How to Recognize Signs of Pain in Those With Dementia

by Roxanne Smedsrud, RN

I have been working in hospice care for more than 20 years, and when I hear the word pain, I can’t help but think no one should have to hurt at the end of life. This is especially true when I think of people living with dementia. Dementia is disease type that causes impairments in language, memory, personality, behavior and judgment. It is a chronic disease that causes continuous decline in the ability to see, hear, move, taste, remember, reason and understand. Because of their disease, most dementia patients can no longer report pain because they do not recognize it. Who will advocate for their comfort?

Pain in individuals with dementia is often under assessed and under treated. Studies indicate that although dementia patients experience severe or chronic pain, they regularly receive fewer pain medications than healthy senior adults. The results of one study also showed Alzheimer’s disease, which is a category of dementia, did not alter the sensation of pain in individuals with Alzheimer’s; it only altered their ability to report pain.

Because a person with dementia may not be able to tell anyone of the pain he or she experiences, it’s so important to educate the caregiver. Whether the caregiver is a significant other, a family member, a CNA or a nurse, they all need to recognize the verbal and nonverbal signs of pain to ensure comfort for the individual with dementia. One situation in particular I have witnessed throughout my years as a hospice nurse is the misconception that the patient is comfortable as long as he or she is not moved around. A patient should be able to be repositioned without the fear of pain.

Signs or behaviors—nonverbal and verbal—indicating pain can include:

  • Anxiety or restlessness
  • Constant pacing, moving or unwillingness to sit down
  • Moaning, crying, sighing and even heavy breathing
  • Frowning, grimacing or a furrowed brow
  • Sleeping all day or not being able to sleep
  • Very rigid, striking out or resistive

It can be challenging to assess the comfort of someone with dementia. Pain is ever-changing and needs to be continually assessed, especially in the individual who is no longer able to even recognize pain. It is amazing what a little bit of pain medication, an hour before cares, can do for a person’s comfort, and how much easier it will be for that caregiver to provide cares.

I hope this information will help caregivers continue to provide best care possible.

Roxanne Smedsrud, RN, was a hospice nurse for 28 years with Hospice of the Red River Valley.

About Hospice of the Red River Valley
In 1981, Hospice of the Red River Valley was founded on the belief that everyone deserves access to high-quality end-of-life care. We fulfill our nonprofit mission by providing medical, emotional, personal and spiritual care, as well as grief support to our patients, their families and caregivers during a tender time in life. Our staff helps those we serve experience more meaningful moments through exceptional hospice care, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, wherever a patient calls home. The organization serves more than 40,000 square miles in North Dakota and Minnesota, including in and around Bismarck, Detroit Lakes, Devils Lake, Fargo, Fergus Falls, Grand Forks, Lisbon, Thief River Falls, Valley City and many more communities. Hospice of the Red River Valley offers round-the-clock availability via phone, prompt response times and same-day admissions, including evenings, weekends and holidays. Contact us anytime at 800-237-4629 or hrrv.org.

 

Return to the blog homepage →