TV for people with dementia can bring calm, enjoyment and something to talk about. The same TV can also cause restlessness, confusion or tiredness. The difference is rarely the set itself. It lies in what is on screen, how long your loved one watches, how easy the TV is to use and whether you watch together. This guide takes you through it step by step.
Why watching TV changes with dementia
Dementia makes it harder to keep attention on one thing. A long film is difficult to follow, especially when adverts keep breaking it up. Programmes without a long storyline are often easier, because the person does not need to remember what happened earlier to enjoy them.
Telling the screen apart from real life can also become harder. Some people talk back to presenters or feel that what they see is happening in the room. Distressing news or violent scenes can then feel very real.
The pace of ordinary television plays a part too. Quick scene changes, sudden sound effects and complicated plots ask a lot of someone who processes information more slowly.
Choosing TV for people with dementia: what tends to work
There is no list that suits everyone. What your loved one enjoyed before is a good place to start. After that, watch closely how they react during and after a programme.
A gentle pace with few cuts
Choose images that stay calmly on screen: a landscape, a garden, animals, a walk through a town. The fewer sudden changes, the easier it is to follow. Short programmes or clips often work better than a whole film.
Music, nature and familiar faces
Music from someone's younger years can bring back strong memories. The Alzheimer's Society describes music and singing as powerful ways to relive memories, and the NHS suggests reminiscence with photos, video and music clips. Concert recordings, nature programmes, old favourites and short videos from grandchildren are all worth trying.
Familiar does not have to mean only the past. A new wildlife series or a concert can bring just as much pleasure.
What to avoid
- News bulletins showing disasters, accidents or war
- Loud debate shows and programmes with a lot of shouting
- Thrillers, horror or anything with sudden shocks
- Channels with frequent, loud advert breaks
If your loved one is frightened by something on screen or believes it is real, calmly switch it off and gently move the conversation on.
Too much or too little: signs to look out for
Both too much and too little stimulation can lead to restlessness. These signs can help you tell which one you are seeing in front of the TV.
Possibly too much:
- Your loved one grumbles, gets irritable or says no to something they usually enjoy
- Lots of talking, tapping or fiddling while watching
- Getting up again and again or wanting to leave the room
- Finding it harder to fall asleep after an evening of TV
Possibly too little:
- Looking at the screen without following anything, as if drifting off
- Making noises or wandering around looking for something to do
Not sure? Switch the TV off for fifteen minutes and see what happens. If your loved one settles, it was probably too much. If the restlessness continues, they may be looking for something to do or to look at.
Making the TV easier to use
Many carers get stuck on the technology. Modern remotes and menus are complicated, and one wrong button pauses a programme or opens a menu. These changes can help:
- One remote. Put the others out of sight. Simple remotes with a few large buttons are also available.
- Favourite channels first. Move the few channels your loved one watches to the top of the list.
- Autoplay off. Otherwise streaming services start the next episode or a trailer on their own.
- A steady volume. Not too loud, and check that adverts are not louder than the programme.
- Subtitles for hearing loss. Give them a try; for some people they make the screen too busy.
- A picture card. Make a simple step-by-step card showing which button turns it on and which turns it off.
Watching together, not TV as a babysitter
It is tempting to put the TV on so you can get something else done, and that is fine now and then. But TV works much better as a moment you share, not as noise in the background all day.
Sit down together, say what you see and ask what your loved one thinks. A picture of a harbour may bring back a story from years ago. Stop after a short while and move on to something else: a cup of tea, a short walk, a small job around the house. That way the TV is part of the day rather than a replacement for company.
Turning the screen into a conversation
- Describe what you see: "Look, there's a horse in the field."
- Ask open questions rather than testing memory: "What do you think of that garden?" instead of "Do you remember where that was?"
- Share a memory of your own that fits the picture
- Hum or sing along to music they know
- Let silences be; watching quietly together is company too
When your loved one loses interest
Someone who always loved TV may stop watching altogether. This is part of the changes in attention that dementia can bring. Do not force it. Try a shorter clip, a different kind of programme or just music. If that does not work, choose something hands-on, such as folding the washing together, arranging flowers or looking through a photo album.
The right time of day
Watch when your loved one is most alert. For many people that is earlier in the day. A regular routine helps: roughly the same time each day, with a clear start and finish.
Late afternoon and evening are harder for many people with dementia. Choose especially calm programmes then, or switch off in good time. Our articles on sundowning and dementia and sleep say more about calmer evenings and nights.
Try not to leave the TV on all day. Constant background noise from television and radio can add to confusion. Turn it off when you notice it only causes unrest.
Calm viewing with Menta
Ordinary television is made for the average viewer. Menta is a streaming service with videos made specifically for people living with dementia: a gentle pace, no sudden transitions and no startling sounds. You choose what suits your loved one, from nature and animals to music.
Read more about the thinking behind it in Does television work the same way for everyone? or see why Menta works differently.
In short
- Choose calm, short programmes with music, nature or familiar images
- Avoid the news, loud debate shows and channels full of adverts
- Look out for signs of too much or too little stimulation
- Keep the TV simple: one remote, favourite channels first, autoplay off
- Watch together at a regular time, then switch it off
When to ask for help
If your loved one's behaviour changes suddenly, or the restlessness clearly gets worse, speak to their GP. Sometimes there is a physical cause behind it, such as pain or an infection.
For everyday support, the NHS dementia pages and your local Alzheimer's Society services are good places to start. If your loved one resists help, our article on how to respond when a person with dementia resists care may also be useful.
