My grandmother keeps watching tv to pass the time, how do i convince her to do something else?

paulbidner said:
any recommendations? she loves history and mahjong? any easy ways for her to find out about forums by group? or message people directly within her area (in los angeles area)? thank you to everyone for these helpful suggestions!
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Did you say you got her a computer? There is a game site called Pogo.com. They have solitaire, card games, majong and such. There are limited free game, but if she can afford it, she can pay an annual fee to join Club Pogo for more games.
Also, send her to this site. Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Books, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine

If there is a nearby senior center, that would help.
 

Murrmurr said:
I had 4 of those in my yard when I had a house. This was after I injured my back. It was great!
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There was a kid of FB market place making and selling those last year.

I just reached out to him about 10 days ago, but he's not making them anymore.
He was selling various sizes starting at $20.

Do you think they'd be hard to make? I'd like to try. Girl power!
 

My mother only watched golf tournaments on TV. Otherwise we would do Crossword Puzzles together, play Scrabble, Connect Four, Jenga, Double Solitaire...she was always playing single Solitaire on her own. Always had a deck of cards out.

She had a little easel set up on the kitchen counter with her paints and brushes in one of the kitchen drawers...and would occasionally walk by and dabble a bit with it here and there. She would practice her calligraphy and do her own greeting cards to mail to friends. She would draw flowers and vines with her ink pen and then color them in with her watercolors.

She would water her plants on the deck, fill the bird feeder, and fill the birdbath. Then she would sit in her window and enjoy all the activity from the birds. They really knocked themselves out to entertain her.

She would cut out her favorite cartoons from the newspaper and paste them in a journal. The neighborhood children would come over and enjoy the cartoons with her. Before she passed away she made sure the children picked out their favorite cartoon booklet to take home for keeps.

She would do quite a bit of reading as well and took extremely good care of her books. We would do stretching exercises together. She wasn't wheelchair bound but if she was we still could have done stretching exercises.

We would often visit local pottery and art shows. She would always make little purchases to support them.

Thank you @paulbidner for this thread because I haven't taken the time to record all these activities she did before now. There were more but I won't overstay my welcome :giggle:
 
What did she do before that she is unable to do now?

Spend time with her, maybe play cards, bring in lunch, go for a drive, sit and watch Judge Judy with her.

Talk to other family members about doing the same thing, even if it's only a quick telephone call every few days.

Finally, be prepared to accept the fact that this may be the beginning of a new phase in her life.

Good luck to both of you!
 
paulbidner said:
since she's chair bound i think things from her computer (as long as they're interactive) could help too. i'll tell her bout these forums so she can make friends on here, if that happens alot on this website? i think she just wants people to talk to and be proactive rather than just sit passively and watch tv you know?
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That sounds like a good idea.
I would also introduce her You Tube if she's not familiar with it. We get on TV via Roku, our streaming device. Don't just tell her, sit with her for a while and show her the variety of things she can watch via YT, including crucial news highlights. But there are a huge number of YT channels that foster a good mood: animal stories, acts of kindness between humans; there are also trivia games that can exercise the brain.

I somewhat agree with @helenbacque that she's earned the right to live as she wishes, but disagree with comments that TV is an 'idiot box', it is a device, a tool--same as computer and it is all in how you use it. There are many educatonal, life affirming and interesting things to watch.

You grandmother is only 2 years older than i am. I have to pace myself because i have sciatica and bad knees, and my endurance isn't what it once was but i still split and stack firewood, do yard work, household chores and some minor household repairs. I'm an early riser so after breakfast and checking in on here i spend 2-4 hrs a day 5-6 days a week doing various necessary chores, and bits and pieces of projects.

After i take daughter to work at 2pm i usually split my time between reading a book (usually non-fiction these days), this forum and watching TV. Another use of YT is listening to music while doing housework or just for fun of it--from classical to the music of my youth to country to modern popular music - i can find whatever I want to listen to any time. On DD's day off there are some series and Movies we watch together and talk about like the new Star Trek shows, Discovery and Picard.

In my Psychology of Aging class (taken when i was working on BA in my late 40's) confirmed my own feelings that if you quit learning, quit engaging life is when you seem to really 'age' rapidly. Heavy, daily socializing not required for all-- introverts are perhaps the best able to deal with how our culture tends to marginalize older folks--because we have always been self motivated to stay informed, to learn and amuse ourselves.
 
