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Increasing evidence suggests that pain is one of the most common problems among the elderly population. Despite the high prevalence of pain, older persons consistently receive fewer pain medications. It is evident that a large proportion of older persons are suffering from pain do not receive adequate treatment. As cognitive impairment progresses, individuals lose their ability to communicate and describe their needs effectively and are dependent on health care providers to evaluate their needs. The growing population of older persons presents a challenge to nurses in the provision of quality care for older persons to ensure that their pain issues are addressed appropriately. Persistent pain has been shown to be associated with negative mood, decreased activities of daily living, sleep disturbance, and social withdrawal in the elderly population. Pain among older persons with cognitive impairment has also been associated with agitation and aggressive behaviors. The purpose of this presentation is to address the complexity of pain in the elderly population. A concept analysis approach is used to identify the key attributes, antecedants, and consequence of pain in this population. Prelimary research findings will be presented to discuss how people with dementia expressed pain verbally and behaviourally. A management and treatment protocol is proposed based on the available evidence.
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