Geriatric Pain Management - Health Promotion for the Elderly

Pain negatively impacts the quality of life of the elderly. Geriatric pain management services are designed to help older people deal with all types of pain.Pain among older adults is usually associated with chronic and acute medical conditions such as osteoarthritis, cancer, surgery, head trauma, hip fracture, heart disease, and musculoskeletal disorders. Effective geriatric pain management services help the elderly to:Get relief from painMaintain the highest level of functioning possibleEnhance the quality of life and independenceImprove mental and physical healthUnmanaged pain or poorly controlled pain impairs activities of daily living (ADLs), and can cause mood disturbances, decreased ambulation, and cognitive alteration. Identifying the root cause of pain is essential for effective pain management. Barriers to effective management of pain in older adults include challenges to proper pain assessment and underreporting of pain by patients with dementia or other communication difficulties.