Assessment of pain in elders with dementia

Medsurg Nurs. 2004 Dec;13(6):364-9, 390.

Abstract

The importance of pain assessment and the available measurement tools for elders with dementia are reviewed. The authors recommend measuring chronic pain during active movement, and looking at inactivity, changes of motor patterns, and disruptive behaviors as indicators of pain. They also suggest querying elders about their pain even if they suffer from dementia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Activities of Daily Living
  • Aged
  • Communication Barriers
  • Dementia / complications*
  • Gait
  • Geriatric Assessment / methods*
  • Geriatric Nursing / methods
  • Health Services Needs and Demand
  • Humans
  • Nursing Assessment / methods*
  • Observation
  • Pain / complications
  • Pain / diagnosis*
  • Pain / nursing
  • Pain / physiopathology
  • Pain / psychology
  • Pain Measurement / methods*
  • Pain Measurement / nursing
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Surveys and Questionnaires