My Mom is always watching the news and it adds to her depression and bad attitude. Does anyone else have this issue?

Well CM he certainly looked very pleased as he stood beside her while she spoke.
There has to be something in it for both of them. No interest to me I can't vote.

Oddly enough the American election is having me in stitches. Donald Trump was pictured next to Sarah Palin today in one news programme. Now Mums a little bit out of it shall we say and she is avidly watching the news.....Wassup says I because something is not quite right by the look on her face. Well she said I know those two aren't married, he would never marry a strumpet. Erm Mum they aren't married.....I know ..... George Pattons been dead for years. Hmmmmmmmmmm whistles and goes to make a cup of tea. Clearly her hearing and eyesight are going

Panny, did Palin happen to address the fact that her son was arrested for domestic violence? I'm sure Trump won't be as thrilled with her endorsement as she may think it's worth.


Houseplant, you've reminded me that some of the cable lineups also have music channels, ranging from racket a/k/a music to beautifully soothing mood or classical music. That would be good background for MomsCaregiver's mother to listen to if MC can find other projects for her to do.


CM, you are just too funny! How about those Victoria's Secret commercials when models slink around in their expensive underwear? The idea that someone is going to parade around in high heels in underwear is just so ridiculous.

SingingWay makes an interesting observation about being active. Perhaps that's one of the depressing, pervasive feelings about the negative emphasis, over and over and over, is that we're all at the mercy of people with assault rifles, floods, tornadoes, and more.

I do think though that good works helps balance that because helping others has been proven to be rewarding to individuals. So what can MomsCaregiver do from home?

MC, if your mother's mobility is limited to home, one thing she can do is send cards to the troops. I did that during the first Gulf War. These days we get plenty of free cards from charities. If she has arthritis in her hands, you can address the envelopes or print labels. Mom can think up different things to write about supporting the troops, words of cheer.

I believe these days that there are groups that will collect the cards and send them en masse to troops in country. A bit of online searching can help locate those groups.

There are also volunteer opportunities at food pantries, thrift shops, some hospitals in gift shops, senior centers. If she can travel by car, you could accompany her to help her get acquainted; provide support so she's not alone as she gets acquainted with others.

Eventually, there may be vans that pick up volunteers so she could ride with her new acquaintances. I see mobility/paratransit vans at the senior center on a regular basis.

Other groups make quilts for donation to NICU, animal shelters, and troops. You don't have to be an experienced quilter and from what I've read steps can be divided so your mother can do some assembly but not the quilting if she has trouble with tiny stitches. Or maybe she could help sort fabric.

Senior centers rely on volunteers to deliver meals; perhaps she could go a few days a week to help assemble the meals for others to deliver.

Hospitals sometimes needs volunteers to staff gift shops.

If she can get there and sit down while she's working, she might enjoy the social interaction.

I think the thing is to get her in an environment where she can socialize - unless the people are really obnoxious, that will help her refocus on positive issues.


Katie, I think the negativity is intended to scare us so we become addicted to watching more of the negative programs in hopes of a positive solution. On the other hand, perhaps more people are interested in that than in good works.

When you think about it, previous generations were in many ways at much more risk than we are, in some areas. We now have tornado sirens, 24/7 weather predictions, handheld devices that keep us up to date on inclement weather, whereas decades ago these early warning devices weren't available.

I always remember some of those old movies where a woman is outside hanging clothes, happens to see a funnel cloud, rushes home, gathers the family and heads for the tornado shelter. We don't even have to watch the skies to know about approaching inclement weather.

I too want to thank momscaregiver1 as to her posting. It is serious, yet open for lots of suggestions that both address the issue and inject a little humor as to this TV problem. If your mom likes any kind of music, it can be a good diversion - You can create your own playlist by copying cd music to a computer music program at little to no cost. Lots of elders enjoy music from their own eras. It's usually suitable for a younger crowd - if any do happen to be in the house at any time. There are computer sites that you can open up and choose what music you want to stream as well. We've done that and Mom really enjoyed the diversion from the remote control.

All great ideas but I thought the child block for the channels was especially good.
Hobbies are always a good way for me to get away from the tv, even a jigsaw puzzle if she is able, or an audiobook.

I'm in my mid sixties and I do the same thing! I am obsessed with CNN and watch it for hours a day then text with my 70 year old cousin about what a nightmare Trump is. I don't mean to take away from seriousness of the poster's problem with her mom but this thread is one of the best laughs I've had since I saw Sarah Palin trying to give her speech last night. lol

I wish you the best of luck with your mother as I know how stressful the constant doom and gloom can be, especially on the fox channels.

Maybe something comical between Trump and Palin - if she's awake when comedians come on the tube. Animal Channel and National Geographic are good too. Recently I noticed reruns of the old Archie & Edith series - my parents used to laugh about them. A dose of humor to counteract the politics and some scenic creatures and places help round out the agenda. I'd develop an agenda of old style "PG approved" programs and not announce this plan of action.

I agree about the advertising especially, Katie - ever since the rules were relaxed on what products could be shown on TV, it's gone from bad to worse. There I am trying to enjoy my regular crime drama, and in the breaks I'm warned about stress incontinence, thrush, erectile dysfunction, heartburn, constipation, diarrhoea and menstrual leakage - I feel my shoulders slump a little more with every ad.

