Can Person with Alzheimer’s dementia Read or Watch Television
Someone asked me about this recently and I think it’s a topic that I haven’t discussed very much. It is curious and I’m often asked if the person with the person with dementia can read.
Actually, most folks with Alzheimer’s and Dementia can read and watch television as much as they ever did in the past. What’s different about their entertainment habits as their Alzheimer’s progresses is their ability to comprehend and understand
Into Middle Stage those with Alzheimer’s have a shortened attention span, so a memory may only be held for a few moments. When someone with dementia reads or watches television
There is no more learning, or holding onto memories since memories disappear shortly after occurring. If a person with Alzheimer’s or Dementia watches a movie, during the first commercial-break they would forget all they had already seen previously. So the film would seem disjointed, making little sense to them even though the person with dementia read the entire book or watched the entire film.
My Mom was an avid reader and read well into Middle Stage Alzheimer’s. I actually noticed her reading when I was certain she could not remember what she was reading. Part of it, I believe, was the actual habit of reading. When I suspected she could no longer remember an entire page, I watched her one afternoon. She sat with her book open on her lap for several hours, but never turned the page. Still, she may well have been reading–she was simply reading the same text over and over. I’m just not certain, but she was content to sit there with the book on her knees
Mom loved Crossword Puzzles and Word Find puzzles also. By the time she entered the nursing home (late middle stage Alzheimer’s) she could no longer do Crossword Puzzles but she still did Word Find Puzzle
My Mom was never too keen on television. But for as long as I can remember, if Bob Barker and “The Price Is Right” was on during the day, she watched it. It had been her Favorite show for many years, and Bob Barker 
- Music and Comedy Shows without a plot line
- Music Videos (Mom was a fan of the Nashville Network)
- News Shows for a limited time (When they hear the same news story more than once, it becomes confusing)
A few other Activities they might enjoy:
- Coloring Books
- Stringing Beads
- Rolling Yarn
- Folding clothes, especially towels
- Word Find books
- Mom use to keep a folder with old bank statements/She felt in-control of her finances and carried them in her purse
- If you have pictures that need to be sorted/Envelopes or mail that needs t
o be sorted - They love activities that keep their hands busy
I hope this helps you to understand how the person with dementia reads a book or watches a movie or television show. If you have any thoughts you’d like to ad or questions to ask—Feel free to comment.
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My mother and I watched television for a long time together, she liked Judge Judge, game show like Family Feud, and short westerns like the original Lone Ranger, which kept moving. Motion in the show was important, as it is for all of our attention, but especially so for her. My big find was discovering Sing A Long television shows. That was great for us for a while. On YouTube, many are on, including a woman doing a sing a long program for elderly “Susie Q.” But some of greatest joys were singing together to the 1960s era Mitch Miller and the Gang Singalong Shows. If you can find those, you won’t regret it, many of them show the words in large letters on the screen and you can all sing along.
Jeffrey, that sounds so fun. I wish I had thought of that with my Mom. She would have loved that. I remember her singing along to the TV when I was a kid. What a joy and a great idea for all you folks caring for a senior loved one. I think I’ll mention this to my own daughter. Hope she remembers when I’m in that stage.
Thank you so much, Jeffrey! That is the best hint for this month!
~Sandy
Today, I went to the beach with my kids. I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4
year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She placed the shell to her ear and screamed.
There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back!
LoL I know this is totally off topic but I had to tell someone!
Lucy,
Off topic or not, this was too funny and glad you left the link. A little laughter is good for everyone!
Thanks,
~Sandy
Our 93 yr old Pops lives with us and 5 children from 23-2. When Pops came 2 us he would read his paper every day, cover-to-cover. His decline has been so rapid since then. Within 6 months, he no longer reads the paper because it upsets him too much. He cannot follow his favorite programs and he gets TV and reality mixed up.
He doesn’t even like football now. He forgets he has eaten often. Then shouts for food and accuses me of trying to starve him. He no longer takes time to chew. All he wants to do is sleep all day and walk around shouting all night. We feel so angry that he has become this bad so quickly. Now, I have no choice but for him to go into care.
Kim,
I’m very sorry about your father. I certainly understand your worry.
First, has he had a good physical check-up with his doctor. Have you spoke to the doctor and told him about this rapid change in his behavior. Generally, dementia and Alzheimer’s move rather slowly, through stages and levels.
If you weren’t able to visit often before he lived you, he may have progressed more than you realized until he came to live with you. When my Mom first moved in with me, I was startled at how little memory she had left and much of her behavior. I think it was because I hadn’t been with her on a daily basis, but only once a week.
When you live with someone with Dementia or Alzheimer’s, you’re made more aware of their concentration level and eating habits, etc. If he hasn’t been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s though, I would suggest a good workup with his doctor. There could be another issue such as vitamins, etc. Just make certain that it is Alzheimer’s or Dementia.
Then you can take action. You can call the local Alzheimer’s Association in your area. They offer much needed help and can recommend other organizations you may need for his care.
You’re a lovely family to bring your Pops home to live with you. I hope he will be able to stay with you…
Your in our thoughts,
~Sandy
wife and i have been married 54 years, she has later stage Alzheimer, i find myself overcome with emotion and grief and will cry at the drop of a hat
i cannot find a thing she will eat, she will drink fresh orange juice and 1-1/2 to 3 cans of Boost high protein but have tried everything else and she just will not eat she will not exercise or even go outdoors sleeps all the time she takes her medication and vitamin supplements that seems to be the best i can do.
i will not send her to a nursing home as she gets so confused and agitated and i am able to keep her calm and feeling secure and safe.
Hello Oscar,
I understand your tears and grief. 54 years is a long time to share with one person and I know you two have lots of wonderful memories. I think it’s more painful for the caregivers than those with Alzheimer’s. Understandably, you have much grief and are easily brought to tears. But often try to remember your sweet wife, how she was before Alzheimer’s, and know she would not want you to suffer so.
Her wish, I’m sure, would be that you take care of yourself, also. If you have a relative or friend who can sit with her for a spell. Take a walk or even a short nap, quietly alone.
Oscar, if you belong to Facebook, or can register for Facebook, there is a wonderful support group on that website. In the search box type MEMORY PEOPLE. This is a wonderful group of peope; some have Alzheimer’s, some are friends or family members or cargivers of someone with Alzheimer’s. It’w wonderful to share feeling, thoughts, ideas, and support for one another.
Somehow it helps to know that someone else really “knows” your pain.
This article has a link to Memory People. Private Social Group – Memory People
You can also call your local Alzheimer’s Association and they can recommend hours and dates of a support group near you.
It will help to share your feelings with others who are suffering. And, I believe they may have more ideas or suggestions about your wife’s lack of appetite or thriving.
I have also heard that a straw may somtiems help to get them to take nourishment. Dip a straw into the soup, or liquid. Hold your finger over the end of the straw to keep the liquid inside the straw. (Much the way we did with our young children to teach them to use a straw.) Then put the end of the straw in your wife’s mouth, and release your finger from the other end. The broth or soup will slide into her mouth.
I will certainly keep you and your wife in my thoughts, Oscar, and hope to see you at Memory People on Facebook.
Sandy