ABSTRACT
Background
Pain is a common problem among older adults with dementia and can lead to a decrease in the quality of life for this vulnerable population.
Since assessment of pain is the first crucial step towards the treatment of pain in people with dementia, it is therefore very important to have an effective, reliable tools for evaluating pain in older adults with dementia.
Purpose of study
The purpose of this review is to critically evaluation relevant literatures on pain assessment in older adults with dementia.
Methods
Extensive literature search in Medline, BNI, Psychinfo and CINAHL was carried out and relevant publications from 2004-2015 were identified. The search revealed five primary research studies relevant to discussion on pain assessment in older adults. These literatures were critically evaluated for their reliability, validity, transferability and generalizability using relevant critique frameworks.
In addition, other secondary research papers were identified and used in supporting further discussion on the dissertation topic.
Findings
Conclusions
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
The aim of this literature review is to critically evaluate existing tools for pain assessment in older adults with dementia. It will help me to gain knowledge and be able to provide recommendations to nurses and other health care givers regarding pain assessment in this vulnerable population.
Research Background
An estimated 800,000 people in the UK suffer from dementia and this number is expected to double by 2040 (Department of Health, 2015). It is also estimated that 44.4 million people worldwide suffer from dementia, and the figure is expected to increase to 75.6 million in 2030, and 135.5 million in 2050 (Alzheimer’s Disease International, 2013). Dementia is described as “a general umbrella term, which identifies a decline in cognitive functioning and covers in excess of a hundred type of illness and diseases resulting in cognitive…
