Episode
Dementia Caregiving and TV: Four Essential Tips / Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias
- Podcast
- The Caregiver's Journey
- Published
- Dec 13, 2025
- Duration seconds
- 1757
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://thecaregiversjourney.org/
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Summary
"The difference between TV as comfort and TV as chaos isn't the screen—it's understanding how the changing brain experiences what's on it." Do you rely on television to help occupy your loved one's time? Does your care receiver seem agitated or anxious when the TV is on? Have you noticed them leaving the room when a show is playing or struggling to follow programs they once enjoyed? We are Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster. As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia, we've learned that what soothes us as caregivers can actually cause distress for people living with dementia. In this episode, we spoke with Allyson Schrier, co-founder and president of Zinnia TV and former caregiver for her husband with frontotemporal dementia, about why regular TV can be problematic and what we can do about it. Let's explore four essential tips for managing TV time effectively. Connect with us and share your tips: Website: https://thecaregiversjourney.org/ Donate: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecaregiversjourney/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecaregiversjourneys/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suearmstrongryan/ , https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancytreaster/ Email: [email protected] , [email protected] Full Show Notes Additional Resources Mentioned Zinnia TV https://www.zinniatv.com Support the nonprofit The Caregiver's Journey: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney Takeaways Tip 1: Be Thoughtful About What’s On TV The answer isn’t to take TV away completely. We need to be thoughtful about what we put on the TV and pay close attention to how our loved ones respond. Tip 2: Target Something That Creates Curiosity Without Agitation The goal is to find programm…