sunset38 Asked April 2019

Any creative ideas on how to handle Assisted Living roommate television issue?

My mom moved into a shared room in assisted living three weeks ago. There are two dressers, side by side, one for her roommate and the other for her. The dressers are the furniture pieces that holds the televisions. This becomes a problem when only ONE TV can be played at a time. My mom's roommate has been living in that room for six months and has ultimate control of the TV (which is on her dresser) and it's extremely loud volume!! And, of course, my mom doesn't like any of the shows that her roommate watches. Picture this, the roommate is in the room, sitting in her rocking chair and watches TV the entire day and pretty much never leaves the room!

I'm trying to come up with ideas of setting my mom up with her own tv that she can watch in bed or in her recliner. I'm thinking of getting a hospital bedside rolling table w/ a portable TV that she can plug earphones into and watch. Has anybody else run into an issue such as this and if you have, how did you solve it? Unfortunately, there's no money for a private room...

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I couldn't believe this ridiculous set up nursing homes have when my mom went in for rehab the first time. Two beat up dressers and loud TVs next to each other. This was a 5 star Medicare rated NH. There was also a blaster in the room across the hall night and day. He would leave the room and keep the TV on blasting away. I said something to administration and they said they can't say anything or he would become " obstinate". In some foreign countries they use noise as torture yet here we do this to our elderly. All for massive amounts of money they demand for what they call care. I am sorry to say all this but I still can't believe NHs do things this way for all the money they demand. At least in a hospital the sound box is in each bed.
I would try to get a small TV that could be wheeled closer, or something with headphones.

Helpful Answer (11)

I agree Katie, well said! I never even thought about the noise "torture" but you're right, it is ridiculous!

(2)

There is absolutely no reason your mother should have to live with the rudeness of her roommate. My mother has lived in an AL facility for several years and there are residents who cannot keep a roommate and these residents are known to everyone in the facility. Their behavior makes it impossible for anyone to share a room with them. They are usually the last ones anyone is placed with and they like it that way as they end up with the whole room to themselves. Many facilities do not allow TV’s in shared rooms and instead have common areas with large screen TV’s for residents. My mother’s AL has these areas and it works out very well. You need to go directly to the facility’s administrator and tell him/her that this situation is unacceptable and that your mother needs to be relocated. They want your business and they will comply with your request.

Helpful Answer (10)

They want EVERYBODY'S business, so will stick people in to get more in and if it be an obnoxious person with a history so be it, only they know, to start...but one threatening to depart, I bet they promise the first available. What a nightmare. I'm surprised the person with the apparent hearing issue isn't forced to use some kind of headphone so a roommate could have some peace.

(3)

Most newer TVs have BlueTooth capabilities, (wireless) headphones and or earbuds. It is much easier way to deal with the problems.

Helpful Answer (9)

some hearing aids can be connected to Bluetooth as well

(1)

Is it possible for her to transfer to a different room/different roommate when one becomes available?

Helpful Answer (7)

Yep,

I think you’re on the right track. My mom uses headphones for The Young and the Restless soap opera. Doesn’t sound like roommate is going to share the television. Maybe you could suggest she gets headphones too! Best of luck to your mom with her roommate.

I also have closed captioning on mom’s television. She will read the words when she doesn’t feel like wearing the headphones.

Helpful Answer (6)

Cali,

Yeah, most likely would only have to be a suggestion to use the headphones. Don’t see how they could force anyone to use them.

My mom would blast her tv so loud that I would get a headache! So my husband, the tech guy in my house went out and purchased the headphones. She loves them. So there wasn’t any struggle to use them. She makes sure they are charged and ready before her all important soap opera, The Young and the Restless! Hahaha

(5)

I think you can get a relatively inexpensive pair of blue tooth speakers. That way mom can watch what she wants without bothering the shot caller. Or if her roommate would be receptive give her a pair.

Helpful Answer (6)

They both need headsets.

Why can there only be one TV set in the room?

In my mom's shared NH room, each resident had their own (provided by resident) TV. Each had a headset. Each watched their own shows.

Helpful Answer (5)

Headsets are a good idea but can the residents be forced to use them?

My FILs NH provides the TVs, I was surprised to see that......the TVs are attached to the beds! There’s an arm that allows it to swing back & forth so it’s not in the way all the time & it can be moved closer if need be. The TV is about the size of a small 1990s laptop. This is probably the set-up because there is no room for furniture and nowhere to mount a TV on the wall. These rooms were clearly designed for single occupants but times have changed and from what I saw, all room have 2 occupants.

(2)

We have Direct Tv and I have an iPad. I am able to stream just about any show in our channel lineup on my iPad and I wear headphones. Maybe call the facility’s cable provider to see if they offer the same service.

Helpful Answer (5)

That’s a good idea. My daughter streams everything.

(2)

1) Request a room with no t.v.

2) Buy a remote for your Mom, programmed to match roomy's t.v.
a) turn down the volume when roomy dozes off.
b) pre-program the t.v., by using the remote, to turn off in one hour.
c) Read the rules and guidelines for the AL.
There must be something about t.v.'s that must be followed, and if a dispute arises, they can remove the t.v.(s).

Try an agreement with roomy, person with remote control privileges gets odd or even day choices.

Have Mom's doctor order specific sleep hygiene protocol, written out, no t.v. after 10 p.m., etc.

Helpful Answer (5)

I realize that the TV is the roommate’s, but an inexpensive wireless transmitter can convert an older TV to Bluetooth to transmit the audio signal to a wireless speaker placed nearer to the listener.
My mom’s speaker is a JBL clip model that I have positioned right next to her good ear. (Newer TV’s have Bluetooth capabilities)

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Any creative ideas on how to handle Assisted Living roommate television issue?

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