Short videos that can entertain and educate.
If you have a loved one dealing with dementia, you know how hard it can be to keep them entertained and having something to do.
Allyson Schrier had that problem when her husband had early onset dementia. So she started putting together videos to help educate and entertain. Zinnia TV was born. Allyson joins Kim and Mike Barnes of Parenting Aging Parents to talk about what people with dementia need, why “regular” TV isn’t ideal and how Zinnia TV is able to entertain and even help your loved one with activities like brushing their teeth, drinking water and getting dressed. She shares how the videos can help teach the caregivers, too.
If you’d like to try Zinnia TV, you can get a free trial at https://www.zinniatv.com. Use promo code PAP20 and you’ll save 20% off an annual subscription!
Read the full transcript
Transcript of Interview: “Dementia Friendly Television”
Mike Barnes:
I think for anyone who has a loved one with dementia, like my mom with Alzheimer’s, there are lots of battles that we’ve talked about for a long time. One of them is what do they do throughout the day, not only to keep themselves entertained but to keep themselves busy and educated. What can we do to help them?
Kim Barnes:
Today, we’re bringing in Allyson Schrier from Zenia TV, who has created a very unique platform specifically designed for people with dementia. Allyson, let’s start with why we need to potentially entertain and engage with someone with dementia differently than someone else.
Allyson Schrier:
Sure. A person living with dementia, regardless of the type, will have difficulty processing rapidly moving audio and video. It means when we talk to them, for instance, we slow down and use fewer words. They will have difficulty telling fact from fiction, so their reality becomes distorted. They will also have challenges in communication. The brain changes resulting from dementia really impact the way a person interfaces with the world.
Kim Barnes:
It’s tough on all of us finding something for them to watch or something for them to do. I remember my mom, before she moved to memory care, would just be sitting in front of the TV watching “Law and Order” or something like that with a blank stare. My dad would be off playing with the stock market or something and checking on her every once in a while, but she would just be sitting there. “Mom, what are you doing?” “Oh, I’m watching TV.” You just knew she couldn’t follow along.
Allyson Schrier:
Right, she’s following a habit. That’s her routine. The problem with regular television is that it is intended for people who can track a plot, tell fact from fiction, and process rapidly moving audio and video. For people with dementia, it can result in boredom, agitation, and daytime sleeping, which means nighttime waking. It’s important to have them watch something they can actually engage with and digest.
Mike Barnes:
This has been a long road for you figuring that out.
Allyson Schrier:
It has been a long road. My husband was diagnosed with dementia at the age of 47 when my kids were 12 and 15. He eventually moved into long-term care, where he was placed in front of a television for long periods of time. I would see him agitated and bored, sleeping in a room full of people in wheelchairs. It broke my heart, and I thought, “My God, there’s got to be something better than CNN or The Weather Channel for these people.” I started researching to figure out what a better solution would look like.
Kim Barnes:
What did that evolve into?
Allyson Schrier:
There was a paper by Dr. Kate DeMedio called “Television Viewing for People in Long-Term Care,” which pointed out that the most engaging television for people with dementia was very slow-paced, generally without dialogue, maybe with soft music, and almost like screensavers. Based on that knowledge, I thought I could do better with my iPhone and started making little videos for my husband. It was all based on the content on my phone. I got curious about scaling it up to access more content and make it available to others. That led to my partnership with the fellow who designed the Memories product I was using. We formed a partnership, got an amazing content builder involved, and started building content.
Mike Barnes:
Tell us about Zenia TV, how to get it, and what you can watch.
Allyson Schrier:
I love talking about Zenia TV. It’s available as an app on our website, zenia.tv, and on app stores like Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire, iOS, and Android. Soon, it will be on Samsung and Zim. When you enter the Zenia screen, you’ll see a list of channels categorized by themes. There’s a nature channel with videos about the life of a butterfly, birds, and flowers. There’s an interest channel with baking, fly fishing, basketball, and cars. These videos are incredibly helpful in reducing anxiety and agitation.
Kim Barnes:
You mentioned that these videos can help reduce anxiety. Can you explain how?
Allyson Schrier:
Yes, when people are agitated, showing them a calming video can distract and lower their stress. For example, we have videos for drinking water. If my mom refuses water, I can watch a video with her showing babies, cats, and dogs drinking water. She’ll most likely pick up the glass and drink because everyone in the video is drinking water. We also have videos for toileting, showering, and getting out of bed. Additionally, we have caregiver support videos on how to manage hallucinations, communicate effectively, and handle repetitive questions.
Mike Barnes:
This is beneficial for long-term care communities and those caring for loved ones at home or in assisted living.
Allyson Schrier:
Definitely. While we are in long-term care communities, 98% of people with dementia are cared for at home. My heart is with those trying to make it through this journey and come out healthy. We get fabulous testimonials from family care partners about how their stress is reduced along with the stress of the person they’re caring for.
Kim Barnes:
I love how you’re helping people with dementia and teaching caregivers how to handle this tough job. Dementia doesn’t make sense and is counterintuitive to how we interact with people.
Allyson Schrier:
Exactly. When we have kids, we prepare for nine months, but with dementia, we’re usually blindsided. You can be the most compassionate and patient person with medical skills, but you’re still not ready to support a person with dementia. It’s crucial for people to get educated and skilled.
Kim Barnes:
It’s great to know there are videos to support caregivers in their journey through Zenia TV.
Allyson Schrier:
Absolutely. Thank you so much for having me. It’s a pleasure
Mike Barnes:
Good to talk to you. That’s what we all tend to encounter—we don’t know what to do.
Kim Barnes:
What kind of resources do I have?
Mike Barnes:
Help them and help us. Such a tough road.
If you have any other topics you’d like us to discuss, please let us know.
*This transcript is auto-generated. Please excuse any typos or mistakes.
