Need a way to help an elderly person who keeps messing up their television?

Question

My neighbors are quite elderly, with both being in their nineties. A common problem is them getting their televisions onto the wrong station to pick up their cable box. I have shown them how to correct the problem, as well as written down instructions, but needless to say the entire tv input thing is tough for them. They quickly become very, very irate and will call their cable provider screaming and swearing because they don't understand that this really isn't Comcast's fault.

I have actually tried finding an older model of tv with the traditional dial on the front, but have not been able to locate a suitably working model. I have also not been able to find a large button remote with a single button that will tune the television to HDMI and control the cable box.

I have no problem helping them, but obviously if anyone has any suggestions on a more suitable fix then your advice would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

simple large button remotes on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=elderly+tv+remote&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=54537540636&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14040473944834296578&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=t&ref=pd_sl_8u1g4krtf1_b



Make sure they can turn the tv and cable off and on.





Writing out instructions - really doesn't help. They are not going to follow it.

My experience with my family members who are over 80; most didn't finish high school. None went to college. They haven't read an instruction book or manual (ever) . They find them difficult to follow. They loose reasoning skills. They loose reading comprehension skills.

I have caught my mother more than once off to buy a new TV cause her's "broke". She repeatly says the remote is broke, the TV is broke, the Cable is bad. When she has once again messed up the remote.



I took nail polish and marked on/off button red. Channel changing green and volume blue. Sort of helps.



I know with my mom she doesn't want to try to learn. One mistake and it is I can't do it. She doesn't have the ability to reason through a problem.



I work in a store that gets a lot of elderly women. Some have their iPhone 6 out and they are sending texts and photos, playing games.

Some never did start in with technology and can not get the hang of even a simple remote.

Answer 2

I just want to say I think you a really TERRIFIC HUMAN BEING, for caring enough to first help them at all, it's hard to find SOMEONE TO DO IT FOR PAY, and then your so nice as to come here to find an answer for them ...and there is nothing in it monetarily for you ....wow i bet your mom is a happy lady!!

As for the tv and the remote try having them watch you each step of the way and also to write down pushed channel button up , then pushed ..whatever ....every step and when you are finished mess it up ....and see if they can get it back ..from watching and writing . That may help and it may not nI think sometimes people just get intimidated and no matter what they have a block in their mind to it . GOOD LUCK AND STAY A GREAT PERSON !!

Answer 3

There are some pretty good answers to your question here....I was a computer tech for more than 20 years and have seen it all. The way I see it, once they go over about 70-75 or so....their technical abilities starts to plumit,,,,,,then it levels off till about 87-90 then, your fighting a battle you'll never win. They just can't grasp it in their 90's...maybe your best off 1) removing all unused buttons on the remote 2) show them no more than 2 steps 3) possible to leave it on permanently and just have them lower the volume at bedtime? Really their short term memory problems keep the show from going off, it's pretty normal

Answer 4

I had that problem with an elderly relative when the TV service went digital and needed a freeview box. He just couldn't get the notion of using two remotes, so I got him a Sony TV that had the Freeview channels built in, and disabled the AV mode-changing button on the remote with superglue! (and bought another remote to hide away). With today's HDMI and ethenet/wi-fi it would have been a triple nightmare. He's in a home now and we just leave one channel on 'for company' as his short term memory issues/dementia do not allow him to get and stay interested in the TV.



Before he got too bad it was still possible for him to get the idea of playing VHS tapes, but DVDs wth menus and which wouldn't autostart in English were just ignored.

Answer 5

I can sympathize with you... it's frustrating to constantly be fixing it. It has to be frustrating for them also. For my mother, I finally set it to her favorite station and got her a simple universal on/off remote.

If the TV has a cable/antenna connection, you can add an RF cable from cable box to TV (same type cable from wall to cable box), then in the TV menu, edit all channels out except CH 3. It might help a little since that's the only channel it will go to. But they'll still find some way to screw it up ;) Good luck

Answer 6

This is very nice of you to do since they don't get it. Old people do get upset easily so forgive them for that. I would write numbered instructions that start or end with to call you. Put the instructions on top of the tv or a good spot where they will be found and check on the instructions each time you are there. Reinforce what to do and hopefully it will be remembered. It isn't easy getting old so you get your gold stars for being helpful. There need to be more people in the world like you.

