Pain is very common in long-term care (LTC) facilities such as nursing homes but it is often not recognized and remains untreated. This happens because residents who have moderate to severe Alzheimer’s Disease or other types of dementia cannot communicate their pain clearly to others and, as a result, may be suffering in silence. Informal caregivers, patients, and family members can contribute to improving this situation by advocating for more frequent assessment of pain and improved staff education on how to evaluate pain in dementia. Informal caregivers and family members can also help in the assessment of pain by completing validated checklists of pain behaviours under the guidance of health professionals.

 

The ultimate goal of the #SeePainMoreClearly social media initiative is to raise awareness for the problem of pain in dementia and empower caregivers, who are in the position to advocate for improved practices, to improve the quality of life of older adults with dementia and their families.