Caring Until It Hurts
FEATUREDSTRESS MANAGEMENTBRAIN HEALTHALL POSTS
A nursing home, also known as a long-term care facility, is a residential facility for individuals, typically elderly people, who require around-the-clock medical care and assistance with daily activities. Nursing homes provide a higher level of care than assisted living facilities, as they have medical professionals such as nurses, nursing assistants and therapists on staff to administer medical treatments, monitor health conditions, and provide personal care services.
These facilities play a crucial role in supporting individuals with chronic conditions or disabilities who require ongoing assistance beyond what can be provided at home. The level of care and services offered varies depending on the type of facility and the specific needs of the residents. Day after day, healthcare workers put themselves at risk to care for their residents and to support families in their darkest moments.
Compassion fatigue is a unique form of burnout that affects caregiving professions. It occurs when the relentless emotional demands of the job gradually erode a worker's own capacity for compassion. For nursing home staff, who provide intimate, hands-on care to frail, disabled, critically ill, elderly, and often cognitively impaired residents, the risk is especially acute. Over time, they may experience emotional exhaustion, a sense of detachment, burnout, and a diminished ability to feel and express empathy.
"Healthcare workers entered their profession out of a genuine desire to help and care for others," explains Dr. Elizabeth Schaughency, a clinical psychologist who specializes in supporting medical professionals. "But the sheer volume of suffering they are exposed to, coupled with the relentless pace and pressure of their work, can gradually chip away at that compassionate spirit."