I've found a recent study first published in the Associated Press that is only indicative of a growing problem in the United States. First I will reprint certain parts of the article written by Lucy Johnston, "Study Blames TV for dementia." This shows you that old people who watch lots of TV confuse shows with reality.
LONDON - Violent or disturbing images on television - already blamed for delinquency in children - are now being blamed for bad behavior in the very old. According to new research, a surfeit of television of retirement home, where residents are "dumped" in front of the TV all day, is causing some to confuse their own lives with drama on the box.
The evidence is alarming. It includes one 90 year old woman who remembered the themes of television programs but forgot the identities of their main characters. To compensate, she transferred their identities on to people she knew well, leading to bitter accusations against her family.
Among these were claims that her grandson was being lead astray by prostitutes; that her son-in-law, a retired doctor, was facing charges of assault for being a man in the same room as her and that her doctor was a transvestite. She also accused the ward sister of being a stripper.
END ARTICLE
This has lead me to some startling thoughts. What would of happened to all the old birds sitting in front of the tube during the Monica Lewinsky scandal?? Would people in the rest home volunteer to be Bill and Monica? And if things weren't confusing enough, having a former presidential candidate making ads for Viagra? Under the circumstances, I wouldn't be surprised if I went crazy too!