Observing and treating pain in people living with dementia in long-term care facilities - Summary - MDSpire

Observing and treating pain in people living with dementia in long-term care facilities

  • By

  • Sabine D. Kruijer

  • Wilco P. Achterberg

  • Annelore van Dalen-Kok

  • Monique A. A. Caljouw

  • May 8, 2026

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Objective:

To investigate the perception, evaluation, and treatment of pain in individuals with dementia in long-term care settings, highlighting the significance of effective pain management.

Key Findings:
  • Pain is primarily assessed through non-verbal signs and physical assessments, which may lead to under-treatment.
  • About 50% of participants use observational pain scales in practice, indicating a gap in standardized assessment.
  • Pain management is predominantly pharmacological, mainly using paracetamol, raising concerns about the adequacy of pain relief.
  • Non-pharmacological strategies are infrequently and unstructuredly applied, suggesting a need for better integration.
Interpretation:

The study highlights the challenges in assessing and managing pain in dementia patients, emphasizing the need for better integration of observational tools and non-pharmacological approaches in clinical practice to improve patient outcomes.

Limitations:
  • Limited research on pain evaluation and management in dementia patients may affect the generalizability of findings.
  • Variability in the use of observational instruments in routine practice may lead to inconsistent pain management.
Conclusion:

Pain management in dementia patients in long-term care settings remains largely pharmacological, indicating a need for systematic integration of non-pharmacological strategies and observational tools.

Original Source(s)

Observing and treating pain in people living with dementia in long-term care facilities

  • by Sabine D. Kruijer, Wilco P. Achterberg, Annelore van Dalen-Kok, Monique A. A. Caljouw

  • May 8, 2026

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