and no one is even watching it. They have installed a Dvd player which so far seems to be an ornament. Good luck. X
 

cragmaid

Registered User
Oct 18, 2010
7,936
0
North East England
Strangely in my late Mum's CH, the lounge TV was only on if there was someone in the room to watch it. There was usually background music playing in the reception hall and sometimes in the Dining room. The lounge was rarely occupied unless there was an " activity" on and the Dining room was more often used for activities. For some reason, the majority of residents chose to stay in their own rooms and they all had their own TVs there. They were always offered the use of the lounge and on the EMI wing, the residents were escorted to and from the lounges ( 2 - one quiet one and one with the TV on permanently) but there was a modicum of common sense applied to the type of programme.....and a lot of old films were played on the DVD.
 

rhubarbtree

Registered User
Jan 7, 2015
501
0
North West
I have had very little knowledge of care homes but it seems to me what Cragmaid has described above is as near perfect as you can get. Surely there must be "best practice" advice on this. There should be plenty of literature around that could be forwarded to the manager.

But on radio 4 today there was the case of a man who complained about something and his wife was given notice to leave. What a worry.
 

nae sporran

Registered User
Oct 29, 2014
9,213
0
Bristol
The TV's in my mum's home were for the benefit of the carers,not the residents. Because I spent a lot of time in the home,I used to turn it off,the carers didn't like me much.

My Granny's care home used to have the television on loud with nobody watching which was very annoying. I used to turn it down while we were there, but was too shy and scared to interfere much beyond that when i was younger.
If anybody is going to complain to management I would have thought they would get a proper hearing as I would have thought it is in their interests to keep everything and everyone relaxed. For anyone running a care home or nursing home not to be aware of it is just ridiculous, they have to be at least asked to think about it.
 

garnuft

Registered User
Sep 7, 2012
6,585
0
I have to say my limited, recent experience of care homes echoes Cragmaids.

Most of the residents watch TV in the room but in the two lounges, the TV is on if there are any residents in, the carers are only there to support the residents and I have seen no sign that they would be so uncaring or ignorant to have music channels or stuff for their own pleasure.

Sometimes care workers get a right bashing.

Sometimes it's deserved, most of the time it isn't.


Sent from my iPhone using Talking Point
 

garnuft

Registered User
Sep 7, 2012
6,585
0
My Pappy-in-law doesn't watch TV during the day, never has, but I was pleased to find him in one of the lounges this morning, watching 'Homes under the Hammer' with two other blokes and a care worker
Nobody chatting, all sitting quietly, supping tea and eating biscuits.

A positive thing for him.


Sent from my iPhone using Talking Point
 
Last edited:

fizzie

Registered User
Jul 20, 2011
2,725
0
My Pappy-in-law doesn't watch TV during the day, never has, but I was pleased to find him in one of the lounges this morning, watching 'Homes under the Hammer' with two other blokes and a care worker
Nobody chatting, all sitting quietly, supping tea and eating biscuits.

A positive thing for him.


Sent from my iPhone using Talking Point

That's great, i hope the subtitles were on :)
 

fizzie

Registered User
Jul 20, 2011
2,725
0
what a good idea to have subtitles on, I'll 'action' it next time I visit my parents, they've been in a care home 2 yrs now. Although I hate the thought of carers thinking I'm interfering, I check with people what they fancy then find something like it and put it on! sunday afternoons we usually have a musical on and about 5 sorts of sweets to hand round, just like an ordinary family. I even put mum's spare slippers on!

