| Pain is the most common symptom of many chronic diseases, and the harmful effects of chronic pain in the elderly are abundant. The purpose of this article is to evaluate the current literature related to pain assessment in the cognitively impaired older adult in order to synthesize evidenced based assessment strategies for varying stages of cognitive loss. Self-report scales, behavioral tools, and proxy pain ratings were identified as assessment tools used to assess pain in the cognitively impaired older adult. Although continued research is needed to evolve the evidence for best practice, current guidelines and research findings provide recommendations to improve assessment of pain. It is important to select an appropriate scale that is congruent with the person's abilities. Pain should be assessed at regular intervals. As cognitive impairment increases, using a combination of pain assessment approaches focusing on verbal reports and behavioral cues may be the most effective. |
