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I have two caregivers full time, one from Monday through Friday and one on the weekends. I believe they do an excellent job of caring for my parents and I am home to observe. My father has severe dementia and is a challenge to change and feed. My mother has mobility issues. My mother has recently pointed out that she does not like that the aides watch movies on their devices or look at their cellphones. I see them do this when parents are resting. The aides are in the parents' room at all times and keep on top of things. I don't see the reason to bring this issue up with them because they do so much for them and are very pleasant and competent. Shouldn't this issue be left alone?

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I would leave it alone unless it becomes an obvious distraction e.g. I didn't like a lot of trash tv shows but appropriate movies ok

I didn't like seeing mom
Asleep at the kitchen table and the aide on the couch

Otherwise caregivers have a difficult task dealing with bedridden demented folks who are oftentimes difficult to care for
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I am ok with this,, what is the other option? To stare intently at them while they sleep? That would creep me out!
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demstress, just tell Mom that the Caregiver needs to have some breaks during the day. As long as the Caregiver is alert to their needs, that is all that matters.

I remember my Dad complaining about one evening caregiver who was on her cellphone all the time. She was a semi-regular for the short evening shift until the night shift came in. She was going to college during the day. She just wasn't very chatty, but was attentive to Dad's needs. Dad was spoiled by his day time caregiver where the both of them had a lot to talk about :)
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I think it's OK and I do it too. If I didn't, I'd lose my mind. Tell Mom that it's normal for caregivers to read a book or look at their cell phones. Perhaps discuss with the caregiver about using a bluetooth earpiece so it's not so obvious to Mom. Maybe a gift of a bluetooth earpiece would be good for Christmas?
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I's it possibly an issue of screen light or noise? I have to admit even the tapping sound from a keyboard would drive me nuts if I were trying to sleep. Cell phones do make lots of little noises we don't even think about if we're used to it. Noise is easily dealt with but I don't know about screen light.
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I think, beyond what everyone else has offered, that some of this might be a generational issue. I was thinking today at the laundrymat that I was the only reading a magazine. Everyone else was playing with their cell or iPhones. I keep wondering every time I see cell and iPhone junkies if they ever do open their mouths to communicate, or do they just push buttons to do so.

I won't deny that sometimes it irks me, especially if they're standing in the middle of an aisle and have to be awakened just to move so others can get through. And it really does irk me if I'm standing in line and someone is blabbing so loud that everyone in the area is subjected to her private conversation.

Whenever I watch a nature program about evolution and the changes life has made in adaptation, I wonder if a few hundred years from now humans will have lost the ability to speak but will totally be communicating electronically.

Demstress, you might try explaining to your mother that many people now communicate this way, or spend their time playing with their phones instead of speaking with humans.
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Yes, old people don’t like smartphones because they want to be in the center of all attention. It’s not necessary to stare at someone who is napping.
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Sorry, if it makes Mom uncomfortable then maybe aides should leave the room while parents are resting. Can they sit somewhere else in your house?
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