That is lovely. Don't worry about interfering, it's all about making the quality of the lives of the residents better and it sounds as though you are doing just that - delightful, what a difference that must make to their week xxxxx

Yes subtitles really do make a difference
 

fizzie

Registered User
Jul 20, 2011
2,725
0
Oh don't get me started on this. TV in the lounge of my father's home is my bugbear. I have tried everything. Even suggested that the activities coordinator go through the TV magazine and identify suitable programmes. It does my head in when it's just a background and no one is even watching it. They have installed a Dvd player which so far seems to be an ornament. Good luck. X

Outrageous. I would complain in writing then they have to do something. I visited a care home the other day where groups of residents were sitting in little groups with a carer and the manager told me that they don't encourage people to sit and watch tv they prefer them to communicate with each other and that is where they direct their efforts. Bloomin marvellous .... What a change from the majority
 

fizzie

Registered User
Jul 20, 2011
2,725
0
I have had very little knowledge of care homes but it seems to me what Cragmaid has described above is as near perfect as you can get. Surely there must be "best practice" advice on this. There should be plenty of literature around that could be forwarded to the manager.

But on radio 4 today there was the case of a man who complained about something and his wife was given notice to leave. What a worry.

That is quite rare - these days they are expected to respond positively to complaints - how horrendous the home and the manager must be!
 

garnuft

Registered User
Sep 7, 2012
6,585
0
That's great, i hope the subtitles were on :)

Subtitles would be pointless.

Other points made about aggressive interactions are more pertinent to little Pappy.

Very upsetting and disquieting to a little, gentle, polite man.
 

Clueless2

Registered User
May 14, 2015
34
0
Now clearing out my parents home, I offered some of their collection of DVDs (Dads Army, Are You Being Served, Porridge, musicals etc) to mums care home. Much as they would like to have them, they said financially they would have to decline; in order to play them they would need a licence which would cost approx £1k. I have no idea whether this is correct, sadly no time at present to investigate, petition or fundraise to resolve.

I have noticed a couple of times that mums radio, which I leave tuned to classic fm and playing quietly, has on two occasions been retuned to Radio1 not something she ever listened to or had saved as a preset. Next time I will take it up with the home.
 

Spamar

Registered User
Oct 5, 2013
7,723
0
Suffolk
Hi clueless, I had that problem. I finally wrote, in nail varnish, 'classic fm, 101.5', on the radio. It was kept on classic after that! Speaking to the Carers didn't work!
 

Dazmum

Registered User
Jul 10, 2011
10,322
0
Horsham, West Sussex
This is a real bugbear of mine too. I find its particularly at the weekends too, but not every time I go, thankfully, which is why I haven't complained recently. I did complain early on about it, and if when I get there the TV is blaring out with no one watching I ask to turn it down! My mum has a tv/DVD in her room, which she has on of she doesn't want to be in the lounge, she likes peace and quiet and sometimes conflict in TH lounge upsets her.

I've just bought her some dvds that I'm quit happy for the carers to put on for other residents too, none of them are able to follow a story, but many like music. The dvds I got are from a series called the Ambient collection and one is tropical flowers and butterflies and th other flowers and scenery in Provence, so lavender and sunflowers. They are meant for relaxation, so I'm hoping that they will benefit from them. Doesn't take much to think about what to put on does it? I have to say they are pretty good and Jeremy Kyle never features. Mum got so muddled with all the soaps and they are all so angry, she used to think they were real :(
 

fizzie

Registered User
Jul 20, 2011
2,725
0
Now clearing out my parents home, I offered some of their collection of DVDs (Dads Army, Are You Being Served, Porridge, musicals etc) to mums care home. Much as they would like to have them, they said financially they would have to decline; in order to play them they would need a licence which would cost approx £1k. I have no idea whether this is correct, sadly no time at present to investigate, petition or fundraise to resolve.

I have noticed a couple of times that mums radio, which I leave tuned to classic fm and playing quietly, has on two occasions been retuned to Radio1 not something she ever listened to or had saved as a preset. Next time I will take it up with the home.

The information isn't true as far as i can tell and i've never heard that from any other care home
http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-...nd-organisations/residential-care-homes-aud14

If I were you regarding the radio I would leave a note above it saying 'this radio needs to be left on classic FM please do NOT retune it'
Then i would write a note to the manager just saying you would appreciate it if carers could be made aware that this is the radio your Ma wishes to listen to!
 

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