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Marie5656 said:
Did you say you got her a computer? There is a game site called Pogo.com. They have solitaire, card games, majong and such. There are limited free game, but if she can afford it, she can pay an annual fee to join Club Pogo for more games.
Also, send her to this site. Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Books, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine

If there is a nearby senior center, that would help.
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There is also FreeRice.com, that has math, languages, geography, art, famous quotes games/quizzes, that use excellent reinforcements: give you the right answer and repeat ones you missed later so you can use the info, reinforcing what you learned. Plus they donate to UN's End World Hunger fund for every right answer.
 
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Record her memoirs by asking her questions about 'the olden times.' Most elders like to talk about earlier days. Ask questions about her childhood, or your parents, or even your own. Ask about her feelings during times of national stress (For instances: civil rights era, Kennedy assassination). Is anyone in your family interested in genealogy? Her memories would be a font of information for a family researcher.

Since she's a reader, get her an e-reader such as a Kindle and then set her up with a library card and an Overdrive account where she can search and download books of her own choosing all free except for price of reader.

Bottom line: keep her brain occupied and active.
 
helenbacque said:
Record her memoirs by asking her questions about 'the olden times.' Most elders like to talk about earlier days. Ask questions about her childhood, or your parents, or even your own. Ask about her feelings during times of national stress (For instances: civil rights era, Kennedy assassination). Is anyone in your family interested in genealogy? Her memories would be a font of information for a family researcher.

Since she's a reader, get her an e-reader such as a Kindle and then set her up with a library card and an Overdrive account where she can search and download books of her own choosing all free except for price of reader.

Bottom line: keep her brain occupied and active.
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Excellent suggestions!

I have always told my kids as much as i know about their ancestors' lives and shared my own experiences. I wish i'd asked more questions of my grandmas, aunts and uncles instead of mostly passively listening when they got to recollecting family stories.
 
feywon said:
Excellent suggestions!

I have always told my kids as much as i know about their ancestors' lives and shared my own experiences. I wish i'd asked more questions of my grandmas, aunts and uncles instead of mostly passively listening when they got to recollecting family stories.
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is there a place for my grandma to tell her story?
 
like she never would've found out about this platform unless i did some internet digging for her...how did people find out about these forums? i want to teach her how to find these types of resources...teach a man to fish so to speak!
 
paulbidner said:
is there a place for my grandma to tell her story?
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We have a diary section here which some are using for that purpose. It will be important for some family member to know her screen name so y'all can access and download it with her permission either before or after she .passes.

Of course i think that's important any way. My DD knows where to find and access my various online presences, and has instructions to inform certain groups and individuals should i become incapacitated or i die. Several of my cyber friends have this arrangement with family, and i know i appreciated knowing what was going on with someone who's posting frequency changed radically without them saying they were taking a break.
 
Packerjohn said:
A couch potato is not a good way to live. Sitting in front of that "idiot" box and cheap baby-sitter will eventually turn her mind into something like mush (read dementia/Alzheimer's). Life is short and life is precious. There are plenty of senior centers around. Join one. Take a walk in the park once she gets something done with that hip. How about a cruise for singles, if you got the money. Maybe she could use a friend to do things with (male or female). Join a church group if your religious. Lots to do if she puts her mind to it. However, I would not recommend her to try zip lining or bungee jumping.
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Excellent reply Packerjohn. Good positive suggestions. Adding on, you don't have to be religious to join a church group - many people "go to church" primarily to meet other people. Another idea is to carefully consider getting a small dog - if it doesn't create too much effort. Dogs need to be walked (creating exercise for the hip and body} and create social interaction.
 
Murrmurr said:
I've always thought it would be cool to have a forum where younger people can ask us old people questions. "Ask an Oldie" or whatever.
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And also another forum, where we oldies could ask the young'uns our questions! :D:ROFLMAO:
Such as, why does new, modern stuff need so many updates and even newer replacements, so soon and often?:giggle::LOL:
And, how do I get my electronic device to turn on?;)
Or more importantly, to turn off! :giggle::ROFLMAO:
 
Lots of great ideas on this thread, from so many different posters!

Anyone who needs a fresh idea of something to do, could look through these posts and find something interesting that they could add to their routines! :geek::)
I plan to do just that! Thanks, everyone!🥰
 
paulbidner said:
like she never would've found out about this platform unless i did some internet digging for her...how did people find out about these forums? i want to teach her how to find these types of resources...teach a man to fish so to speak!
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Simply type in 'senior chat forums' into a search engine . Not all are good, this is by far the best... and it's important that she stays away from Fakebook , but a chat forum like this would be ideal for her.

How about you discuss it with her.. then if she's up for it, you sign her up, explain how it all works then introduce her ... and we'll take it from there.

