Hi Folks,

A few months ago, I posed a question "If there was a cable channel just for people with Dementia and Alzheimers, what would you like to see on that channel? Not only shows but commercials?"

I got some great feedback and am now working on a proposal. Some of you gave me a list of shows such as old Lawrence Welk shows, old westerns, musical programs like ragtime, some sports, old comedy shows like Andy Griffith show and the Honeymooners.

I was thinking of some kind of game shows that would engage them. Also there is a show called Sit and Be Fit. I turn that on when I am with my dad and he does the hand motions.

Also, my dad lights up when he sees babies and toddlers so I was thinking of some kind of showing of babies & toddlers with musical background.

No commericials for Depends or cars. Cars would just remind them they can't drive. I was thinking of just benign commericials that wouldn't scare or confuse them like so many do nowadays.

Can you folks think of anything else? Can you think of a reason why this wouldn't work?

I sure would appreciate your input.

Thanks a bunch!

Robin

quote:

I work with a young woman who's new husband works for a pharmecutical company. When talking about his job and he said to me "We like treatments, not cures." I was speechless. This is the attitude pharmacutical companies have. They can make more money with

Frankly, I'm not certain that the treatment OR the cure is going to be all that effective until they have better ways of giving a good diagnosis. Most of our LO's have been given a "clinical" diagnosis, meaning that it's the doctor's best guess based on the symptoms. Then our LO's are pumped full of drugs at a huge expense (financially and physically) to treat a disease that they may or may not have, and which may or may not be doing them any good. Frustating.

OTOH, in the absence of a cure, a treatment that can extend life and quality of life is a wonderful thing esp. if said life with quality can be extended until a cure is found.

(Just following along down that rant trail. heh)

Hi T.O.R.P.

I think this is another one of those issues worth looking into with the people that publish Guideposts.

There are so many different situations that can and should be tailored to people with Alzheimers and dementia. This is one of them. Have you thought of writing to the publishers?

It's a huge issue especially with the baby boomers coming up and since no one is getting off their butts and coming up with treatment and/or cures, it's just going to get worse.

I work with a young woman who's new husband works for a pharmecutical company. When talking about his job and he said to me "We like treatments, not cures." I was speechless. This is the attitude pharmacutical companies have. They can make more money with treatments rather than cures. That's sick, IMO.

Sorry this turned into a rant. Again, my suggestion would be to write to the publisher. I think I'll do it too.

Robin

quote:

Originally posted by DOCHKA:
TORP, have you tried the large print version of Readers Digest? I haven't, but maybe it would suit her needs.

We do buy Reader's Digest. Actually, her vision is about the only thing that isn't impaired. LOL She like's the smaller one because it's lighter to hold.

She likes Guideposts a lot, which is similar in format and content but with a more spiritual focus.

The problem is, with her dementia, how "busy" the pages appear and the fact that an article might be interrupted by several pages of ads.
It's too distracting to her, so she gets frustrated. She loves to read. I buy her a couple of those little novels that are a G-rated version of the Harlequin romances every week and she really seems to enjoy them. (More complicated plots overwhelm her. She says that she reads it over and over and can't understand it.)

TORP, have you tried the large print version of Readers Digest? I haven't, but maybe it would suit her needs.

What I'd really like to have is more appropriate reading material such as magazines with simpler page layouts and articles about things that they can relate to.

She likes Readers' Digest and Guideposts, particularly the upbeat stories about real people, the clean jokes, and so forth. But even these are a little overwhelming to her, especially the way that full page ads are inserted in the middle of an article and the subject matter is frequently not relevant to her.

the cat came back, a classic cartoon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdAlAINKKQ4&feature=related

I think Mom would like to see Lady and the Tramp again,

My mom loved anything musical. Lawarence Welk, Tom Jones and Andy Williams come to mind. At one time I got her all the broadway musicals and she would love to sit through them. (I donated them to the day care center she went to years ago when she died) She always also like the food comercials and would want anything she saw. Good luck.

The GOLDEN GIRLS !!! Mom could sit there and laugh over the antics of a bunch of senior ladies. I cannot bring myself to watch that show anymore.....I don't know if it's because I've watched every single episode at least 3 times or because it reminds me of the Mom.

Oh my gosh, you guys really brought back some memories! I remember Dark Shadows and do you remember another black and white soap called Never Too Young?

The bassett hound's name was Cleo, wasn't it? But I don't think that was the name of the TV show.

The show that takes place in the Everglades called "Everglades". Makes sense to me!

Does anyone remember the Phil and Mickey Finn Show? It was full of ragtime and 20s music. My folks loved that variety show when it was on. I think Mickey was a female and she played a fantastic banjo and Phil played the piano.

Thanks for all the posts. Fun to read!

Robin

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/22723/hazel-the-complete-first-season/

check it out. I especially remember the episode with the skillits.
I know all of this was before color TV
Now which show had the voice over for the bassett hound? now I am really showing my age.

LMAO BC! And dang it Hazel was right any woman worth their salt in a cucina has a dam cast iron skillet!
Just in case hunny gets outta line
I own 4!
Wanna guess who runs out the house like the devils lickin at their beehind?!

Gentle Ben was about the human raised grizzly bear. LOL... soaps. Even my Daddy knew who Erica Caine was!!! All My Children was the only one for my folks. Thinking though, My Three Sons, and Donna Reed. My Little Margie. OH OH OH, Hazel the housekeeper who talked her boss out of investing in nonstick skillets, saying that any decent woman has cast iron skillets that never need scrubbing anyway.

OMG for people who lived in the cities I do remember times when I was with my mom she would watch Days of our lives and that other tv drama Oh what was his name?! Oh Dark Shadows....ok maybe not so much that one it might scare the bejeebers outta our poor LO's, nevermind ME
Did we say Laugh in? Oh an what about Flip Wilson!
Now he cracks me up

This is from Hunny boy who was weaned on tv growin up he said its
"Gentle Ben"
Sound about right?

Everglades

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0166913/usercomments

Thanks for the great suggestions, bnot. I remember that show in Florida too. I think the Dad was a park ranger in the Everglades and he had 2 sons? But I can't remember the title of it.

Wracking my brain....

Robin

Shows that come to mind for me, is Lassie, Hogans Heros, Flipper, Hawaii Five O, Mash, Lost in Space, Mr Ed the talking horse, Flinstones.

One I can't remembe the name of, they used to ride an air boat down in FL. I I think the show was bout 2 brothers maybe?

Now commericials, Please don't squeeze the sharmin, is the only older one that comes to mind. Well, maybe "Milk gives the lift that lasts" (old Cowsills commercial).

Doubt if I've been much help, as Mom is 94, but doesn't have dimentia or alheimers.

Oprah, offeres nothing that I found to help me in any way.I stopped watching her along time ago.
Pbs , does run some good specials.
All we see now is the election and the news forcasters telling us who to vote for.
I watch more informative shows and yep too many movies.

Your welcome Robin