Recognizing Pain in Alzheimer’s Patients
August 13, 2008 by Mary Emma Allen
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
When Alzheimer’s patients can’t communicate, it often becomes very difficult to tell when they’re in pain, when they don’t understand, or when they’re being obstinate. Are there any clues or signs we should look for?
Marijke Durning, of Help My Hurt, has some suggestions:
You need to be observant and pick up on body and nonverbal cues; some are obvious, others may not be.
Check out her post for suggestions: If someone can’t talk – how do they tell you they have pain?
(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen
Thanks for the shout out. It’s very difficult to tell if non-verbal people have pain. When I worked as a nurse, it was so frustrating knowing that someone was uncomfortable but they couldn’t tell you what the problem was.
I think it *might* be easier for those who are caring for loved ones because they know them better and know what usually actions and reactions are.
Marijke
Thanks for visiting Alzheimer’s Notes and sharing, Marijke. Even though we’re familiar with our family member’s actions and reactions in “ordinary” life, when they become afflicted with Alzheimer’s, their personality and reactions often change. So we have to get to know a whole new person. However, some past characteristics still may remain to guide us.