The Realities of Pandemic Fatigue - Part 1

Published 12/2/2020

Part 1

Here is another new phrase to add to the 2020 handbook: pandemic fatigue, also dubbed COVID fatigue. As the novel coronavirus outbreak stretches past the ten-month mark, folks have grown weary of wearing masks, canceled events, social distancing, and everything related to the virus, including the safety guidelines introduced near the beginning of the year. The disruption of work routines and school schedules have caused mounting stress. Financial woes and uncertainty about the future have taken a toll. The isolation from family and friends has attacked the mental and emotional health of all ages. People are simply tired of this "new normal."

Mere weeks into the pandemic, a psychotherapist Hannah Smith, coined the term "Pandemic Fatigue." She identified such symptoms as intense tiredness and overwhelming weariness, as well as irritability. Another one is disorientation, the type that finds folks questioning which day of the week it is, as the days appear to blur one into another.

But for healthcare workers, the reality of pandemic fatigue is all of that and so much more. The passion that initially drove these dedicated professionals to give 110%, pouring themselves into caring for patients, has been overwhelmed by intense exhaustion. In addition to the same issues facing the rest of the population, healthcare workers have the added burden of daily facing this health crisis's realities in clinical settings and long-term care facilities.

Escalating stress levels have resulted in a marked increase in burnout, a scenario already on the rise among healthcare professionals before the pandemic. They yearn for normalcy in their comings and goings, as does everyone else, yet must consider the increased risk of exposure to the virus due to their employment. And conversely, fear of bringing the virus into the healthcare setting also impacts their life decisions, resulting in a cycle of hypervigilance and anxiety. Whether from an abundance of caution, or sheer exhaustion, they may feel compelled to opt-out of social occasions, even where social distancing is being maintained, further enhancing the isolation and loneliness wrought by the pandemic.

A major frustration for those immersed in the COVID-19 battle is the unpredictability of this disease. While most people who contract the virus will recover without a hospital stay, serious complications beset others, requiring lengthy hospitalizations, admission to the ICU, and the use of a ventilator. The why behind the chasm of extremes between the symptomless and those who lose the battle against the virus only heightens these frontline caregivers' stress levels.

Unfortunately, experts warn that pandemic fatigue is a likely contributor to the increase in cases being recorded across the country. As folks become increasingly weary of the restrictions and guidelines intended to slow the spread of COVID-19, cold weather and the holidays are upon us. As winter forces us to huddle inside, both the cold and the keeping of close quarters will help spread the virus. Added to this, some people, compelled by the desire to continue longstanding family traditions, will ignore the recommendations to forego large holiday gatherings. All this has our already exhausted, overwhelmed healthcare community questioning what January will bring.

We know this virus has caused tremendous stress on the nurses, CNAs, LNHAs, and the entire healthcare staff who work, day in and day out, with our elderly. We sincerely appreciate your dedication and commitment to this most vulnerable of our population. As a crucial component in the war against this virus, it is imperative that the health and wellbeing of this faithful group be a priority. Join us in our next blog post as we detail strategies to protect these essential team members' emotional, mental, and physical health.

*This content is based on information available as of 12/2/20.