Answer 7

I do not think that you can do much to help them. My elderly neighbour was the same with her television, time and time again we tried to explain also wrote things down for her. Sometimes all it needed was the television to switch off and then turned on again and it cleared everything. You just have to be polite, smile and explain everything again and again.

Answer 8

I don't think there is a real solution, they are old school, don't have the patience for these electronic gadgets, don't want to have to push this button then that button within 5 seconds, and arthritis or other joint ills may make it impossible to operate the remotes. and they have you, bless you

Answer 9

I walked in the living room one day (my dad was in his early 80's) and on the tv was a baseball game. I asked him to describe what was on (like who was winning) and he said "oh it's one of those romantic stories" and proceeded to tell me about a romantic story he was seeing.



The problem with the elderly folks is they don't know what they're watching anyway. No instructions are going to help because of memory loss. why not set their tv to the correct station (only one of course) and then somehow don't allow their remote to change the station. They kinda do that sort of thing in the hospitals and nursing homes. Either the tv is on or off and if it's on it's only on one station.

Answer 10

The way they can mess up the channels that are reserved for cable, usually #3 or #4, is by accidentally using the original remote that came with the TV to change channels instead of the cable company remote.

Answer 11

Hi it gets to the point where you are never ever going to be right. so time to let go and let some one else take the strain of two old senile old people. they are like a new word child when it comes to all things electronic.

Answer 12

Write down exactly what they need to do in point by point form.



Firstly, photocopy the face of their controlled and then tape this to a sheet of paper.



Use points and arrows to explain only the simple functions.



If their fingers lack mobility, they may need to press buttons with a pen etc.

Answer 13

For my mother-in-law, we made a cardboard sleeve for her remote, with punched out holes for changing the channel and volume. That's all she could do. Would that help?

Answer 14

Just tell them to buy a new TV that does not require the use of a cable box in order to receive a signal. The newer TV's don't need a cable box, if you already have basic cable service.

Answer 15

Having read your question I now know that I was wise to decide not to have T.V. I'd have messed it up too I'm sure. Radio is so much easier and I can play C.D.s and my old cassettes on it also.

Answer 16

If it bothers you too much, then tell them you are buisy at the time and let them wait 30 minutes each time they call before going over. before long, they will see that they will have a waiting period before getting the TV straightened out. You would be surprised just how fast people can remember how to fix something if they hate to wait for help in order to get it working again! They are just acting childish and thinking of you as their 'mother'.

Answer 17

We got through this on a weekly basis. We just laugh and go over and help.

Answer 18

There is not much you can do once they are set in their ways and at their age.

What you co is keep looking for that old TV, try all of the TV repair places one of them are bound to have that OLD TV you're looking for or they can put one together for them. They even may have some ideas for you too...good luck!

Answer 19

Ya I have seen that problem with a fellow across the street. We all help out.

Answer 20

Try writing out the instructions in large letters and going in baby step by step Perhaps you could color the necessary buttons with nail polish and color code the instructions I did this for my gram with a recording device and it worked out ok

Answer 21

Get them a second TV that's always connected to cable..

Answer 22

Old age you could put them in a nursing home, or just take away the remote privileges.

Answer 23

Explain it to them one more time, but this time let them write the instructions down in their own way. It worked for me.

Answer 24

What the elderly needs is a book that explain certain things that would make sense to them. At first have somebody there to explain the procedures.

Answer 25

When my dad was befuddled by all the different buttons on his tv, I put tape over all the buttons but the on/off and the channel changer button.

Answer 26

Get them a remote.



😁 😂 😁

Answer 27

Try an antique dealer for a suitable TV....

Answer 28

Take their TV away and give them a soup bone to chew on.

Answer 29

find an easy to operate hand set ... there are a few

Answer 30

Say "DON"T TOUCH THIS"

Answer 31

Let the cable company handle them.

Answer 32

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I'm totally serious.