My 90+ aunt has had self-pay round-the-clock homecare for 10 years. She enjoys music but now always sits with eyes closed, meaning that TV is of no interest to her. Current caregivers have requested internet connectivity in addition to cable TV. As this would be solely for their benefit, not for the patient's, can they be asked to contribute? What about the inevitable "but I don't use the internet" type of complaints? As financial resources are dwindling, suggestions on what is appropriate and how to handle the situation are greatly appreciated.
Phone? Of course. A decent TV? Of course. Cable? Probably unless one is in a major city and has a high-quality antenna on the roof. Internet? Meh. How many of their elderly clients have internet? Very few, I'd reckon.
I'm gathering you have cable, though. So internet is an add-on...probably, at the most, $40/month. In the scheme of 24/7 caregiving, $40 is a teeny-tiny itsy-bitsy drop in the bucket. I suspect it's more principle with you than the cost.
Me? If the person was a good caregiver, I'd pop for $40/month in a heartbeat. But I don't think it's a necessity.
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