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What can be done about a parent with a phone or computer addiction where they stay up way too late (1-3 a.m.)? They're okay with the phone or computer being taken if needed but I'm just simply not there to do it. Thank you

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Your parent can basically join in with any millennial. They are all addicted. If your parent were up knitting or reading books about cats would you still consider this a problem? I am uncertain why this is problematic for you; can you tell us more?
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Are they not competent to make that choice themselves whether to stay up for hours?
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That's pretty controlling. Unless the parent is annoying someone else with this behavior, why is it anyone else's business? It's better to keep the mind active as long as possible, and this is the way some people do that.
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I just googled app to turn off computers and phones, and got many hits on that topic. Apparently, you can schedule times to turn on/off your devices.

I recommend you search online to find the instructions for your parent's specific computer and phone.
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If your parent is 'okay with the phone or computer being taken if needed', then they can turn the phone and computer off themselves when and if they want to. They don't need to be treated like a child BY their child.
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Are you concerned about your parent not getting enough sleep or about addiction?
Is she/he in facility and is it even right to take it away, this is adult who can decide. My GF Mom almost week or 2 before she died was either on Skype, internet, taking classes learning new language! Kept her busy, sharp and happy.
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Caldinea Nov 2022
Yeah taking my mom's PC away from her is a no-go, ever. Bad enough we have to take their cars, their privacy (moving them out of their homes), etc. No takey-away the gaming rig <3
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Honestly sounds like they are being entertained so thats a win in my book! :)
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You don't give enough info for appropriate feedback. Does this person have a medical diagnosis of dementia? Do they have an active PoA engaged in their decision-making? Is that you? If they're competent, you have no power.
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My 70 yo DH who is completely competent and still works 70 hrs a week, SLEEPS with his phone on and noise cancelling earphones. The light from the phone does bother me---he's not really 'watching' anything, just has it on some 'station' that plays music or he'll play games--often almost all night. So I wear earplugs and an eye mask. We're lovely, I assure you!

He LOVES TV and I hate it, so after dinner, we have a little while to ourselves and when he starts fiddling with the remote that's my clue to go to bed. I read for a couple hours, he watches TV and comes to bed whenever he wants.

I'd find the light from the phone to be very disturbing, but it doesn't seem to bother him. It's almost as if he can't allow his brain to shut down. IDK and I am tired of asking why he does this.

He's just like all my tween grandkids. Their phones are clutched in their hot little hands 24/7. They'll text me at 3 am sometimes, just to tease me. Papa is just very on point, I guess. I have bigger worries than this!
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I'd be so happy if my mom stayed on her iPad till 1am cause it would mean she wouldn't wake up till 8 <3

My mom has been end stage COPD for probably a decade, and the thing that kept her brain as together as it could be through all of that was that she played MMORPG's and RPGs and hidden object games etc. (her steam Library is as good as any gamer worth their salt). Now she uses the iPad, she also used to play phone games. Helped memory, problem solving skills, etc. Our late family doctor encouraged online interaction / gaming / etc as long as no one was getting scammed / catfished / etc.

It's a way to occupy a brain in a two way interaction. Struck me as weird it was okay to leave someone in front of a blaring TV that required no input, but when they can interact with the inputting device suddenly it is a problem.

Anyway parental controls etc can be put onto phones so there'd be no need to take it if ya'll need to go that route.

But seriously when I'm in my 80s no one BETTER take my VR helmet off telling me I've been in there too long ;)
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