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Krumbhang Asked May 2009

Is watching TV good for Parkinson Patients?

My mother is 87 and has been diagonised as a Parkinson patient. She watches three to four hours of TV per day. Is this okay?

EXPERT Carol Bradley Bursack, CDSGF May 2009
TV isn't bad, but be careful of content - especially the news. A lot depends on her brain function. If she shows no signs of dementia, then news is probably okay, but with dementia, it's the worst, as they tend to think all of that awful stuff is happening to them.

It would be better for her to socialize more, such as in adult day care, but again, TV isn't bad in and of itself. She does sound like she's isolated a bit. Many elders turn to TV as company because they don't have other things. I'd watch her carefully to see how she responds, and try to get her interested in getting out or something that is less passive.

Take care,
Carol

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