Better Then Television!
Hands down, my grandma’s favorite day of the week is Thursday. This is not because she allows herself to indulge in some decadent, chocolate treat smothered in ice cream, or because her must-watch gossip show airs on television. Grandma’s uncontainable excitement, which starts as soon as she wakes up in the morning, and builds until 5pm that evening, is over a little tow-headed boy with bright blue eyes, long eyelashes (which he gets from his mother!) and some dance moves which far surpass Jaggers–sorry Mick!
Thursday night has become the standard night for this little one-year-old boy to visit his Grandma, and Great-Grandma (the one I am referring too), while me and my husband take a much needed break and head out on the town for a fun date night—or just a night to catch up on the myriad of items that are hard to do with a toddler!
Now, to give a little visual, Grandma is a hip 84-year-old lady, whose classic looks, designer clothes, and stylish hair belies her true age, but unfortunately time has taken its toll. Her eyesight has deteriorated rapidly over the last couple of years, and in addition, her feet cause her excruciating pain making it hard for her to get around. Understandably, television often becomes the main form of entertainment amongst the elderly for obvious reasons, and grandma is no exception to this rule.
Despite the fact that those over the age of 65 spend an average of 25% of their day watching television, (as found in a study that was collected by the Center for Health and Well Being at Princeton University) the enjoyment they get from it is far less then when they engage in other activities. Frequent TV viewing also can lead to negative health problems such as a “greater risk for obesity and Type2 diabetes, lower life satisfaction, less frequent engagement in social and physical interaction, and increased risk for dementia.” The study concluded that “alternatives to television as entertainment are needed, especially in older adults.”(1)
Even though Grandma encounters some of the same obstacles that many elderly face, she has come up with some ways besides television to boost her quality of life. Aside from hanging out with the cutest boy in town at least once a week, she also listens to audio books, communicates regularly with her children and grandchildren, and enjoys the soothing music of Bing (her pet canary, naturally named after Bing Crosby!).
We want to know what you are doing to enhance the value of the lives of those you care for. One community had a dance party featuring pre-school age children (pictured below). My cute little niece got to be a part of this memorable experience, which was fun for all those involved!
(1)Kain, Debra. “Older Adults Watch More TV Than Younger People, Enjoy It Less.” Older Adults Watch More TV Than Younger People, Enjoy It Less. 29 June 2010. Web. 30 Jan. 2016.