She may now be so entrenched in being alone she'll find it hard to make the first move to make friends, so please help her get started here on this forum, show her how to register with a chosen name, how to post and how to navigate the forum of all it's topics. We have many subjects on here from General chit chat to..photography, ...to financial advice... to music forums where you can listen to or post your favourite music...to word games, ..all totally free, and once she's got her confidence up and later if she wants to go and enjoy other forums or game forums, she'll feel more confident in doing so...

She's in her 70's, that's really not old these days, but she will become very old very fast if she doesn't get her mind and body active again..... you sound very caring so do spend time with her just you and her or any other family members too, even if it's only sitting and chatting about something you know she enjoys...or take her out every so often, whether for a meal, or to the park or beach..or the store.. something so she doesn't feel no-one cares, and she's left with nothing but a box in the corner for a friend..
 
Kaila said:
And also another forum, where we oldies could ask the young'uns our questions! :D:ROFLMAO:
Such as, why does new, modern stuff need so many updates and even newer replacements, so soon and often?:giggle::LOL:
And, how do I get my electronic device to turn on?;)
Or more importantly, to turn off! :giggle::ROFLMAO:
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Good question here about updates and replacements. I had an eye appointment a few days ago. There was a technician fixing some sort of machine. My eye doctor said that he paid over $100,000 (Canadian) for that machine. It had a 1 year warranty. As soon as the warranty ended the machine broke down and would no longer work. I told him that he should have got an extended warranty but I don't think my doctor thought my comment was funny and after I got home I did not think it was very kind of me to joke about it. Professional equipment are very expensive but they should not break down as soon as the warranty runs out.
 
hollydolly said:
Simply type in 'senior chat forums' into a search engine . Not all are good, this is by far the best... and it's important that she stays away from Fakebook , but a chat forum like this would be ideal for her.

How about you discuss it with her.. then if she's up for it, you sign her up, explain how it all works then introduce her ... and we'll take it from there.

She may now be so entrenched in being alone she'll find it hard to make the first move to make friends, so please help her get started here on this forum, show her how to register with a chosen name, how to post and how to navigate the forum of all it's topics. We have many subjects on here from General chit chat to..photography, ...to financial advice... to music forums where you can listen to or post your favourite music...to word games, ..all totally free, and once she's got her confidence up and later if she wants to go and enjoy other forums or game forums, she'll feel more confident in doing so...

She's in her 70's, that's really not old these days, but she will become very old very fast if she doesn't get her mind and body active again..... you sound very caring so do spend time with her just you and her or any other family members too, even if it's only sitting and chatting about something you know she enjoys...or take her out every so often, whether for a meal, or to the park or beach..or the store.. something so she doesn't feel no-one cares, and she's left with nothing but a box in the corner for a friend..
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hey holly, will show her how to properly google things out of her browser, i guess that's how folks found out about this forum too...why do you say 'fakebook'? is it a bad resource compared to something like this? by the way, the responses here/help has been amazing! thank you!
 
paulbidner said:
hey holly, will show her how to properly google things out of her browser, i guess that's how folks found out about this forum too...why do you say 'fakebook'? is it a bad resource compared to something like this? by the way, the responses here/help has been amazing! thank you!
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also why is this one the best forum in your opinion compared to the others, facebook, etc?
 
hollydolly said:
Simply type in 'senior chat forums' into a search engine . Not all are good, this is by far the best... and it's important that she stays away from Fakebook , but a chat forum like this would be ideal for her.

How about you discuss it with her.. then if she's up for it, you sign her up, explain how it all works then introduce her ... and we'll take it from there.

She may now be so entrenched in being alone she'll find it hard to make the first move to make friends, so please help her get started here on this forum, show her how to register with a chosen name, how to post and how to navigate the forum of all it's topics. We have many subjects on here from General chit chat to..photography, ...to financial advice... to music forums where you can listen to or post your favourite music...to word games, ..all totally free, and once she's got her confidence up and later if she wants to go and enjoy other forums or game forums, she'll feel more confident in doing so...

She's in her 70's, that's really not old these days, but she will become very old very fast if she doesn't get her mind and body active again..... you sound very caring so do spend time with her just you and her or any other family members too, even if it's only sitting and chatting about something you know she enjoys...or take her out every so often, whether for a meal, or to the park or beach..or the store.. something so she doesn't feel no-one cares, and she's left with nothing but a box in the corner for a friend..
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sorry i wasnt sure if it posted holly, but why is this one typically the best forum compared to others we could google for her, facebook, etc?
 
paulbidner said:
hey holly, will show her how to properly google things out of her browser, i guess that's how folks found out about this forum too...why do you say 'fakebook'? is it a bad resource compared to something like this? by the way, the responses here/help has been amazing! thank you!
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That's how I found this site. I did a search using Google for "Senior forums" and this site was in the results.
 

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