Assessing pain in dementia patients

Dementia is an overall term for a set of symptoms that are caused by disorders that affect the brain. It’s a chronic condition that gets worse over time. Symptoms of dementia include a decline in memory and language, and changes in coordination, mood, and behaviour – and researchers project that by 2030, nearly one million people in Canada will be living with the dementia.

Chronic pain is highly prevalent in the aging population, which is why telling others about their pain is an ongoing issue for those with dementia. The University of Regina's Centre on Aging and Health is working to help older adults in our community.

Watch the video below to find out more about how Dr. Thomas Hadjistavropoulos and his students are finding ways to determine when people with dementia are in pain - even when they struggle to communicate.