All my Mom wants to do all day is watch MSNBC

[Anonymous]

I mean, at least it’s not Fox News. But I am honestly not sure this is better.

She puts it on first thing in the morning and on it stays if she is in the house.

She doesn’t get worked up about the content or anything. But it’s omnipresent.

[Anonymous]

Does she live with you? If not, so what?

[Anonymous]

If it's staying on, it's likely background noise for her. Or do you mean she sits in front of the TV 16 hours a day? I happen to like quiet, but I know many people like to have a TV on for white noise.

[Anonymous]

It she actually watching or just letting it play in the back round? Try the weather channel. Maybe the dateline channel or Hallmark channel.

[Anonymous]

My parents do this too. We pretty much told them it has to be turned off when we are around and they are fine with that. It certainly works my dad up, but that's his choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It she actually watching or just letting it play in the back round? Try the weather channel. Maybe the dateline channel or Hallmark channel.

Me Tv has Andy Griffith mash and bonanza!

[Anonymous]

How cognitively sound are your parents? My mom has the TV on a lot because she no longer has the memory to read books or most magazines, and she doesn't want to sit in silence all day

[Anonymous]

Humans need human contact. TV is a substitute for nfamily and a job.

[Anonymous]

It's not fox or CNN so count your blessings.

[Anonymous]

My dad, too, although it plays in the background. When I'm with him, I try to get him out of the rut. We play cards or board games and turn the TV off.

[Anonymous]

Your mom has paid her dues - let her watch what she wants and live her life as she wants.

[Anonymous]

Same here sometimes 2-3 tvs across the house same time. Stresses me out.

[Anonymous]

I work in eldercare and it is very common for elders to have a TV on all day, especially if they live alone - it's the sound of other humans and a feeling of connection to the world.

There isn't any harm in it if it's not working her up. Those Morning Joe folks are her friends, as are the other anchors who show up on her TV all day and thank her for welcoming them into her home. She is the primary audience as MSNBC's audience skews older.

If you do think the news is ramping up her anxiety, I would suggest as someone else did MeTV as an alternative - she can revisit Matlock, In the Heat of the Night, The Waltons, Bonanza, The Rifleman, Wagon Train, Andy Griffith, MASH, etc. Many elders enjoy watching the shows of their youth and middle age because it stimulates memories of happier times when they were full of vitality and we didn't live under growing fascism.

[Anonymous]

She likes something on in the background, she likes background noice/company. Some people don't like this. DH would love to have a radio (playing music) on in every room in the house. Or tv. I want silence.

Op, don't make this a thing. She gets to live as she likes.

[Anonymous]

Are you posting this because you have a problem with it, or just want feedback? She’s elderly and it seems harmless. I wouldn’t care.