What it is: Pain can be physical or emotional. Older people often have pain. This includes physical and spiritual pain.
Why it matters: Pain is a very common symptom in chronic progressive illness. People in need of palliative care often have more than one type of pain. Careworkers spend a lot of time with the older person and may notice signs of pain or changes in the level of pain experienced.
What I need to know: The expression of pain is different for everyone. It will be affected by the person’s experience, attitudes, and beliefs. Palliative care helps to manage pain and improve quality of life. The aim is to manage pain in line with the person’s wishes.
Pain that is not properly treated can cause:
- a person to eat and move less
- a person to avoid other people
- poor sleep
- depression
- family distress.
Unrelieved pain may affect cognitive function. It may contribute to an increase in challenging behaviours and delirium.
Nursing staff are responsible for assessing a person’s pain. Careworkers can play a part by reporting discomfort noted during care.