Analysis of Pain Management Strategies in Aged Care: A Case Study

This case study explores the pain management strategies employed for an aged care patient experiencing comorbidity-related pain. The assessment involved direct communication with the patient to understand the location and nature of the pain, supplemented by feedback from other healthcare professionals due to the patient's multiple medications. Treatment approaches included medications, interventional procedures, and psychological therapies such as counseling, with a strong emphasis on self-management and providing both primary and specialty care. The case highlights the importance of psychological support in alleviating stress and depression associated with chronic pain, emphasizing a comprehensive and integrated approach to patient care. The solution also references guidelines on managing pain in older people.

Pain Management for Aged Patient
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Consider a patient that you cared for in the aged care setting who was in pain. What
assessment was undertaken and what actions were implemented to reduce/eliminate pain?
Pains have become more sophisticated and with absence of effective care, some pain can
be treated whereas others cannot be dealt with (Makris 2014). An aged care patient experiencing
comorbidity was in pain which was assessed by way of communications, for taking actions for
reducing or eliminating pain. Currently there are various systematic reliefs available for
integrated, comprehensive, evidence based assessment for treating aged patients. Assessment of
pain was for the patient was undertaken by physiological tests and communications regarding the
pain directly from the patient. I engagement in discussion with the patient related to his
conditions and places he was receiving the pain (Zdziarski 2015). I collected feedback from
other healthcare professionals for in-depth understanding related to the pain as the patient was
administered multiple medications. While a number of models are available I understood
patient’s pain through regular attention and giving him on-time medication. Talking to the
patient helped understand pain that the patient is experiencing, which further helped in assessing
pain.
After understanding concerning the pain, diverse treatment approaches was undertaken as
medications for reducing pain, interventional procedures and psychological therapies. While
medication and intervention procedures was detailed by medical practioner attending to the
patient, psychological therapies as counseling was provided by me (Abdulla 2013). Pain can be
very stressful and depressing especially when clinicians are not able to reduce it for the patient. I
provided psychological counseling to patients for support role, with which he felt relief.
Effective pain care includes a number of individuals however special attention is given to self-
management. I felt I needed to provide primary care as well as specialty care with alternative
therapies that is able to tackle the pain effectively.
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Reference Lists
Abdulla, A., Adams, N., Bone, M., Elliott, A. M., Gaffin, J., Jones, D., ... & Schofield, P. (2013).
Guidance on the management of pain in older people. Age and ageing, 42, i1-57.
Makris, U. E., Abrams, R. C., Gurland, B., & Reid, M. C. (2014). Management of persistent pain
in the older patient: a clinical review. Jama, 312(8), 825-837.
Zdziarski, L. A., Wasser, J. G., & Vincent, H. K. (2015). Chronic pain management in the obese
patient: a focused review of key challenges and potential exercise solutions. Journal of
pain research, 8, 63.
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