People with Dementia Are Often Undertreated for Pain
When people lose their ability to articulate what is causing them pain, this pain is often overlooked by doctors. A recent Slovenian study presented at the Congress of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) in Copenhagen and conducted by Dr. Martin Rakusa investigated this problem. It involved 452 patients with an average age of 65 who had been treated for diabetes over a period of many years.
Some 44 percent (199 individuals) were considered cognitively impaired. Using careful examination to compare pain levels of those who could communicate with those who could not, it became obvious to the team that those who could not communicate their pain still experienced as much pain as those who could.
Read full article on HealthCentral about treatment for pain in people with dementia:
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Source: Minding Our Elders - Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
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