Managing Older Adults' Chronic Pain: Higher-Risk Interventions
Paul Arnstein1, Marcia Shade, Keela A Herr
1Paul Arnstein is a professor in the School of Nursing at the MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston. Marcia Shade is an assistant professor in the College of Nursing at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. Keela A. Herr is the Kelting Professor in Nursing, associate dean for faculty, and codirector of the Csomay Center for Gerontological Excellence in the College of Nursing at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. Heather M. Young is a professor and founding dean emerita in the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at the University of California Davis in Sacramento, and national director of the Betty Irene Moore Fellowship for Nurse Leaders and Innovators. Scott M. Fishman is a professor, the Fullerton Endowed Chair in Pain Medicine, and executive vice chair in the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine at the University of California Davis School of Medicine in Sacramento, where he is also director of the Center for Advancing Pain Relief. This work was funded by the Mayday Fund and the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. Contact author: Paul Arnstein, pmarnstein@gmail.com . The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.
Family caregivers often lack essential information for managing complex care needs. This series equips nurses with practical tools and resources to better support family caregivers, especially those managing pain at home.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Nursing
- Public Health
Background:
- Family caregivers frequently encounter challenges due to insufficient information for managing complex patient care regimens.
- The AARP Public Policy Institute's research highlights a critical gap in caregiver support and education.
- The
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide nurses with practical information and tools to support family caregivers.
- To equip nurses to educate family caregivers on managing healthcare at home, particularly for individuals with pain.
- To bridge the information gap for family caregivers through a collaborative series with the AARP Public Policy Institute.
Main Methods:
- Focus groups were conducted as part of the AARP Public Policy Institute's "No Longer Home Alone" video project.
- A series of articles and accompanying videos were developed to aid nurses in caregiver support.
- Practical information for nurses to share with family caregivers of persons living with pain was compiled.
Main Results:
- Evidence confirmed that family caregivers are not adequately informed to handle complex care responsibilities.
- The developed resources aim to empower nurses to provide effective guidance to family caregivers.
- The series offers actionable strategies for managing home healthcare, focusing on pain management.
Conclusions:
- Nurses play a crucial role in equipping family caregivers with necessary knowledge and skills.
- Accessible resources, including tear sheets and videos, can enhance caregiver confidence and competence.
- Addressing the information needs of family caregivers is vital for improving patient outcomes and reducing caregiver burden.
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