Pain Management in the Last 6  Months of Life: Predictors of Opioid and Non-Opioid Use

When it comes to pain, nursing home care falls short. The experience of pain negatively impacts life quality and function, especially for residents with multiple chronic comorbidities. The proportion of residents with pain is high, with estimates ranging from 45%1 to 65%.2 Because the experience of pain is primarily subjective, clinicians rely on patients' self-report to direct pain management strategies. Yet, in a nursing home, many residents have dementia and are unable to communicate pain. It is not surprising that pain in the nursing home is both high and under-recognized.

Source: Journal of the American Medical Directors Association - April 10, 2019 Category: Health Management Authors: Tammy L. Marshall, Joann P. Reinhardt Tags: Research Letter Source Type: research