Pain in older adults

Pain is a prevailing clinical problem among older adults resulting in systemic agitation and altered quality of life. Although the possibility remains that older adults experience and report less pain, the need exists to objectively evaluate pain in order to provide the most effective pain management. Several standardized tools are available to assess pain in older adults at baseline and at subsequent, frequent intervals. Following an objective assessment, pain may be managed with pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic methods.