The Management of Pain in Older People

Epidemiology of pain in the older person is not a subject that has been widely studied in the past, although it has been suggested that almost half of older people in the community suffer with significant pain. This is a major problem within society and with the aging population it is likely that the incidence of pain in this group will continue to rise. There are currently no UK publications that focus specifically upon the needs of the older person in pain. This book will empower individuals who are working with this group to enable them to deal with pain more effectively. The Management of Pain in the Older Person will enable the reader to understand the principals underpinning the management of pain, with a particular emphasis upon the care of the older person. Chapters will focus on: Highlighting a number of questions or concerns that are important to the topic area and encourage the reader to reflect upon their own experience/beliefs. Chapters will then challenge or confirm these perspectives, encouraging the reader to consider how the theory may be used to make changes Concerns of the older person, which have been identified through empirical work over the past few years and the recent completion of a systemic review of literature Understanding of the impact of aging upon pain physiology Practical suggestions on how to apply both traditional and complementary approaches to pain management Using case scenarios to demonstrate the relationship between theory and practice The book is designed to encourage the reader to read further and to think about his or her own practice setting or how they would respond to a particular practice situation. This book is ideal for nurses and would also be a great text for diploma/graduate and post-graduate students working in a range of care settings.