Loud Cartoons for Elderly Patients

Nurses General Nursing

Published

How do you feel about nurses/CNAs/other staff members turning on loud cartoons for their elderly patients to watch? It has been noticed that someone at the facility I work for seems to go into rooms when residents are not there and turns the TV on to the kids cartoon channel, all the way up to volume 100. Some people believe that the TVs are turning on by themselves, but that seems unlikely. Maintenance has checked the TVs several times for any malfunctioning issues, and there appears to be none. Also, some of the residents have noted that their remotes are not where they left them when they leave their rooms, so that makes it seem even more likely that someone is purposely turning on the TV to loud cartoons. While some of the residents brush it off or seem oblivious to it happen, others have made numerous complaints. One resident put on her call lights at least 8 times during the shift because she could hear the loud TV in the next room, where nobody was watching TV.

At other facilities, sometimes they gather residents into the living area and turning on the TV to--you guessed it--cartoons without any feedback from the residents as to what they actually want to watch.

It seems like a strange situation, for sure. Some people think someone is pulling a prank, while others are annoyed, because they feel like someone is treating these elderly patients like children. What are your thoughts? I am not sure what to think about this.

Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

I don't mean to deter the course of this discussion, and I've briefed over it now and again, but every time I'm scrolling down the list of topics and see the title of this thread, an image like this comes to mind:

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Specializes in LTC.

Oh god...I can't stand loud tv! Those poor residents! Imagine being nonverbal and confined to your bed or wheelchair and having to sit and listen to that crap! I would straight up ask the suspected person wtf her problem is that she needs to turn a tv on up to volume 100 and force the residents to endure all that BS.

No update from OP. I'm smelling a rat.

Sorry, I have been away from AllNurses for a few days. I've been busy attending a conference, and then was working the last two days. But nothing's changed much at work, other than the cartoons aren't QUITE as loud as they used to be.

The OP has not been back since it was suggested that she (the OP) is actually the cartoon bandit. Maybe the OP thinks she is creating cover for herself by bringing the issues up on AN. Of course does not really work on an anonymous message board. I guess this is a play on "who ever smelt it dealt it." :sniff:

Sorry, I've been busy with a conference and then attending work the past couple of days. No time for AllNurses.

Sorry, I have been away from AllNurses for a few days. I've been busy attending a conference, and then was working the last two days. But nothing's changed much at work, other than the cartoons aren't QUITE as loud as they used to be.

Really. How much less loud are they?

Really. How much less loud are they?

Probably volume 50-60 instead of 100

I guess I'd see whether I could direct the channel to a cartoon that at least I can tolerate

SpongeBob. Family Guy ? Used to love Courage the Cowardly Dog

Well that all makes sense now. You could have said that earlier.

It's obviously the ghost of the resident who passed away.

This showed up under my "Hot" tab, so I'm replying even though the most recent post was about a week and a half ago. I have had close family members and still have a few friends' family members who have had either temporary or long-term stays in LTC facilities, and I find this disturbing to say the least--"disgusting" would be more accurate, actually. If true, it shows a total lack of respect for both the patients/residents and the staff, and incompetence on the part of management. However, I, too, suspect the OP is either the guilty one or is totally stringing the forum along with false posts. Creepy in any case, and no, it's no ghost.

I'm not a nurse but I have worked in a few facilities as a CNA. Even when I had 30+ residents (with just another CNA and an RN) I was always walking down the halls checking on everyone. It wasn't hard to be aware of what was happening with my residents. Something isn't adding up.

I agree. Something's very fishy with this story.

I think the culprit is a danger to others and needs not only the boot but a 72 hour hold. Anonymously call the department in your state that handles elder abuse, call CMS, and call the local newspaper. Make sure your phone can't be identified. Use a pay phone if you can still find one. Make sure no one overhears you if you call from work. You can bet me that those in charge will involve the law enforcement officials once they are found out by the public and by authorities.

I apologize if I am wrong, but I think OP is being WAY TOO compassionate and is likely the one doing this.

KK, thank you for your post, and I agree with you. I've been suspicious of the OP for several pages now. She keeps making excuses for the culprit, embellishes, and it seems inconceivable that this could have been going on regularly since July with no resolution and little concern or effort to stop it. Management is unconcerned, even after a patient FALL, and no one ever sees who exits the room where the loud noise just started. (They must have Scotty beaming them up.) This makes zero sense and I'm not buying it.

Even in a zoo, this could not be that difficult to solve over that much time with it involving sudden loud sounds. With TVs having been actually unplugged, I don't see how it could have been done remotely through an app. Which shifts? Where were the staff members when the noise began? In my experience, LTCs aren't exactly over-staffed, so who was unaccounted for at that moment? If the OP is legit (I apologize if I was wrong!), it borders on patient abuse and at best is demeaning to the residents. If management won't handle it, it needs to go to the regulatory board and/or the media. There is nothing humorous about this. If I had a family member there, well, it would not be good.

I hope OP weighs back in with the "resolution."

/rant over/ (My heart goes out to residents of LTCs, and those who care for them.)

This is simple. It started to happen after that resident passed away? It's him...:eek:

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