Hugely important research highlights mental health impact of Covid19 on nursing home staff
Tuesday November 16, 202116th November 2021: Nursing Homes Ireland comment on Nursing home staff mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland, a research study supported by NHI.
Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO states: “This is a hugely important body of research, highlighting the enormously stressful and traumatic impact the Covid19 pandemic had upon nursing home staff. It brings to bear immense personal sacrifices that nursing home staff have undertaken to protect our most vulnerable during a pandemic and national health emergency that placed them on the frontline. Staff in our nursing homes were placed in extreme emergency situations, tasked with coping with intensive pressures that were encountered over extended periods. Covid19 has not dissipated and severe mental and physical pressures remain for nursing home staff, with cases escalating in the community as we face into the winter period.
“In conjunction with Aware and the Community Foundation Ireland, NHI has delivered a support programme to assist nursing home staff in dealing with the post traumatic effects of the Covid19 emergency. The support provided through NHI and the charities is in keeping with Covid19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel recommendation that employee assistance programmes or other counselling are put in place for staff affected by the Covid emergency. There is requirement for the State to acknowledge the gravity of the strain that has been placed upon staff in our nursing homes and broader health services and bring into effect appropriate supports to support them in living with the lasting effects of Covid19.
“The research brings home the integral role fulfilled by nursing home staff in caring for, supporting and protecting our most vulnerable within our health and social care services. A lasting legacy that should emanate from Covid19 is the State recognises the essential role they fulfil within our society by ensuring gerontological care within our nursing homes and beyond is appropriately resourced and valued by the State.
“Thank you to St Patrick’s Mental Health Services, Trinity College Dublin and the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland for their partnership in bringing this vital research study together.”
NHI CEO Tadhg Daly is available for further interview. Media interviews will be facilitated by Michael McGlynn, NHI Communications & Research Executive who can be contacted at 087 9082970.
Note for Editor
Click to read research press release issued 16th November and to acces the research report: New research identifies mental health impacts of the pandemic on nursing home staff