ABSTRACT
Palliative care is an interdisciplinary approach for patients and families facing life-threatening illnesses. The palliative care team works to prevent and relieve suffering by participating in the management of the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs of patients and their families. Pain is one of many symptoms affecting people and their families with advanced disease. Pain management in advanced disease and at the end of life can be challenging due to multiple factors. As the disease state progresses, pain may worsen and be complicated by metabolic changes, weight loss, decreased function, psychological and existential distress. Pain management in the long-term care setting is inadequate, and under-treatment of institutionalized elderly patients with cancer has been linked to being older than 85 years, minority race, impaired cognition, and requiring multiple medications. Pain management at the end of life in the home can be challenging for the person in severe pain if trained professional support is not available.