I find the news to be depressing myself and then in between the commercials that seem to play on our fears of falling, illness, bankruptcy, starving children and animals, tax problems, warts, hemorhoids, etc. etc. I could scream but use that button on the remote to silence the doomsday howling that seems to be so prevalent anymore. No wonder people have so much anxiety as we are always told what could go wrong at the drop of a hat! Whatever happened to non threatening commercials for coffee, Jello, shampoo that makes our hair smell terrific, or aftershave?
I began setting Mom's TV on retro channels with the old great shows, food channel, PBS, anything nice. Still those anxiety inducing commercials creep in but at least the main subject matter is better than the news. Maybe you could ween Mom off the news and onto other shows that she will end up liking.

I just love polite and welcoming people. Will be practicing my smile, and my driving. Thank you.

Whenever I've been in Canada, Sendme, they have been extremely polite and welcoming -- especially if I was spending money, but when I wasn't. So, yeah, I'd give it a whirl.

Are you sure they are that polite in Canada, Jeanne? Are they gonna let us in?

Gershun, That thought ---read it posted similiarly by Windyridge. It is a unique idea-never heard of the concept- has it been on a t.v. show or something? Don't think there should be a problem if passing a physical is req'd-the psyche exam would be tough to pass and not be locked up instead.

Canada, take the I-5 North from L.A.
Jeanne, we can pick you up in the spring if you bake the valentine cake.

Maybe a DVD player with a multi-disk-changer? The news compounded my mother's distress because she used to be very active in good causes. So now she was hearing the bad news, but could do nothing about it. Yes, Netflix would be good. I also made playlists on Youtube, that could last several hours. Choirs singing, GNN Good News Network, and Good News Broadcast, TED talks, old TV shows, magicians, comedians, and best of all -- BABIES LAUGHING! Those are all on Youtube.

I think rather than building a wall to keep Mexicans out everyone should gather together and build a big wall around Donald Trump so he can't get anywhere.

Sendme2help -- "The real issue is, how do we get to Canada?" Well, from here in Minnesota I'd just get in my car and head north. Couldn't miss it if I tried. Could you figure out how to get to Minnesota? Maybe we could carpool.

For me, it wouldn't even be much of a change of climate. :)

Sendme2help, because Canada is a polite country.

Spend a couple of days watching with her.....except you drive the channels.
The Price is Rght and Lets Make a deal are still running. There is even a Game Show Network, or try the Animal Channel, or National Geographic channel.
The Golden Girls is always on reruns and TNT has great old movies.

There are plenty of choices, the news watching is a habit she has fallen into.

If I were in a really evil mood (haven't got a devil icon but I could do with one) I would recommend playing DVDs of The Day Today - a satire from the nineties, but so cleverly done that the unwary might be fooled into thinking it actually was the news. Briefly, anyway. Even back then the police were not really clamping rough sleepers, and John Major did not really punch the Queen.

Oh God it's just come back to me - there was also a report on a plan in Arizona (I'm surprised Arizona didn't sue) to preserve and animate the corpses of murder victims so that they could robotically take part in the execution of their murderers.

It wasn't necessarily in the best possible taste.

Speaking of which, I gather Mr Trump has been endorsed by Ms Palin? Well isn't that nice. He must be very pleased.

The politics seemed to be a final topic that held my parents interest toward the end of their lives. My mom would get worked up about the Democrats vs. Republicans. Her perspective was she was born into a Depression and was going to die in a Depression. Then she would say she was all through, didn't have a care in the world, and we kids were going to have to figure it out because her worries were past. I used to get annoyed until I realized the horrible political garbage did at least keep the old folks thinking. So I sort of went along for as much as I could tolerate. Then I would leave the area for a little while.

They have more than one sea wall?

Hide the remote.

This is the real advice, right here:
Put a child-filter, or child-block on the t.v., and block out the news. If you have cable, call thd cable-guy.

Vancouver is beautiful Send! The seawall at Stanley Park in particular.

Yes, Mom's caregiver forgive me for the silliness.

Gersh, really want to visit the sea wall-cause my husband remembers going there.
Sounds so beautiful!

If t.v. really depresses your loved one you can go to the channel that runs old comedy shows. Mind you watching the Don is kind of like watching a comedy. A very black comedy.

Mom's caregiver, a constant problem, try reading the articles on distracting your loved one right here on AC.
No one, especially me, meant to hijack your question with humor and silliness.
We just couldn't help ourself.

If Donald wins I'll personally stand at the border and greet you all as you run over here. Did you hear we have a cute Prime Minister here now? Very liberal.

Thank-you Send for the adoption idea.........but I think I'll stay here and you all can come visit. :)

I've been a political junkie for decades and this is the worst election year mud-slinging that I have ever witnessed. What are these candidates, 12 year olds?

Get Mom to watch the BUZZR channel which has the old game shows like "What's My Line"... "To Tell the Truth"... "Lets Make a Deal" with Monty Hall... "Super Password"... etc.

The real issue is, how do we get to Canada?