AIBU to think care homes need more age-appropriate entertainment?

[myislandhome]

My MIL is 91, born 1935. She has recently gone into a care home. So far, all of the entertainment in the home has been so dated - lots of WW2 focus, songs including roll out the barrel and white cliffs of dover etc. I do realise it's currently the D day celebration but it hasn't been just this weekend.
It's driving me mad, MIL was 10 when the war ended. She was in her 20's in the rock and roll era in the 50's. My own mother, who was in a nursing home until she died, was born in 1940 and had the same experience in her home; despite being in her prime in the late 50's/swinging 60's
AIBU to think that nursing homes need to up their game with their entertainment themes?

My mum was in a care home 2018-2023, and I recall at one time feeling a bit taken aback when I visited and they were playing 70s music, as it was music I grew up with, and I didn’t see myself as being that old, but then realised that as we were on a dementia floor, there were some residents who were late 60s/early 70s, and that this would have been the music of their 20s/early 30s so of course they would have a lot of memories associated with that era.

They also played a lot of 50s and 60s music, sometimes Smooth radio in the background (so fairly current stuff) and also did the war time and pre-war music hall stuff as entertainment. Oh, and some classical, choral performers and occasional entertainment reflecting different cultural backgrounds.

Love this. I see you x

It’s not (see my post above).

Okay, I'm 60 on Thursday. I never want to hear some of the shite my parents played ever again. Al Martino, Jim Reeves, Matt Monro? No f#cking thanks... My older brother and I were into Thin Lizzy, Alice Cooper, Free, Bad Company, Status Quo, and AC/DC. I'd rather rock my final years away, thanks....

FFS right back at you 😀

ageism like any prejudice stems from ignorance

if they are playing Vera Lynn on the assumption that is what their residents link without even asking them - that’s pushing an ageist stereotype

and it’s the complete opposite of ‘trying their best’

"I hope I die before I get old" Best words from a song.

Why can’t they just choose their own songs to play and films to watch?

Most likely the staff hasn't got a clue and work hard for a low wage not paying a lot of attention to entertainment.

This! People working in case homes are on the lowest wage in the country - often lower than shelf stackers, for example. Caring is an incredibly skillful, difficult and challenging job, and the wages nowhere near reflect that. Because of that, a majority of staff are often not very educated and/or very young, with no life experience. Despite this, the vast majority of staff give the role their all. Unfortunately (because of issues like appalling low wages) it also means care homes are routinely understaffed, and with all the will and knowledge in the world, they are only able to do so much.

Families can help enormously by making staff aware of their loved ones likes, dislikes, hobbies, life experiences, etc. So to any loved ones of people in care - please share all you can!

Have you got dementia and are you posting at a lucid moment?

Excellent, I will join you in the same care home!

My cousin worked for a while in a hospital where they had put world war 2 photos on the corridor walls including pictures of children in bombed out buildings, not considering that there were elderly people still suffering from Ptsd as they had actually lived through this as children.

I hope not...

Not at all unreasonable.

I am looking forward to hearing The Stranglers and Stiff Little Fingers in my care home rather than Vera Lynn.

(I'm not quite needing care yet)

I am 70, I want Hendrix. The Who, Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones, Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Little Feat, Fairport Convention....................................

I hope if I'm ever forced to go into a care home (and I'd rather die) that I won't be subjected to ANY music. I like peace and quiet.

Oh, great, how thrilling it would be to be a resident in there with you...