Dementia UK Publishes New Information Resource on Pain
Dementia UK’s new information leaflet aims to tackle one of the more challenging aspects of dementia. People with dementia experience pain but they may not be able to recognise it, manage it or communicate about it in the same way as someone who does not have dementia.
Sharron Tolman, Consultant Admiral Nurse at Dementia UK, said: “There is evidence that people with dementia are more likely to experience untreated pain than those who aren’t living with the condition.”
Vulnerability or being afraid can actually lead to people with dementia experiencing pain in a heightened way. Signs that a person with dementia may be experiencing pain include:
- Calling out or shouting
- Change in mood and becoming more withdrawn
- Sleeping more or less than usual
- Refusing food or having a reduced appetite
- Fidgeting, restlessness and/or agitation
Dementia UK provides specialist dementia support for families through Admiral Nurses (specialist dementia nurses). They work across a variety of care settings and have a good overview of pain management practices in dementia care.
People with dementia are more likely to also have other significant and potentially painful health conditions. These include:
- Gum disease
- Arthritis
- Constipation
- In addition to depression and social isolation
“For any questions that people have around dementia and pain, people can ring up our Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline on 0800 888 6678 or email helpline@dementiauk.org.”
You can read or download the full Dementia UK leaflet here
