Pain Assessment in Nonverbal Older Adults with Advanced Dementia

Abstract

Pain assessment is a particular challenge among individuals with advanced dementia who lack the ability to formulate and express their experience of discomfort. Awareness of pain scales and methods specifically designed for use with nonverbal individuals with dementia is critical to expanded use and testing in clinical settings. Computerized literature searches using four databases revealed the five observational scales and two caregiver reports methods reviewed. A small number of valid, reliable, and sensitive scales are available for use by nurses and allied health personnel. Each has strengths and limitations and all would benefit from additional testing.