For Immediate Release
October 10, 2008

Pain Relief: Important Advice for Today’s Elderly

Pain is a common experience for elderly adults that dramatically affects their health, well being and quality of life. Too often, pain is overlooked in seniors, and they do not receive the important treatments that they need to feel better. To help seniors overcome their pain, the Illinois Council on Long Term Care, an association of nursing home professionals, offers the following important advice for providing comfort and relief to persons who hurt.

Pain is challenging to recognize and treat in today’s elderly. Statistics from the American Medical Association show that 50 percent of pain in the elderly goes untreated. Many seniors believe incorrectly that pain is just a normal part of aging, and they just try to endure it without getting the treatments that they need. Many of today’s seniors were raised to be tough and stoic, and not to complain or be a bother. They also may believe incorrectly that pain medications automatically lead to addiction, and fear their side effects.

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias also make pain management a challenge. With memory and communication difficulties, persons in the later stages of Alzheimer’s may not be able to tell others that they hurt. As a result, caregivers and loved ones may need to focus more on non-verbal indicators of pain to figure out that a person is suffering.

Across Illinois, more than 400 nursing homes are focusing on effective pain management through a statewide campaign called the Road to Excellence. Hundreds of professionals have attended special training sessions on pain management, and they have augmented their existing pain programs with new and innovative practices to better identify and treat residents who hurt. In addition, they are comparing their pain outcomes with other facilities across the state and nation to see how successful they have been in addressing this crucial area of care.

“Pain has a debilitating impact on a person’s quality of life,” says Susan Duda-Gardiner, director of clinical services for the Illinois Council on Long Term Care. “Persons with chronic pain have problems with sleeping, enjoying their meals, concentrating, and participating in daily life. They often become sad and depressed and isolate themselves from others. As a profession, we are committed to doing all that we can to bring comfort to elderly people who are hurting.”

The Illinois Council offers the following advice to all elderly persons who are suffering from pain, along with tips for their family and friends:

• Be sure to see a doctor if you are suffering from pain. Do not just tough it out and suffer needlessly. Pain is not just a normal part of aging. Your doctor can prescribe medications that will help you overcome this pain and enjoy a higher quality of life.
  
   
• Pain medications rarely lead to addiction. You can work with your doctor to develop a schedule of pain medication that can be taken safely and effectively.
  
   
• The most effective way to treat chronic pain is to take medications on a consistent schedule. Do not just take these medications when your pain is extreme, thinking that if you take them too often they will not work when you really need them. Taking medication around the clock is your most effective route in managing chronic pain.
  
   
• Family and friends should ask their loved ones if they are in pain and encourage them to seek medical assistance when needed. If a person has Alzheimer’s, look for non-verbal indicators – such as facial grimacing, covering a body part, or moaning – that indicate the person may be hurting.
  
   
• Treat pain through the use of alternative therapies and comfort measures. Talk with your doctor about the various options. Alternatives include the use of hot and cold applications, massage therapy, listening to music, deep breathing, aromatherapy, comfort food, humor, relaxation tapes, spirituality, and spending time with pets and children.
  
   
• If your loved one is in a hospital or a nursing home, be sure to tell the nurses and doctors which medications and comfort measures work best in promoting your loved one’s comfort.  You have extremely important knowledge that needs to be shared with your loved one’s caregivers.

“Pain should be considered the fifth vital sign for seniors, along with temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure,” said Susan Duda-Gardiner. “Seniors should be proactive in seeking medical attention for their pain, and utilize a combined program of both pain medications and comfort measures to achieve the best results. Every effort should be made to reduce pain in seniors to improve their health and quality of life.”

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The Illinois Council on Long Term Care is a professional association of nearly 200 nursing facilities committed to quality residential health care in Illinois through a productive and responsible partnership between the private and public sectors. The Council represents more than 26,000 nursing home professionals serving more than 37,000 residents. Helpful information for seniors and families can be found at the Council’s Web site www.nursinghome.org.

Editor’s Note: Susan Duda-Gardiner, director of clinical services for the Illinois Council on Long Term Care, can provide more in-depth information about pain management techniques. To arrange an interview, please contact Kevin Kavanaugh at 773/478-6613.