b'COMPASSION FATIGUEBeating compassion fatigue Overcoming compassion fatiguein end-of-life care during COVID-19T he COVID-19 pandemicof COVID-19, the series itself strivedthat we can be immersed in suffering changed everything in long- to model a palliative approach to careand loss daily and not be touched by term care homes, includingby offering comfort, strength, andit is as unrealistic as expecting to be for team members that had to facesupport to the homes. able to walk through water without the challenge of caring for residentsgetting wet.under lockdown and restrictionsOne of the most popular sessions while managing their own anxietiescentred around the compassionOur natural response of compassion around the virus. In a setting alreadyfatigue felt by many long-term careleads us to experience compassion familiar with the realities of end of life,team members on the frontline of thesatisfactionthe reason you do what integrating palliative and end-of-lifepandemic. (Side note: you can listenyou do, the joy that you feel in caring communication and care becameto any of the mini webinars onlinefor residentsbut at times it can also even more necessary for at bit.ly/ceol-webinars!) In this articlelead to whats known as compassion care-home teams. we share some of the key takeawaysfatigue. This fatigue is the inability to around compassion fatigue in theempathize or feel compassion for When the first wave of COVID-19 hit,hope that you will feel empowered toothers; its the downside of caring. the Ontario CLRI at Bruyre took itsprocess your own experience fromYou may experience compassion signature Communication at End-of- the first wave and prepare for whatfatigue because of burnoutthat Life program and adapted pieces ofthe future holds in your role! feeling of inefficiency and being it to fit the needs of long-term careoverwhelmedor because of homes in the pandemic through aCompassion fatigue secondary trauma from being in series of mini webinars. The RipplesA quote by author Naomi Rachelthe presence of someone who is of Thoughtful Words series sought toRemen perfectly sums up why weexperiencing trauma. provide long-term care home teamexperience compassion when we are members with practical tips to buildfaced with continuous loss (loss ofBoth compassion fatigue and into their professional practice andnormalcy, loss of structure, loss of thesatisfaction are the realities of working personal lives. Especially in the midstones we care for): The expectationin a caring role where you offer 26 LONG TERM CARE TODAY Fall/Winter 2020'