The Storm Has Ended, But Is It Calm? Addressing DSP Resilience and Burnout After the COVID-19 Pandemic
Keywords:
burnout, equity, direct support professional, turnover, human services, intellectual and developmental disabilityAbstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has further taxed an already strained workforce within the healthcare sector. Now that the pandemic has subsided, consideration of front-line employees within healthcare and specific to the intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD) population has faded into the background. Direct support professionals (DSP) providing crucial care in programs that serve our vulnerable population are facing post-pandemic challenges while others move forward. Front-line workers are experiencing burnout more than ever, which is indicated by the continued increase in turnover. State and federal funding does not allow for a living wage which results in barriers to obtaining reliable transportation, childcare when working, adequate and affordable medical care, and opportunities to participate in wellness (DSPs often work beyond a 40-hour week). Such barriers have been identified as obstacles towards the social determinants of health. DSPs are then presented with the workplace challenge of providing quality care and support to people with IDD. A combination of stressors within and outside the workplace ultimately leads to burnout which results in turnover.
In response to this we must explore alternatives to support DSPs within and outside of the workplace.
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Copyright (c) 2023 Theresa Wilson-Fall, Darren Garansi (Author)
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