Monday, 11 November 2019

Dealing with Dementia AND pain

There is a terrible misconception that people with dementia are unable to feel pain. This is simply not true. While they may not be able to voice the fact that they are experiencing pain, they absolutely can feel it – and this goes for both emotional and physical pain. Therefore, if you are worried that your elderly loved one is hurting, it is important to know what signs to look out for, as well as find a way to get to the bottom of what is causing the pain in the first place. Here are the facts.

Signs that an elderly person with dementia is in pain 

One of the most common signs to watch out for in dementia sufferers is constant fidgeting. If this is accompanied by crying, moaning or rubbing of a specific area of the body, you can be pretty sure that something is causing them discomfort. 

How to find the source of the pain 

You should take action immediately by doing an all-over body scan. Search for any open wounds, redness, swelling or bruising.

If you don’t find anything, pay attention to your elderly loved one's actions. Is he or she rubbing a specific area of the body? Is he or she pointing to something in particular? When you approach, is there a certain part of the body that he or she seems to be guarding? If not, the next step is to consider their existing health issues. For instance, if he or she is known to suffer from arthritis, a flare up may be in progress. 

Ultimately, a trip to a medical professional is in order if you are unable to uncover the cause of the pain and you are still certain that it is present. This may involve lots of tests and protesting from your loved one, but it is extremely important if you think for even a second that they are having a hard time coping. 

Remember to speak to your loved one's private live-in companion to adjust their care if they are given pain medication. There are likely to be side effects, such as constipation or difficulty sleeping, that will need to be addressed – hence the reason why non-drug therapies should always be tried first. The pain should soon subside. 

More in this Category: