Assessment and Treatment of Pain in Dementia Patients

Abstract

Untreated or undertreated pain in dementia patients causes ineffective care and much suffering because pain identification, measurement, and management is difficult due to the different forms of dementia, other neurodegenerative processes, and the progressive worsening of verbal communication. Pain management requires continuous assessment and adjustment of treatments. There is a need for improved research and health education in the pain management of the elderly with dementia, a need for using shorter and quicker assessment scales, and for dedicating more time to understand their dementia problems to reduce the inequality of care given to them.