Pain & the Elderly

Pain is a common issue among the elderly. Common causes of pain in this population include angina, arthritis, bone and joint disorders, neuropathies, and other chronic conditions. When we become more aware of the importance of healthy aging, we often neglect the significance of pain management in older adults and, therefore, pain in older adults is often under-treated. Pain under-treatment in this population is the result of misconceptions regarding the aging process, difficulty accessing care, and the stigma associated with admission of pain and reluctance to medicate. In fact, unrelieved pain has a severe impact on both the individual and the society, which further increases the burden of medical and social services. Given the aging population globally and the increasing burden on medical and social services, it is worthwhile to empower older adults to be more independent and take more responsibility in their aging process via the use of various non-pharmacological strategies. It is our hope that this research will increase the quality of life for this population and save health care resources and expenses in the long term. In this book, you will find information on non-pharmacological approaches to manage pain, which we hope will be of use to the reader.