TV in dementia unit

[lilybean]

I work in a retirement home on a locked unit. The activities department is mediocre to say the least, and a lot of our residents spend a great deal of time each day sitting in their rooms or in the hall not doing much. There are a couple of activity-style rooms with nice tvs, and I like to keep movies playing or the news on so that the residents passing by will go in, be entertained, keep their imaginations active, and feel like they are in a more social setting with the other residents. I also think that just the noise helps, b/c it is such a quiet floor. However, the other morning I had the news on, and our administrator asked me if I could turn the tvs off if nobody was watching, b/c he didn't like the idea of family members thinking we supported them watching tv all the time. Maybe if we had a real activities dept. they wouldn't have to watch tv a lot......but I've found that visiting family members usually smile when they hear me inviting residents to come into the activities room, watch national geographic and have some popcorn. I have to admit I kept "accidentally" keeping the tvs turned on that day. I just can't bring myself to leave no opportunity for the residents to mingle and be connected to the world outside them in order to keep up appearances. What do you think? Tv or no Tv?

[amanda1229]

On our locked unit, it's considered "low-stimulation," so I often got chewed out for having some of the TVs on at night when everyone was in bed. I'd turn off a few, but some I had to leave on all night -- these residents are the ones who told me they'd fall asleep every night with the TV on! I'm the same way, just because it's just low-stim doesn't mean they can't have a life like they used to -- the life they used to have is the one they're often living on the unit! I just close the door a bit to make sure the other residents can sleep.

When I turn the TVs on, I like to make sure it might be like they used to, though. We don't have a TV room on the locked unit, so I'll get blankets and a snack for the residents, sit them in their chairs, and turn on the TV. And tune it to a station like TV Land, of course, or TCM (Turner Classic Movies, or whatever). And sit along and laugh with them, just like they might have long ago.

Some other ideas for activities you can do, if your activity program is mediocre at best:

* Singing or music. Some of our residents love to sing. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Show_Me_the_Way_to_Go_Home This is the theme song for our locked unit. Get them in a big circle and sing some old songs, or songs that we all know (Jesus Loves Me, You Are My Sunshine). They may sing at five different paces, but they'll just light up.

* Looking through magazines. I thought residents would get bored, but it sparks a lot of stories. Especially if you start them. IE: Ooh a pretty wedding dress, what was your wedding like? What did your husband do? How long were you married? And some of them will love to see pictures of farms since most of them were raised there.

* Puzzles. Puzzles with pieces are fun for the more focused resident. For instance, we have a few dementia residents that will retain a fair amount of their memory for a day or so, and they have far more capacity for putting together 100 or 200 pieces than the average dementia resident. I also brought in a puzzle book with differences between two pictures one night (to keep me awake on third shift!) and I just gave it to one of my residents, she loved it -- albeit she picked out the same ones over and over again. :)

* Kickball. Great for exercise, too. Put all your residents in a circle sitting down, buy a nice-size ball and kick it. You'd be surprised at how active some of the residents get. The combative ones will get their mini-workout if you're lucky.

* Nail care and massages. Some of the more patient females will love a little manicure with nail polish and everything, and it might also spark some stories. I love when all the little ladies on my unit have their nails painted. Plus, this activity is so cheap, one bottle goes a long way. We also buy bottles of lotion and give some of the residents hand, neck, or arm massages at night in the dining room before they go to bed.

* Outside visit. I don't know if your unit has a little deck (maybe they all do, I don't know), but some of our residents absolutely love to just be outside. Just to sit out in the breeze once in a while is like a dream to them. Just make sure that you don't make the same mistake a stupid aide here once did and let them out alone: two residents flagged down a car and had someone buy them cigarettes and coffee.

* "Handy work" activities. We have a resident that used to be on a farm, like many, but this guy will just wander the halls in his geri chair and find the smallest details and "work" on them. He gets combative at nights but he'll just stop if he finds a screw in the wall -- he'll have to "work" on it. One day they brought blocks, Legos, and some other connecting toys and he just goes to town on those. It keeps him busy, interested, and calm. If you have any "handymen" it works perfectly.

I hope some of these might work for you. I love working on my CCDU because I get to do these activities and, as Jolene Brackey says, help the resident "find their greatness." It really is so rewarding! Good luck.

[lovingtheunloved, ASN, RN]

Just me, but I would have flipped that administrator a good old fashioned bird and suggested that if he doesn't like the tv on, to come entertain the residents himself. The activities staff where I work are completely useless, so I feel your pain.

[adrienurse, LPN]

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[Dixiecup]

Had a man on our unit who before his mind got bad, spent a lot of times walking the highway and picking up cans for extra money. He loved it.

We had a big fenced in area behind our unit and we would spread a bunch of old soda cans all over the yard, give him a bag and he would go pick them up.

Some people thought that was awful but the guy absolutely loved it!

[nckdl]

On our unit, we have tv and the "higherups" complained that our residents are always sitting around watching a movie and it's a shame. Well they came down to the unit, the same time each nite when its time for the movies. Duh!!!! I explained that the residents request movies and even discuss among each other during supper on what movie to watch that nite. Just because they have dementia, doesn't mean they still don't have resident's rights. During meal times we do shut off the movie/tv and play music as to help "set the mood" for meals. Our unit is definetly not a quiet unit. If they get too wound up or anxious, a walk or a van ride is in order to get them feeling better.