Book Description

"The care of older adults suffering with pain is a difficult task that calls for understanding as well as compassion. Dr. Quinlan-Colwell has written an excellent book that deals with every facet of the problems that are encountered by caregivers....[This book] provides the reader with valuable knowledge that will diminish suffering and enrich the lives of people confronting new, often frightening, problems." From the Foreword by Ronald Melzack, PhD, FRSC Professor Emeritus McGill University "This is a well-written and concise book....Nurses and other healthcare professionals will certainly find this book a useful resource for understanding and managing geriatric pain."--Clinical Nurse Specialist Older adults can be especially susceptible to the debilitating effects of chronic pain, yet there are often barriers to successfully alleviating pain on the part of elderly patients and the health care professionals who treat them. This comprehensive guide to geriatric pain management provides the most current information available on assessment and treatment of pain in older adults. In a concise, reader-friendly format, the book provides techniques, tips, and tools for assessing pain and examines barriers to appropriate treatment. It addresses the physiological and psychosocial factors underlying the process and occurrence of pain and helps nurses to develop a comprehensive multimodal approach to pain management that includes pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions. The guide provides detailed coverage of medications commonly used for pain management, including all contraindications and side effects, so that nurses will be able to evaluate the best use of a medication in the context of comorbidities and sensitivities of each individual. Also addressed are chronic illnesses common to the elderly population, palliative and hospice care, treatment of concurrent depression and anxiety, treatment of cognitively impaired elderly, and techniques for assessment and intervention in cases of substance abuse. Key Features: Provides concise yet comprehensive information on assessment and treatment of geriatric pain Includes detailed coverage of a great variety of pain medications, including contraindications and side effects Explores barriers to appropriate treatment Covers chronic diseases of the elderly, palliative and hospice care, depression and anxiety, substance abuse, and treatment of cognitively impaired elderly Written by a highly respected practitioner and educator in geriatric pain management Includes case studies, handy tables, questions for reflection, and references for additional study