title: Family caregivers' compassion fatigue in long-term facilities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to explore the presence of compassion fatigue in family carers who assist staff with care of older relatives in long-term settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Narrative data were collected through observation and conversations with five purposively selected family carers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thematic and poetic analysis suggest that family carers exhibit symptoms associated in the literature with compassion fatigue in nurses and other healthcare professionals. Two major themes emerged: role engulfment and enveloping sadness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses working in long-term care settings should educate family carers about compassion fatigue, recognise its presence in them and provide support to family carers experiencing the condition.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Disciplines, Athabasca University, Canada.
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: Janice E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Dalton
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Edwards
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002170:Canada; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D004645:Empathy; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D033262:Narration; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012380:Role; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*