The Management of Pain in Older People

Dr Pat Schofield PhD PGDipEd DipN RGN, Senior Lecturer – University of Sheffield, School of Nursing & Midwifery. Pat Scofield one of the leading International nurse academics working in the field of pain management and in the field of multisensory environments (Snoezelen). She has a consistent record of publication of articles of national and international status and is invited to present her work at national and international nursing and multidisciplinary conferences, including the World Pain congress. She has presented in three continents during the last 2 years.

Chapter 1: Anatomy & Physiology of Pain. Pain & Sensation.

Neural Pain Pathways.

A Delta fibres.

Dorsal Roots.

Spinal cord to brain.

Descending tracts & Substantia gelatinosa.

The pain gate.

Chronic pain.

Peripheral sensitisation.

Central Senstization.

Older People.

Chapter 2: Relating socio-economic issues with older people and pain: Independence dignity and choice.

Health Economics.

Cultural issues in older age.

Resources linked with being older and in pain .

Policy in health services, economics and older people.

Diet and health in older age, related to economics.

Independence.

Dignity.

Choice.

Chapter 3: Creaking joints, a bit of arthritis, and aches and pains’: Older people’s experiences and perceptions of pain.

The Study.

Is pain different for older people Equating older age with aches and pains.

Salience of older age linked to whether people experienced pain.

Effect of pain on everyday lives.

Managing the pain Keeping a positive attitude.

Others in relation to pain.

Implications for practice Exercises.

Case studies.

Mr Uddim.

Violet Jones.

Learning points.

Chapter 4: Assessment of Pain.

Visual Analogue Scale.

Numerical Rating Scale.

Verbal Descriptors.

Faces Pain Scale.

Colour Scale.

McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ).

Sensory Impairment.

Learning disability.

Cognitive impairment.

Perception of Pain.

Behavioural Pain Assessment Tools.

DS DAT Scale.

Checklist of non-verbal Pain Indicators (CNPI).

ADD Protocol.

DOLOPLUS Scale.

The NOPAIN Scale.

Pain Assessment Scale for Dementing Elderly (PADE).

PAINAD.

PACSLAC.

Abbey Scale.

Terminal Care.

Chapter 5 : Communication.

Research.

Care workers and mentioning dementia.

Explaining memory loss.

Chapter 6: Acute versus Chronic Pain.

Assessing Acute with Chronic Pain.

Treatment for Acute with Treatment for Chronic.

Opiophobia and Other Barriers.

Chapter 7: Cancer Pain in the elderly in palliative care settings.

How is cancer pain addressed in palliative care settings?

The total pain concept - the patient experience.

Multidimensional assessment.

The family in palliative care.

What are the issues for older people Expectations of pain in later life.

Co-morbidity.

Lack of access to specialist palliative care services.

Compliance with pharmacological treatments.

Age related alterations in drug disposition Management of cancer pain in the elderly in palliative care.

Drugs compliance/concordance.

Other treatments.

Recommendations for practice Assessment and management Roles of MDT.

SPCS intervention.

Chapter 8: Care Settings.

Problems with Chronic Pain in Older people.

Physiological Changes.

Getting used to pain.

Assessment.

Management.

Education.

Assets.

Research Ongoing.

Reluctance to report pain/ an acceptance that being in pain is normal and low expectations for help with medical interventions Age related perceptions of pain.

Lack of Awareness of potential strategies for dealing with pain.

Multidisciplinary Management.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

Care Home Settings.