Station 19 - Killin' it!

So I don't know if you watch Netflix..or T.V. but with all of the social distancing and self-isolation, I have been watching a lot...Who am I kidding? I watch an excessive amount of T.V. before all of this Covid-19 chaos started. BUT, my point is, I recently watched a specific episode that I want to give the highest of fives. SPOILER ALERT!!

For those of you that don't know, Station 19 is a spin-off series of Grey's Anatomy, which follows a group of firefighters from, you guessed it, Station 19 in Seattle. WELL! This particular episode hit me in the feels. Not because a beloved character dies, or because something romantic and whimsical happened. No. It's because this episode talked about Dementia.

A man clearly in his later years walks into the firehouse, asking to speak to the Chief. No answer is the one he is looking for until a firefighter asks her partner to 'pretend' to be the Chief. She identifies with her partner that his senior is displaying signs of dementia. She says 'It is easier for us to live in his reality than to try and get him oriented to ours'.

The pair of firefighters use many techniques that we as RTs would use in the field. They then proceed to play the piano and sing together, and the elderly man sings with them. The gentleman's daughter enters the firehouse and finds her father singing and in a generally happy mood. He then has a responsive behaviour and slaps the female firefighter. Her response is only compassion and understanding.

This entire interaction during this episode was so well portrayed and accurate in the depiction of how individuals with dementia can be living and experiencing alternate realities, responsive behaviours, and mood changes, sense of confusion and agitation when corrected or denied compassion etc. I was so proud of the creators and writers of this show for representing a population that is very often misinterpreted and misunderstood.

In addition, they also highlighted caregiver burnout (the daughter) and how to ask/find assistance in the proper ways.

There isn't much else to say, except good job Station 19. Absolutely wonderful job.