Assessing Pain in Older Adults

Abstract

This article is part of a series, Supporting Family Caregivers: No Longer Home Alone, published in collaboration with the AARP Public Policy Institute. Results of focus groups, conducted as part of the AARP Public Policy Institute's No Longer Home Alone video project, supported evidence that family caregivers aren't given the information they need to manage the complex care regimens of family members. This series of articles and accompanying videos aims to help nurses provide caregivers with the tools they need to manage their family member's health care at home.This new group of articles provides practical information nurses can share with family caregivers of persons living with pain. To use this series, nurses should read the articles first, so they understand how best to help family caregivers. Then they can refer caregivers to the informational tear sheet—Information for Family Caregivers—and instructional videos, encouraging them to ask questions. For additional information, see Resources for Nurses.

Poland Syndrome and Multimorbidity in a 79-Year-Old Male

“…The adverse effects of pain in the elderly are manifold, with depression being a common occurrence among elders experiencing pain [ 9 ]. Furthermore, social isolation, sleep disturbances, decreased mobility, reduced enjoyment of life, and changes in social interactions are additional challenges faced by elders living with pain [ 10 ]. The primary objective in treating degenerative lumbar scoliosis is to alleviate pain and enhance functional abilities with minimal intervention [ 11 ].…”

Supporting the Health and Well-Being of Caregivers of Persons with Pain Strategies to address stress and improve self-care

“…These Care recipients with cognitive impairment or developmental disability may have difficulty communicating with their caregiver and the health care team about their pain, making assessment and management difficult. 24 who lack English proficiency may feel unable to adequately communicate concerns or needs to the health care team-or feel they are not being understood-resulting in hesitation to reach out to them. 27 Limited English proficiency may also add to the challenges faced by racially underrepresented or immigrant caregivers, including not being heard, worrying about making a mistake, and experiencing greater strain.…”

Pain Research and Treatment: Policy Implications

“…For example, youth suffering from chronic pain may lack the necessary health literacy and self-management skills (Brown et al, 2023). Similarly, caregivers of older adults with pain often are not given the necessary information to successfully manage the care regimen of their family members (Horgas et al, 2022). Globally, low income countries may not prioritize chronic pain, and thus express, specific pain policies may be absent (Briggs et al, 2023) while the United States has overtaken European countries in the severity of the opioid epidemic (Gomes et al, 2018).…”