Is Television Good For Seniors?

Most of the residents at Discovery Commons At College Park retirement community, enjoy watching television. In fact, seniors are the age group in the U.S. that watches the most TV. Some positive aspects of television are to follow below; but first, the following are a few more points to make on the con side of watching too much TV.

TV and Health Issues

Watching television invariably means getting comfortable in a sitting or lying down position and watching a screen. Research shows that it’s not good for our bodies to remain in such a sedentary position for long periods of time. It has been prominently shown in academic studies that every hour an adult spends watching television can shorten his or her lifespan by 22 minutes. The following are a few more points to make about the cons of television:

• A sedentary lifestyle is unhealthy and has been linked to many serious health issues, including:
  • Heart disease
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Cancer (various kinds)
• Watching television is linked to eating unhealthy food. Not only can commercials about potato chips and other foods that lack nutrition influence us to eat poorly, but it has become a habit for many people to eat popcorn and other fatty snacks while watching TV.
• Many seniors at Discovery Commons At College Park sometimes find themselves missing out on opportunities for social interaction because they are busy watching TV. Social isolation is similar to a sedentary lifestyle because it is also very bad for your health and overall well-being.

Benefits of Watching Television

Watching television in moderation can be one of the highlights of a person’s life. There is no doubt but that there are positive aspects to watching TV. After all, it wouldn’t be a leading national pastime if it weren’t enjoyable. The following are some of the benefits of watching TV:

• We all need to have relaxation built into our lives, and watching TV is a favorite way to relax, for millions of people.
• Comedies provide opportunities to laugh. Laughter is the best medicine, and that’s more than a cliché. Laughing has many benefits, including the following:
  • Lowers blood pressure
  • Increases circulation
  • Decreases pain
  • Helps to prevent heart disease
  • Eases fear and anxiety
  • Improves your mood
  • Boosts immunity
  • Relaxes your muscles
• Television can make you smarter, in various ways. For instance, some shows are complex and require a lot of thinking in order to follow the story, such as Lost and Heroes. Watching Top Chef can increase your cooking vocabulary and teach you cooking techniques you’ve never heard of. Sesame Street has been teaching children how to read, count, and much more for decades. 
• Expand your understanding about the world by watching travel documentaries and shows with multicultural characters. Some remarkable shows can give you a very real experience of visiting other parts of the world where customs are as foreign as the languages.
• TV can be informative and educational. If you like history, you can watch the History Channel. National Geographic and Discover are also channels with programming designed to educate and inform. 
• You will exercise your memory when you watch a television series and need to remember what is going on from week to week.
• If you can watch television while getting exercise on some type of stationary equipment, you have a great benefit. You will probably find that exercising gets a lot easier when you get lost in a TV show. You will tend to exercise more and feel pain less if your mind is completely distracted with entertainment. 
• Some television shows are how-to shows that can give you step-by-step guidance on various things, from building and painting to cooking new recipes.
• In retirement, there isn’t a water cooler to gather around, but it can still be fun to share with fellow seniors your excitement over a favorite TV show. Having something to talk about can increase your enjoyment of social activities.
• Everyone needs a little excitement in life, and sometimes TV is a source of a lot of excitement. If you are a fan of American Idol, for example, it can be exciting when your favorite contestant wins. Sporting events have enormous audiences; and the excitement over favorite teams can be huge, especially when your favorite team is on a winning streak. 
• Watching some movies and TV shows can be satisfying like a good book. If you like romantic stories or action-adventure, movies can provide ideal entertainment.

The secret to being sure television is a benefit and not a harmful element in your life is to simply limit the activity and be sure you get plenty of exercise to offset the sedentary behavior. Many of the residents at Discovery Commons At College Park retirement communities have found the right balance of enjoying television without watching too much.

For more information on our independent senior living programs, be sure to contact us online or give us a call at 317-961-7256 today!