Pain Assessment Information

The first step in assuring quality pain care is good and appropriate pain assessment.  The challenges of recognizing pain in cognitively impaired older persons can be particularly difficult. 

This section provides core principles of pain assessment, recommendations for effective pain management and is organized with tools for assessing, documenting and monitoring pain in cognitively intact and cognitively impaired older adults.  Resources for training staff on screening and assessment procedures are provided, including best practice tools for assessing pain behavior in nonverbal adults.  Suggestions for using an analgesic trial as part of the assessment process in cognitively impaired older adults are also provided.