Through a statewide campaign called the Road to Excellence, more than 400 nursing homes in Illinois are focusing on effective pain management. The American Medical Association estimates that about 50% of pain in older people goes untreated.
Pain in the elderly is common and can seriously affect an individual’s health, well being and quality of life. Many seniors view pain as a normal part of the aging process, and they just try to tolerate their symptoms without getting the treatment that they need.
Many of today’s seniors, who were raised not to complain or be a bother, may fear the side effects of painkillers or believe incorrectly that using pain medication always leads to addiction.
In a press release announcing the Road to Excellence program, the Illinois Council on Long Term Care offered the following advice to seniors and their family and friends:
- Be sure to see a doctor if you are suffering from pain. Do not tough it out and suffer needlessly.
- Pain medications can be taken safely and effectively and they rarely lead to addiction.
- The most effective way to treat chronic pain is to take medications on a consistent schedule.
- Family and friends should ask their loved ones if they are in pain and encourage them to seek medical assistance when needed.
- Treat pain through the use of alternative therapies and comfort measures such as 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.
What do you think? Leave a comment below or in the Medication Forum.
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