Barriers to identifying painSeveral factors may interfere with...

Barriers to identifying pain

Several factors may interfere with an older person disclosing pain, including:

• communication issues – the older person and health professionals use different words to describe pain
• fears, beliefs and misconceptions about pain – the older person may be concerned that pain means their condition is worse, that they may have to rely on medication or that complaining about pain will distract health professionals from taking care of more important health issues
• literacy skills, numeracy skills, language and cultural needs
• cognitive impairments – be aware that behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) could indicate a person is experiencing pain
• communication or sensory impairments
• some behaviours or autonomic responses may have other underlying causes.

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