I was very pleased when I heard there was a program about a long-term care facility on British television. Finally we’re getting our props — at least overseas.
“Derek” is the story of a simple but kind middle-aged man who works in a quiet assisted living home with an assortment of misfits who staff the place. The show is alternatively funny and sad and definitely worth watching, especially to see how our work is portrayed to the public.
Ricky Gervais is not only the star of ‘Derek,’ he also wrote and directed it. Gervais’ past credits include his work on ‘The Office’ and ‘Extras,’ which he co-wrote and co-directed. He had lead roles in both programs. Below, Charlie Rose talks with Ricky Gervais about ‘Derek.’
There’s a new dramatic series on aging parents and their adult children on YouTube. These brief vignettes, with 13 episodes in all, capture issues facing families as parents become less able to care for themselves and their children try to intervene/help. I saw the first one and thought it was very powerful.
There have been people living with advanced dementia in every nursing home I’ve been in. They sit silently in chairs and recliners, lining the hallways or packed into the day room, where the TV creates the illusion of a pastime. This residents often seem unreachable, locked in their own private worlds, not responding to questions or efforts to involve them in activities. What if we could bring them alive again through music? In this video, Oliver Sacks, MD, provides commentary as music transforms a man with dementia. The clip is part of the documentary, Alive Inside: A Story of Music & Memory.
