Find Senior Care (City or Zip)
Join Now Log In
L
Lulu376 Asked October 2022

What can you do about phone or computer addiction?

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

Caldinea Nov 2022
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 ;)

Cover999 Nov 2022
This can cause eyestrain if precautions aren't taken.

ADVERTISEMENT


Cp31979 Nov 2022
Honestly sounds like they are being entertained so thats a win in my book! :)

Evamar Oct 2022
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.
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
JoAnn29 Oct 2022
There must be more to this. Like is the person being scammed and sending money overseas. Do they have Dementia and going to sights they never have gone to before. And how to you know, if your not there, how long they are on? Are they in their own home? In an AL? Is the AL complaining. Unless ur parent is making noise and disturbing other residents, the AL has no control when someone gets up or goes to bed.

Really need more info.

lealonnie1 Oct 2022
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.

Midkid58 Oct 2022
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!

Fawnby Oct 2022
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.

AlvaDeer Oct 2022
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?

freqflyer Oct 2022
Lulu376, people of all ages tend to have cellphone/computer addiction. This is how today's world is with modern technology.

As long as the parent get the number of hours of sleep or napping, I see nothing wrong with it. It's entertainment for that person. Let them enjoy themselves.

Unless that person has lost their filter to play nice with others while on social media.

Geaton777 Oct 2022
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.

MJ1929 Oct 2022
Are they not competent to make that choice themselves whether to stay up for hours?

polarbear Oct 2022
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.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ask a Question

Subscribe to
Our Newsletter