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They feel it is better for him to get out of his room and be with others there but he does not want to except for meals and snacks. His own tv would make him so happy which is all I want. I will do anything to help him. Should I have one moved there and set up with service? I need advice on this please. He loves his sports and old westerns.Thank you, Oldstew

My husband has a TV in the bedroom. He used to use it to help him fall asleep. He no longer watches it because he can't use the remote. If your loved one can still use a remote, give him his own TV! (And get one of those REALLY simple remotes)
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Reply to Blsbirder
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I had thought the same about encouraging my husband to engage/socialize more outside of his room, hence, refused to give him a tv. Then a resident left his tv, so one became available and staff hooked it up for him, except it didn't have a remote control. He asked for a universal remote control and I said, "it's only 5 steps from the reclining chair to the tv. Move, like people did before the remote control was invented." Husband is still very mobile, so it's better to incite some movement than to sit all day. He's not a sports fan so there was no need for all the ESPN channels. I got him a good antennae to enhance reception so he is able to watch basic non-cable channels which includes PBS. I also got him a portable DVD/Blu Ray player so he can watch all the videos we've amassed for "retirement," and it plays CDs for his favorite music. He's totally happy with this setup. He does go to the facility's shared areas to watch YouTube music videos during meals and Netflix for, believe it or not, K-dramas, LOL, in the early morning hours before others are awake.
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Reply to SOS369
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Its been a week, wonder if she got the TV.

I do want to say, at Moms AL they start getting residents ready for the night about 7. They put them in their PJs and then they watched TV in their rooms till put to bed.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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As another said below, I was going to say too:

Why not?

I do not understand why you have any reluctance to provide him a tv in his room?
Sure, it might be 'better' for him to mingle or be around others although he IS doing this when it is comfortable for him. Being in memory care, I am actually surprised that he can make these personal decisions - and good for him.

This IS the time in his life to enjoy whatever he wants. Spoil him ... as you say, you'll do 'anything to help him.' Get a tv for him yesterday. If needed, order the special channels / cable for the sports events. Why not?

Gena / Touch Matters
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Reply to TouchMatters
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AlvaDeer Sep 3, 2025
Glad you got back to us, Gena!
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Why not?
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Reply to LakeErie
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Oldstew: Get him a tv.
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Reply to Llamalover47
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My brother is a young 74 with vascular dementia. He did NOT like watching Doris Day movies and listening to Frank Sinatra all day. I know that keeps dementia patients calm, but didn't work for him. Of course I got him his own TV and it worked great. There were times the remote was challenging, but staff was happy to adjust to his favorite shows.
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Reply to Sisterbets
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If it is affordable/allowable, why not. It takes time to get used to so much noise,
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Reply to justoldin25
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Something little known... my son in law lives in our same state. Because the Youtube TV allows for up to 4 hook ups, we share our SIL's bill. We even use our password when we are travelling. Check with your provider about family sharing.
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Reply to MACinCT
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Yes, you should get him a tv in his room and have it set up with service. In fact, get him the very best, and top cable package. Why would you even need to ask strangers such a question?
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Reply to BurntCaregiver
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Why can't he have a tv in his room? It isn't asking for much. My mom had one in her room, and we hooked up cable and paid for it.
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Reply to Isabelsdaughter
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Get him his TV!!!
You can get one that is voice activated with Alexa....let him have his time with his TV
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Reply to Sunny2110
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What about Roku TV that works with Wifi? Most of the channels are free. The remote is very simple with up and down arrows. He does need the screen's remote to turn the TV on and off.
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Reply to Patathome01
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Please give him his own TV. These facilities are controlling. They try pushing everyone to socialize and join activities. Not everyone is the same. Your husband needs the comforts of home in his room.
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Reply to Onlychild2024
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agree with what most have said, but depends on his abilities. Can he manage the remote still? They likely will not be able to control the tv for him all day. Although even if he can’t, when you visit you can put it on for him. At least he’d have his games, westerns, etc, part of the time. A compromise.
But yes, it depends on his ability & if he can be left alone. But it seems from what you said he stays in his room a lot anyway.
We don’t have cable on my dads, but they have free internet & we have roku hooked up. He’s not able to manage it on his own & can’t be left alone except when he’s sleeping. Between a couple of us kids, we are there daily & will turn on some of his favorites while we are there after we’ve visited for a while. Like someone else said, it helps to distract him while we clip his nails, shave him, etc…
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Reply to Ltracy
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Spouse in memory care. Our son very happy that Dad has own tv to watch what he wants. It seems very soothing to him. Our daughter knows what he used to enjoy at home, relaxing in his recliner. He is also an introvert, so stressful to be in a grouo all the time. He can have his time to be with others at meals and activities he likes. Let him be happy. Think of this...having your whole world turned upside down and no choices.
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Reply to Memories42
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Absolutely get him his own TV. If that brings him pleasure than so be it. Remember, you're paying the facility to care for him, which making him happy, not the other way around.
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Reply to Gero101
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It's the staff's responsibility to make sure your husband is content and well cared for. Their giant headaches aren't your concern. His care is most likely costing you thousands of dollars per month. They should have the integrity to do the job they're paid for with grace.
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Reply to Valentine7
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My husband in memory care has his own TV and enjoys it. The aides use it to distract him when they are taking care of him because he sometimes objects to having his arm put in his shirt, etc. etc. Sometimes we watch it together alone in his room, which is nice.

