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Updated: Jun 12, 2026
06:52
Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit
Published on: September 30, 2020
Family caregivers' compassion fatigue in long-term facilities
Beth Perry1, Janice E Dalton, Margaret Edwards
1Faculty of Health Disciplines, Athabasca University, Canada.
Nursing Older People
|May 28, 2010
Summary
Family carers providing care to older relatives in long-term settings may experience compassion fatigue, characterized by role engulfment and enveloping sadness. Healthcare professionals should recognize and support these family caregivers.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Healthcare Studies
- Psychology
Background:
- Family caregivers play a crucial role in supporting older adults in long-term care settings.
- The phenomenon of compassion fatigue is well-documented in healthcare professionals.
- Limited research exists on compassion fatigue among family caregivers in these settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and manifestations of compassion fatigue in family members assisting with the care of older relatives in long-term care facilities.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative research design utilizing narrative data collection.
- Observations and conversations with five purposively selected family carers.
- Thematic and poetic analysis of collected narrative data.
Main Results:
- Family carers demonstrated symptoms consistent with compassion fatigue, as described in healthcare professional literature.
- Two prominent themes emerged: 'role engulfment,' where the carer's identity becomes consumed by their caregiving role, and 'enveloping sadness,' a pervasive sense of sorrow related to the caregiving experience.
Conclusions:
- Nurses and staff in long-term care should be educated about compassion fatigue in family caregivers.
- Healthcare providers must actively recognize and validate the signs of compassion fatigue in family members.
- Implementing supportive interventions for family carers experiencing compassion fatigue is essential for their well-being and the quality of care provided.
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