A recent discussion in Facebook’s Aged Care Worker Support Group has ignited debate about the appropriateness of TV content in aged care homes – specifically, whether residents should be allowed to watch The Benny Hill Show.
An anonymous worker shared their frustration after their facility banned the classic British comedy from the dementia support unit, despite residents visibly enjoying it.
“So my workplace has deemed my Benny Hill DVDs inappropriate for the memory support unit in which I work. I tend to agree, but boy did they have a chuckle at his antics and the smiles on their faces were priceless,” the poster wrote.
This raises an important question: Who decides what is ‘appropriate’ entertainment for aged care residents – those living in the home, or the staff overseeing their care?
Aged care residents are adults. They have lived through decades of cultural shifts and have personal preferences that should be respected. If they are entertained by something and it brings them joy, why should it be restricted?
Many group members agreed, arguing that aged care facilities should prioritise the happiness of residents over the personal opinions of staff. One commenter put it bluntly: “They are still adults at the end of the day; they should be allowed to watch what they want.” Another went further, stating: “Denying them that choice is tantamount to abuse.”
There’s a contradiction at play here – aged care providers frequently remind families that “this is the residents’ home.” If that is truly the case, shouldn’t the residents have the final say on what they watch?
Benny Hill, a comedian who was a staple of British television from the 1950s to the 1990s, is undeniably a figure from a different era. His slapstick humour, often featuring scantily clad women, may not align with today’s sensitivities. However, his show was incredibly popular among the very generation that now resides in aged care.
Unlike modern audiences who may view his comedy through a contemporary lens, many aged care residents remember The Benny Hill Show as harmless fun. It was part of their cultural landscape, much like Dad’s Army, On the Buses, and Fawlty Towers – all of which still enjoy loyal viewership among older generations.
One of the more controversial aspects of this particular aged care home’s decision is that, while Benny Hill was deemed inappropriate, Bollywood films were reportedly played without issue. Some group members questioned whether the cultural backgrounds of staff influenced entertainment choices, rather than the preferences of residents.
Others highlighted the overuse of Andre Rieu and other ‘safe’ entertainment options, suggesting a trend of staff picking what they think residents should watch rather than asking them what they actually want.
One contributor made a compelling point: “If we’re going to be selective about content, shouldn’t we also question violent films, distressing news broadcasts, or even the constant playing of music residents may not enjoy?”
While some argue that communal dementia units should maintain neutral entertainment to accommodate all residents, others believe a person-centred approach is key. Where possible, individual choice should be prioritised—whether that means watching Benny Hill, Bollywood films, or The Man from Snowy River.
As aged care providers increasingly focus on ‘person-centred care’, it’s crucial to remember that autonomy doesn’t stop at meals and medical decisions. The simple joy of watching a familiar, well-loved comedy should be considered just as important in improving quality of life.
Ultimately, aged care residents are not children – they are adults with decades of life experience. If a programme makes them laugh, then surely, that’s the best measure of its appropriateness, not the opinions of those who happen to be working the shift.
I would be very upset if they denied members of my family watching Benny Hill .
If the wokerati cared to review Benny Hill episodes the females always manage to humiliate the character ! So it was actually empowering for women .
Please let them watch it Care homes .
Thanks for letting me have a say .
If The Residents laugh, why not let Them watch it. Better than having Them sitting around being miserable.
We often forget that the humour our current residents in aged care and dementia units grew up with is the same comedy that was once widely accepted. Shows like Benny Hill, Dad’s Army, Are You Being Served, and others that today’s generation may find offensive were once commonplace.
So why do the current staff and management of aged care homes have the right to decide what grown men and women can or cannot watch on TV? It all comes down to dignity, respect, and choice, shame on whoever made this decision.
What we tend to forget is that this mode of humour is the comedy that our current residents in aged care and dementia units lived through. What may be deemed inappropriate today was accepted when they were younger.
Shows such as Benny Hill, Dad’s Army, Are You Being Served, and many more that today’s generation find offensive. Why do the current staff/management of aged care homes have the right to decide what grown men and women can or cannot watch on TV?
It comes down to dignity, respect and choice, shame on whoever made this decision.
Although I don’t advocate displaying inappropriate content in communal areas, I would have thought Benny Hill is relatively tame ( and still funny) compared to what’s shown on commercial television, SBS, and ABC today.
However, when it comes to making choices, the opinions of those working the shift should never determine what is reasonable or in the best interests of a resident. The dignity of choice and risk is the fundamental right of every individual.
Self-appointed moral or cultural enforcers undermining an individual’s right to choose can stifle quality of life.
I hope that when and if I find myself in a facility, they won’t prohibit me from listening to Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, or watching “Mrs. Brown’s Boys.”
It is disheartening and disgraceful when self-righteous support workers remove the simple joys that bring a smile or prompt a hearty laugh to those who need them most.
This is ridiculous censorship. The people watching this would have watched and laughed at the originals. I’m sure some of his sketches might offend a few of the staff, but at the time they were made they were not offensive and there was no intention to hurt or disrespect people. A great deal of Australian humour these days actually targets people in the media and may lampoon them individually – I can’t remember Benny Hill ever doing this.
For people with dementia to actually make them laugh and be able to feel themselves for a moment is a gift – censorship will take back this gift and leave them to the misery of loss.