He doesn't know what the remote is so someone has to help him with that. The remote's been stolen a few times by wandering residents. DH has tried to eat it, so it needs to be securely taped together so he can't get the batteries out and eat them. I bought this TV at a neighborhood estate sale for $50, so if you're going to buy a TV, it doesn't need to be new or fancy. The hookup in his room was already there and working, so no extra charge.

DH also enjoys watching the living room TV with others, and they "talk" about it.
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Reply to Fawnby
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Yes, TV in the comfort of his own space! Some facilities already have cable but if they don't, you can get plenty of stations with a decent antenna. The best antenna I've used is a flat square,like an IPad, I picked up at a thrift store,those ones with ears and dials are expensive and they are useless junk. The best place is next to a window if using an antenna. You might even find a cheap TV at the thrift store. Once you get through the scan process, cable/antenna, the up and down button will seek out the available stations. I used white liquid paper to outline the power button which made it easier to see.
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Reply to JuliaH
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He is in an adjustment period...only two weeks in a facility after a lifetime in his own home. Get him the TV. They are not expensive and would make him happy. When he is more comfortable, he may choose to socialize or not.
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Reply to Cheri1
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Give the man his own TV so he can watch what he wants , instead of the game shows that are usually playing on the activity room TVs while half the residents are napping in chairs.
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Reply to waytomisery
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I understand what the AL is saying but your Dad does not seem to be a social person and thats OK. Some of our elders, even with hearing aides, don't hear well and trying to have conversations with people is hard. Get him his TV. My Mom had a small one.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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Absolutely--get him a TV. I don't care to watch TV with a 'group' as it were, hard enough with just my DH!

My mom had a tiny apartment and had 3 TVs in it. They were on all day long. It made visiting her a challenge but she was happy and that's all that mattered.
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Reply to Midkid58
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My mother is in a SNF and is not a social butterfly at all, she stays in her room with the TV and has her meals delivered. Her choice!
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Reply to GSDlover2
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Definitely get him a TV for his room! As he goes out for meals and snacks in time he may make friends and spend more time out of his room. And maybe not and that's OK. Let him have what makes him happy.
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Reply to golden23
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Yes, get him the TV! The rooms should all be set up already with basic cable, as they were in my mother's Memory Care Assisted Living facility.
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Reply to lealonnie1
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JoAnn29 Aug 26, 2025
My Moms wasn't. Some people had dish set up.
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Yes! Give the TV a try. It's one of the few comforts he has left.
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Reply to azsundog
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My dad was only in a hospice facility memory care for a few days. He would have preferred a TV in his own room like he had at home, and my mom wanted that too, but they strongly discouraged it. The Reason had nothing to do with encouraging socialization. He could not turn the TV or anything else on and off or change the channels himself, plus he needed 24/7 monitoring because he could not understand that his legs were no longer strong enough to stand so he was constantly trying to get up and then falling. They did not have enough staff for someone dedicated to sitting by his side in his room 24/7. My mom considered hiring people to do it but in the end did not. (He did not have that at home either but she would start the DVDs for him.)

He did not understand the call button. They put his air mattress all the way on the ground to prevent falls. During the day they had him propped up in a padded wheelchair / lounge bed thing and they would barricade that with furniture so he could not get out when they turned their backs to help someone else. At home he had watched the same few movies over and over but in the facility he happily watched whatever was on the screen. They had one room where it was musicals on the TV, another that had a nature channel (which he liked) and another that showed old movies. I thought it was a good compromise.

It’s really going to vary depending on your husband, his abilities, and the place. Good luck!
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Reply to Suzy23
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Gero101 Sep 1, 2025
Personally, I would have looked for a different facility that considered the needs of each resident, no matter how big or small a priority. If they were understaffed, there lies you problem.
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You do not change the wall flower (I am one) to the social butterfly.
Get him his television and tell them to stop deciding what social interaction is best for him.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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ElizabethAR37 Sep 1, 2025
Strong affirmative here!
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