The COVID-19 pandemic posed unique challenges to patient care and family support, exacerbating mental health issues for both patients and their attenders. This case report highlights the experience of a 59-year-old man admitted to a private hospital with severe COVID-19 symptoms. He was initially placed in the ICU and later shifted to a general ward. Hospital policies prohibited visitors, and contact was limited to phone communication. On the second day of hospitalization, the patient's mobile phone was stolen while he was unconscious, leaving the family with no means to communicate directly with him. The patient's wife, who experienced significant distress, was only able to obtain limited information about his condition by bribing a hospital attendant, who assured the family merely that the patient was alive. The family's mental health deteriorated, with severe anxiety and depressive symptoms observed in the patient's wife. After 26 days of hospitalization, the patient was discharged in poor health, with complications such as mucormycosis and multiple bedsores. The patient reported inadequate care and minimal communication from healthcare workers, who maintained distance out of fear of infection. This case underscores the need for comprehensive mental health support and effective communication strategies for both patients and their families during health crises, as these factors play a crucial role in overall outcomes.
Keywords: COVID-19, Mental health, Patient attender, Communication barriers, Healthcare experience