The News and Elderly Care in Cascade, MI
It is an old cliché that elderly people do nothing but sit around and watch the news all day. While it is unlikely that an aging adult who was not a fan of watching the news when he was younger will suddenly develop an affinity for this programming, there is a tendency for older adults to settle into patterns that were established when they were younger. This means that if your aging loved one liked to watch the news in the morning or evening when he was younger, he may begin watching more often. Some seniors truly do find news channels that they like, and watch them all day. While watching the news does keep your aging loved one aware of what is going on around him, becoming obsessed with watching the news all the time it can create some issues.
It is important that you keep your aging loved one active both physically and mentally. As news channels tend to repeat the same stories several times throughout the day, your aging loved one may fall into the pattern of repeating himself, or could experience memory issues. More importantly, however, the topics that are often discussed on the news can be distressing and upsetting for your loved one. Whether it is offenses that are occurring throughout the world, political issues that are being debated, or simply the changes that have occurred since he was younger, the stories that are covered on the news may lead to anger, agitation, and sadness.
Also an important consideration is the physical impact of watching the news for hours on end. Just sitting around and watching TV all day reduces the senior’s physical health and vitality. Because the news can be fascinating, and the stories are generally short, it can be easy to spend several hours watching this programming without really noticing the passing of time. Limiting your aging loved one’s television watching, and making sure that he is watching positive program, is important role in elderly care. This will help them to feel better physically and emotionally, which will lead to better results in other areas of your elderly care efforts.
Of course, watching the news in the morning or evening is not a bad thing. This will help your loved one stay informed, and can help him feel more connected to the world around him. Particularly if he was once active in the political scene, he will want to continue feeling up to date on these activities, and even find ways to continue to be involved.
If you or someone you know needs help with elderly care in Cascade, MI contact the caregivers at Gauthier Family Home Care. We provide quality and affordable home care for many disabled and elderly loved ones in our community. Call us at (616) 658-2300 for more information.
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