Importance of Dyadic Approach in Managing Pain for Community-Dwelling Older Adults and their Informal Caregivers

Abstract

Chronic pain impacts the quality of life of older adults and their informal caregivers physiologically, psychologically, and financially. Therefore, this paper examines the challenges of pain management among older adults and their informal caregivers. Moreover, the Dyadic Pain Management Program (DPMP), an alternative approach that empowers older adults and their caregivers to provide friendly care, has proven effective. The DPMP aligns with various dominant welfare ideologies in different regions around the globe, which can potentially reduce social expenditure by emphasizing the role of families. Therefore, this paper advocates for the broader implementation of DPMP and reviews the existing policies managing older adults' chronic pain by addressing its advantages at the micro-and macro levels of the DPMP.