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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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| Measurement and management of pain in older people | | Author(s) | Robert D Helme, Stephen J Gibson |
| Journal title | Australasian Journal on Ageing, vol 17, no 1, February 1998 |
| Pages | pp 5-9 |
| Keywords | Pain ; Therapeutics ; Therapy ; Evaluation ; Australia. |
| Annotation | There is evidence that older people's experience of pain differs from that of younger people, and close attention should be given to the impact of underlying diseases on the pain experience. Pharmacological strategies form the mainstay of management approaches for chronic pain. However, it is important to offer an integrated and tailored management programme to deal with all factors contributing to a patient's pain problem. This may include physical therapies, attention to posture, and the use TENS (transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation), as well as psychological strategies suggested by cognitive-behavioural treatment approaches. In cases where conventional treatment fails, multidisciplinary pain management clinics for older people have been shown be effective, although negative referral bias and ageist attitudes may limit access to these services. Age should not be regarded as a barrier to effective pain management. Continuing education of both therapists and older people themselves is needed to reinforce this view. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-980511003 A |
| Classmark | CT7: LL: LO: 4C: 7YA |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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