title: Pain management in elderly adults.
abstract: Pain is a common experience for many elderly adults that has negative consequences for their health, functioning, and quality of life. Effective pain management requires thorough assessment, appropriate intervention, and systematic reassessment. This article will discuss strategies for assessing and measuring pain in elderly adults, as well as barriers to effective pain assessment. Pain treatment strategies, including both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches will also be covered and special considerations for administering medications to elderly adults will be highlighted.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Institute of Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610, USA. ahorgas@nursing.ufl.edu
authors.forename: Ann L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Horgas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011788:Quality of Life; D012064:Relaxation Therapy
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics