When you watch your first episode of HBO’s “Getting On”—about life in an extended care facility—the thing you will need to remind yourself is that it is a television series, not a documentary. The scenes are intentionally shot and edited to give a kind of gritty, real-time feel to them. What will happen thereafter, though, is you will slip into being both fascinated and amused by the misadventures of the staff and patients at the fictitious Billy Barnes Extended Care Facility. And if you pay close attention, you may learn a thing or two that can make you a more knowledgeable and capable caregiver.
The series is in its third, and final, season. What makes it particularly relevant for those of us who are caregivers is that it provides an honest look at the lives and struggles of the staff but also the patients. And the patients come from many walks of life. A former professor who began experiencing early stage dementia, a professional dancer who became injured and subsequently disabled, are two such examples. Notable in the show too is the ill matched nursing staff and the attending physician in charge of the site.
Among the lessons we caregivers can glean from “Getting On”:
- Patients in an extended care facility, especially those who are suffering from various stages of dementia, might unknowingly become participants in a research study, if they do not have family or someone checking in on them regularly. The third season opener deals with the consequences the staff had to face as a result of such an occurrence.
- Etiquette and protocol when addressing an end-of-life situation calls for both skill and intuitiveness. This is depicted in the second season. A character in the show who is a patient transporter displays these unique gifts and actually teaches the seasoned nursing and medical staff a thing or two.
- There are policies employees deal with that can border on the surreal. This is notably illustrated in a recent episode in which there is a serious discussion among the nursing staff about who is responsible for cleaning up some puke on the floor. Belying the dark humor of the situation is the more sobering truth that there are often deep organizational and labor issues present in some extended care facilities.
To learn more about “Getting On,” go to http://www.hbo.com/getting-on/about
Dr. McTyre is a homecare worker and an emergency medical technician. Additionally, he is a longtime college educator, writer, editor, and researcher on social science issues. Contact him at [email protected]
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