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Pain management in the nursing home
Linda G Dumas1, Murali Ramadurai
1Department of Nursing, University of Massachusetts Boston, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, 100 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA 02125, USA. linda.dumas@umb.edu
The Nursing Clinics of North America
|May 26, 2009
Summary
This article details best practices for managing pain and emotional distress in nursing home residents with serious illnesses. It covers chronic pain, palliative care, and acute postoperative pain management.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Palliative Care
- Pain Management
Background:
- Nursing home residents often present with complex health issues, including serious illnesses and multiple comorbidities.
- Effective pain management is crucial for improving quality of life and reducing suffering in this vulnerable population.
- Addressing the emotional distress associated with pain is a key component of comprehensive care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline best practices for pain management in nursing home patients.
- To discuss strategies for managing both chronic and acute pain in long-term care settings.
- To highlight the importance of addressing emotional distress alongside physical pain.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature and clinical guidelines on pain management in elderly and seriously ill patients.
- Discussion of multidisciplinary approaches to symptom relief.
- Case examples illustrating different pain management scenarios.
Main Results:
- Comprehensive pain assessment and individualized treatment plans are essential.
- Multimodal analgesia and non-pharmacological interventions can effectively manage pain.
- Integrated care models addressing physical and emotional needs improve patient outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Optimized pain management in nursing homes requires a holistic approach considering patient complexity.
- Effective strategies exist for managing chronic, palliative, and acute postoperative pain in this setting.
- Prioritizing pain and emotional distress relief enhances resident well-being and care quality.
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