title: Meeting the public health challenge of pain in later life: what role can senior centers play?
abstract: Interest in nonpharmacologic approaches for managing pain continues to grow. The aim of this study was to determine the types of pain-relevant programs offered by senior centers and whether the programs varied by clients' race/ethnicity status and center size. A telephone survey was conducted. Respondents were presented with a list of 15 programs and the option to choose "other" and asked (1) whether the activity was offered and, if so, how often; (2) if they believed the programs had value for seniors with pain; and (3) whether the classes were advertised as a means of achieving pain relief. Of 204 center staff contacted, 195 (95.6%) participated. The most common programs offered were movement-based, including exercise (by 91.8% of the centers), dance (72.3%), walking clubs (71.8%), yoga (65.6%), and Tai Chi (53.3%) classes. Creative arts programs were also frequently offered, including music (58.5%) and fine arts (47.7%). Programs such as stress management (27%) and relaxation (26%) classes were less commonly offered. Most respondents identified movement-based programs as helpful for seniors with pain, but few identified creative arts classes as potentially beneficial. The programs/classes offered were infrequently advertised as a means of helping seniors manage pain and varied by clients' race/ethnicity status and center size. Programs that have potential utility for older adults with pain are commonly offered by senior centers. Future research should determine optimal strategies for engaging older adults in these programs in the senior center setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Karen R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Tobias
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Sonam D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Lama
authors.affiliation: Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana.
authors.forename: Samantha J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
authors.forename: Charles R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.affiliation: Council of Senior Centers and Services of New York City, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Allison J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Nickerson
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York. Electronic address: mcr2004@med.cornell.edu.
authors.forename: M Carrington
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Reid
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012107:Research Design; D064407:Senior Centers