Group home residents and group home staff often enjoy watching TV together. To make it a positive activity there are some guidelines that should be followed.
Times when TV watching will fit into care-giving at a group home for disabled adults and children:
- Weather prohibits outdoor activities
- Illness keeps a group home resident at the house
- A physical injury interferes with activity
- The resident has had a busy/stressful day or week
- Limited funds for activities (movie night)
The obvious and most important guideline is that the TV should NOT be used to “babysit” residents while staff sit on the phone or are doing their homework. Group home support staff are there for the residents, personal activities should be done when off the clock.
With that being said, here are some guidelines that can make TV watching with the residents of a group home a positive experience.
- Choose age appropriate programs when possible
- Comedies, educational, and motivating shows are always good choices
- Go for a walk or do some other physical activity before sitting down to watch TV
- Pay attention to what is being watched
- Have a commercial activity planned (snacks, stretching, musical chairs, etc)
Sometimes residents will choose to watch something inappropriate, it is their right. Sometimes prompting will not change their mind on an inappropriate choice. When this happens, pay close attention to what they are watching and give your input.
Comment for inappropriate scenes:
- That wasn’t very nice
- I wouldn’t do that
- I’m sure you would never talk to someone like that
- I stay away from people like that
- It’s wrong to lie
- That is just pretend
Simple, short statements are the most effective. Don’t over due it, or you will be tuned out!
When group home support staff sits silently next to a resident while they watch TV can give them the mistaken idea that what the resident sees on television is OK in real life. When watching TV with mentally disabled or mentally ill group home residents, as support staff, it is our responsibility to help them sort out acceptable and unacceptable behavior that they view.
TV time can be relaxing and educational for both residents and staff by following a few guidelines for watching TV in the group home.
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