ABSTRACT
The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that by 2030, adults over the age of 65 will represent 20% of the population. The elderly constitute a vulnerable population who experience not only more pain but also a higher prevalence of undertreatment for pain. This chapter discusses special considerations when assessing and treating chronic pain in the older adult population. The consequences of untreated pain in older adults are discussed and include psychiatric manifestations, reductions in quality of life and functional mobility, and increased risk for falls. The chapter summarizes common challenges when assessing pain in older populations (e.g., complex medical profiles, comorbid dementia diagnoses, sensory deficits, age-related and generational perceptions of pain). Current standards and empirically validated pharmacological, behavioral, and complementary alternative medicine interventions for pain management for older adults are described. This chapter also offers recommendations for future research and highlights challenges that need to be overcome in service delivery systems in order to improve pain management in geriatric populations.
