Although the empirical base is still limited when providing clear directions for pain assessment and management in older adults, it is possible to identify recommendations for guiding practice based on consensus and a developing scientific base to support best practice activities. This article offers a brief overview of the epidemiology and consequences of pain, followed by a summary of issues and approaches relevant to pain assessment in older adults. Cohort specific recommendations for comprehensive pain assessment and measurement are then addressed. Prevalence and Consequences of Pain in Older AdultsOlder individuals frequently suffer from both acute and chronic painful diseases, have multiple diseases, and take numerous pain medications, [2] although relatively little investigative or clinical attention has been paid to the assessment of pain in the geriatric population, compared with the general population. This is surprising because populationbased figures indicate that the prevalence of pain is twofold higher in those over age 60 (250 per thousand), compared with those under age 60 (125 per thousand). [24] [79] [108] Further, prevalence estimates suggest that approximately 60% of community-dwelling older adults and up to 80% of elderly long-term care facility residents experience substantial pain.[24] [79] [108] Because pain is often remediable, [2] [25] it is thought that the high prevalence estimates of unrelieved pain in elderly persons may result from underrecognition, which in turn results in undertreatment. [65] [91] [120] The consequences of untreated pain can profoundly impact the older person's quality of life. In addition to physiologic risks associated with untreated pain (e.g., cough suppression with subsequent retention of pulmonary secretions), depression, [58] [39] [90] Therefore, it is imperative that health care professionals' knowledge and skills related to pain assessment in older adults be improved, and aggressive approaches to comprehensive pain assessment be adopted, to ensure and improve the quality of life of our senior citizens. Approaches to Pain Assessment with Older Adults Clinical AssessmentIn the clinical setting, accurate assessment of pain is critical for the identification of appropriate interventions and for evaluating the effectiveness of such interventions. Patients should be assessed regularly for the presence of pain and for improvement, deterioration, or complications attributable to pain treatment.[2] The frequency of the follow-up should be a function of the severity of the pain and the potential for adverse effects of treatment. Documentation of pain assessment formalizes the pain assessment process and is essential in the provision of individualized care from both a legal and professional perspective. [17] Inherent in the assessment of pain among older adults is the understanding of its potentially remediable components. For example, if a patient has acute pain, assessment should focus on the underlying pathology responsible for the pain stimulus. If th...

These findings suggest that in older women, chronic stressors are associated with significant elevations in IL-6 over and above the elevations associated with normal aging, but that moderate stressors may not be related to appreciable elevations in IL-6.

Based on sensitivity to change, lower failure rates, higher preference evaluations, and little appreciable affects associated with cognitive impairment, the IPT was judged to be the best choice for assessing pain intensity for both age cohorts and warrants further study.

Health care professionals use diagnostic labels to classify individuals for both treatment and research purposes. Despite their clear benefits, diagnostic labels also serve as cues that activate stigma and stereotypes. Stigma associated with the diagnostic labels of dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) can have a significant and negative impact on interpersonal relationships, interactions with the health care community, attitudes about service utilization, and participation in clinical research. The impact of stigma also extends to the family caregivers of individuals bearing such labels. In this article, we use examples from our investigations of individuals with dementia or MCI and their family caregivers to examine the impact of labeling and stigma on clinical research participation. We also discuss how stigma can affect numerous aspects of the nursing research process. Strategies are presented for addressing stigma-related barriers to participation in clinical research on dementia and MCI.Across the life span, stigma associated with diagnostic labels can interfere with adequate provision of care, patients' willingness to seek care, family members' experience of living with the patient, and both patients' and families' willingness to participate in research associated with the disease or disorder. In this article, we explore the impact of labeling and stigma on clinical research participation among older adults with or at risk for dementia and their family caregivers. As a foundation, we provide background information on dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We then examine the nature of stigma associated with diagnostic labels of neuropsychiatric illness in general (encompassing functional psychiatric illnesses such as mood disorders, as well as conditions with organic etiologies) and describe evidence regarding the stigma experienced by individuals who have been diagnosed with dementia. Using examples from our own research, we explore how stigma can affect the nursing research process with older adults who have a diagnostic label of either dementia or MCI and their family caregivers. We also suggest strategies to diminish the negative impact of stigma on clinical research with these patients and their family caregivers.