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FAST FACTS: One Minute Pain Assessment
Did you know that, in about one minute, you can gather information from your loved one who may be experiencing pain to share with their provider?
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Pain control is best achieved through good assessment, and you can provide key information to your loved one’s healthcare provider. The following assessment may be completed in about 1 minute and quickly identifies older adults who may be experiencing pain regardless of mental or verbal ability.
What Can a Family Caregiver Do?
- Ask 3 Pain Questions
- Do you have any aches or pains today?
- Can you tell me about your pain, aches, soreness, or discomfort?
- Would you say your pain was mild, moderate, or severe?
- Watch For and Report Any of the Following
- Facial Expressions
- Grimacing or frowning
- Raised upper lip
- Verbal Expressions
- Using pain related words
- Sighing
- Complaining
- Shouting
- Groaning
- Facial Expressions
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- Other possible indicators
- Agitation
- Sleep disturbance
- Diminished appetite
- Irritability
- Reclusiveness
- Disruptive behavior
- Other possible indicators
- What Else You Should Do
- Write down and share information about your loved one’s pain with their healthcare provider
- Use a Pain Diary to note important information useful to the healthcare provider
- Gathering this information daily can help recognize when your loved one’s pain gets better or worse.
Revised January 2022
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