Every Choice Comes With a Consequence: Exploring Unintended Consequences of the COVID‐19 Crisis Governance in Long‐Term Care Facilities in the Netherlands, Finland, and Ireland

The COVID‐19 pandemic put tremendous pressure on the long‐term care sector, exacerbating existing financing and staffing difficulties. This study explores the unintended consequences of the COVID‐19 crisis governance in the long‐term care sector. From June to December 2021, we conducted qualitative research looking into the experiences of local, regional, and national stakeholders involved in the long‐term care sectors in the Netherlands, Finland, and Ireland. Our results reveal a variety of unintended consequences. First, we found that long‐term care facility staff's workload increased significantly as a result of the crisis governance. Second, the choices made as part of the COVID‐19 crisis governance led to extended blaming of and within the long‐term care sector. Lastly, our results reveal emotional trauma among staff caused by the COVID‐19 crisis and associated governance. A key theme across the findings is the mismatch between national‐level decision‐making and the on‐the‐ground realities in LTCFs. This disconnect raises critical questions about why LTC‐specific needs were not more visible within national governance frameworks, and how this blind spot contributed to staff distress and public blame. Hence, we advocate for a more collaborative crisis governance approach that recognizes important insights from all stakeholders in the crisis response.