Delivering Age-Friendly Interdisciplinary Care for Chronic Pain
David E Reed1, Natalie Fullenkamp2, Keela Herr3
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle-Denver Center for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA.
Clinics in Geriatric Medicine
|November 21, 2025
Summary
The geriatric 5Ms framework offers a new approach to managing chronic pain in older adults. This review explores its application for age-friendly pain care, addressing challenges and solutions.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric medicine
- Pain management
- Health systems research
Background:
- Chronic pain prevalence and costs are projected to increase significantly in older adults.
- The geriatric 5Ms (multicomplexity, mind, mobility, medication, matters most) framework exists but lacks systematic application in chronic pain.
- There is a need to integrate age-friendly principles into geriatric pain management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current application of the geriatric 5Ms in older adult chronic pain management.
- To provide guidance on utilizing the 5Ms for age-friendly pain care.
- To identify challenges, solutions, and interdisciplinary team roles for each 'M'.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review synthesizing evidence on the geriatric 5Ms and chronic pain.
- Analysis of challenges and potential solutions for each of the 5Ms.
- Identification of relevant interdisciplinary team members for geriatric pain management.
Main Results:
- Evidence on the systematic application of the geriatric 5Ms to chronic pain in older adults is limited.
- Guidance is provided on adapting each 'M' for age-friendly pain care.
- Challenges, solutions, and team roles are examined for multicomplexity, mind, mobility, medication, and matters most.
Conclusions:
- The geriatric 5Ms framework provides a structured approach to delivering age-friendly chronic pain care to older adults.
- Systematic implementation of the 5Ms can address the complexities of geriatric pain management.
- Further research and interdisciplinary collaboration are needed to optimize the application of the 5Ms.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Peripheral Artery Disease III: Interprofessional Care
229
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is characterized by narrowed arteries that diminish blood flow to the extremities. Effective management of PAD requires an interprofessional approach involving various healthcare professionals. The critical aspects of interprofessional care for PAD patients focus on risk factor modification, drug therapy, exercise therapy, nutrition therapy, critical limb ischemia care, and interventional radiology and surgical procedures.The primary treatment goal for PAD...
229
01:22Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Absorption
212
As individuals age, their body's physiology evolves, affecting drug pharmacokinetics. The most apparent changes occur in the gastrointestinal tract, where an increase in gastric pH, a delay in gastric emptying, and a reduction in gastrointestinal motility are observed. Remarkably, these changes do not substantially modify the absorption of orally administered drugs, particularly those absorbed via passive diffusion.Transdermal drug delivery emerges as a highly viable method for older adults due...
212
01:23Peripheral Artery Disease V: Postoperative Nursing Management
356
During the postoperative period, it is crucial to focus on maintaining circulation, identifying and managing potential complications, and planning for discharge.Nursing AssessmentVital signs monitoring: Regularly monitor vital signs, including blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature, to detect early signs of complications such as bleeding and infection.Circulation assessment: Monitor pulses, perform Doppler assessments, and check capillary refill, color, temperature, and...
356
01:25Analgesia and Pain Management
1.5K
Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...
1.5K
01:26Peripheral Artery Disease IV: Nursing Management
325
The nursing management of a patient with peripheral artery disease (PAD) begins with a thorough assessment of the patient’s health history and clinical manifestations.AssessmentHealth History: Evaluate the patient’s history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, family history of cardiovascular issues, and lifestyle factors such as dietary patterns, smoking, and physical activity.Physical Examination:Assess the affected extremity for decreased or absent peripheral pulses,...
325
01:19Restorative Care
2.3K
Restorative care is provided once a patient has been discharged from a healthcare facility and requires additional services. The additional services include home care, rehabilitation programs, and extended care. Restorative care centers help the patient regain their previous level of functioning or acquire a new level of functioning due to the incapacitating effects of a disease or a disability. It aims to assist patients in enhancing their quality of life by encouraging independence,...
2.3K