I am new here and my first topic I am asking is probably the least of my problems, but I'm gonna just ease in for now.
Does anyone else have the total confusion of the remotes issue and why aren't there any simple solutions out there? At least 3 times a day I have to fix the TV because my Granny has started pushing buttons on all of the remotes until she finally calls me and I walk into full blast Spanish TV (and she doesn't speak Spanish) and her cooler is on high and the ringer on her phone is turned off. (Pulling my hair out, but smiling on the outside, by the third time) Does anyone have any advice on products or ideas that can help? I've tried marking everything and putting some remotes away, but I still walk into the same situation. Somebody, please, help me find a solution before I end up completely bald.
I even at one point got a Roku thinking that their smaller and less complicated remote would be easier, but it wasn't.
Sadly there comes a point when someone with a broken brain just can't grasp even the simplest of things and we as caregivers must just be patient with them.
It's hard I know, but please know that you're not alone.
There were times when I just had to take the remote away from my husband after putting on one of his favorite shows and because at that time he was completely bedridden, I didn't have to worry about him getting out of bed to try and find it. He wasn't always happy about it as he liked to channel surf during commercials, but for my own sanity I occasionally had to do it.
I hope someone will come along with a better answer for you, but again just know that you're not alone with your understandable frustration.
Fast forward to 2023 and there may be a solution: use your mobile phone as a remote to control the tv by downloading an app. I've not done this but I'm hoping you at least won't have to reprogram the stupid remote and can get rid of it completely. You will now decide what she watches and when (and the volume), but it's better than anything else I can think of.
FYI my very elderly Aunt with mod/adv dementia liked reading the closed captions. Make sure your Granny watches light, happy shows. With dementia she can internalize what she sees on tv as "reality" (like crime and violence) and it can stress her out.
Another option is to just play Disney and Pixar movies for her. My Aunt watched them over and over, and enjoyed musicals. Moana and Ice Age were her favorites.
Good luck!
FRom reading your profile, I think you're in over head caring for granny and trying to keep her at home, according to her wishes. Your health is suffering now and that's not okay. You kept granny home as long as possible and now it's become untenable for all concerned. Old age and disease rarely work out the way we'd like it to. If granny had the presence of mind to realize what you're going through, she'd undoubtedly tell you to place her. Dementia continues to worsen as time goes on, making in home care nearly impossible for most of us. Acknowledge your limitations and act accordingly.
Best of luck to you
It didn’t work for my LO, who couldn’t make the connection between this instruction sheet and the actual remote. It might work for someone else.