This is more complicated in people with dementia due to the gradual impairment of cognition andword-finding ability.
In the later stages of dementia, it becomes more difficult for the person to express their pain.
Confusion may stem from the number of choices and relative interpretations of what each number could correlate to.
Mladen Zivkovic / Getty Images
The faces range from very happy to very sad and crying.
One other tool that is often used is the Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia (PAINAD) Scale.
Be wary of pain medications that are ordered on a PRN (as needed) basis.
If at all possible, a routine order for pain medicine is preferable for the person with dementia.
Additionally, many value quality of life, which is likely to improve with adequate pain control.
Published 2019 Dec 25. doi:10.1097/PR9.0000000000000803.
2017;5(2).
2015;48(2):176-83. doi:10.1007/s00391-014-0668-z
