Pain in older people: reflections and experiences from an older person’s perspective

Hospitals and healthcare providers who leave older people languishing in pain should be penalised, according to three fifths (62 per cent) of GB adults. The new research also found nearly half the adult population (47 per cent) are not confident that health professionals can alleviate pain in older people effectively. According to this report, nearly five million people aged 65 and over are in some degree of pain or discomfort. The Charity is warning that implicit ageism and patchy services mean older people are often deprived of dignity and left in excruciating pain. Help the Aged is calling for the Department of Health to recognise pain in older people as an urgent public health issue by making assessment of the way healthcare providers manage pain compulsory.