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

  • 0 min

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  • 1

    Pain is common in dementia patients, yet often overlooked due to communication difficulties and atypical pain presentations.

  • 2

    Healthcare professionals primarily assess pain through non-verbal signs and physical assessments, with observational pain scales used by about half of participants.

  • 3

    Pharmacological treatments dominate pain management in dementia patients, with paracetamol being the most frequently used medication.

  • 4

    Non-pharmacological strategies for pain management are underutilized, despite guidelines recommending their use before pharmacological interventions.

  • 5

    Systematic integration of observational instruments and non-pharmacological approaches into clinical practice is necessary for better pain management in dementia.

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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