Pain in older adults

Abstract

Chronic persistent pain is a prevalent syndrome in older adults (age =65 years), affecting as many as 50 % of community-dwelling elders and 80 % of those residing in nursing facilities [1]. Population studies demonstrate that this age group is growing faster than any other demographic, having doubled within the past 50 years and expected to double again over the next 50. Given the significant prevalence of pain in such a rapidly expanding demographic, pain practitioners should anticipate an increasing demand for their services in the multidisciplinary care of older adults in the decades to come [2].