Introduction
Overturning barriers to pain relief in older people is an article written by D’Arcy. There are many myths, assumptions and attitudes about pain relieve especially in older people. In this article the writer’s aim is to make more clarification about all believes or myths. The writer discusses some of the myths that people have concerning pain in older people (D’Arcy, p. 32). He gives the various sources of pain in older adults and the various ways of relieving or managing pain in older people.
Summary
According to the writer many people have a perception that pain in older people; especially those above 65 years of age is as a result of their advanced age. When old people believe in such it limits them from getting basic care or living a quality life because of their perception that nothing can help them to reduce their pain. The old may also assume that their pain is automatic. Accurate pain management guarantees a quality and prolonged life (Feldt, p. 40). Most health care professionals agree on the fact that incidences of pain can be reported using a simple numeric rating scale.
Older adults complain of pain in the articular joints (feet or legs). The other common sources of pain are pressure ulcers, dental problems, fractures, osteoporosis, chronic cancer, diabetes or peripheral vascular disease (D’Arcy, p. 34). Sometimes older adults resist using drugs for fear of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Before any therapy is recommended, the medical professionals should evaluate the mental, emotional and psychological functions of the patient. In addition the social support approaches including involvement of the patient’s family and the coping mechanisms should be put into consideration in this case (D’Arcy, p. 59). Ways of assessing pain in those patients who cannot be able to talk includes the use of a behavior pain scale, getting reports from close friends or the pain indicating signs in the patients. After assessing the patient’s pain status, the clinicians understand the patients and are better placed to administer the best pain treatment.
Review
The writer has based his arguments on an updated research which is written by researchers in the medical field. The writer bases his argument on the materials written by other scholars (D’Arcy, p. 35). Therefore the evidence given by the author is accurate because it is from reliable sources. The author’s evidence has been well interpreted and helps the reader to draw conclusions. For example, the patient should first be assessed before any drug is administered. The reader could draw the same conclusion concerning this process. The writer has built a logical argument because it can be carried out practically and the results accessed.
The evidence is still valid to date because no other argument concerning pain relief in elderly persons in the medical profession has been discovered. The author is successful in making his conclusions because there are no critiques that have been raised to date. Additionally, many writers have supported the author’s or they have the same views as those of the author.
Conclusion
Pain in elderly persons is not a sign of age advancement and therefore it should not be neglected but rather it should be managed. Pain management helps the patients to live a quality and longer life than when the pain is unchecked (American Geriatrics Society, p. 9). Before the clinicians administer any pain relievers to the patient, the patient should be assessed. The assessment helps the clinician or the nurse to know the type of treatment needed for the patient. However a nurse cannot administer any drug or therapy to a patient before understanding the mental, physical and psychological conditions of the patient. In addition, the medical professional should also access the patient’s pain beliefs, coping mechanism, family and social support mechanisms in place because they determine the success of the patient’s pain management program.
Works Cited
American Geriatrics Society. The management of persistent pain in older persons. J Am Geriatr society, 2002.
D’Arcy, Yvonne. Assessment and management of pain in older adults: a review of the basics. Topics in advanced practice nursing e-journal. 7(1), 2007.
D’Arcy, Yvonne. Pain in the older adult: Nurse practice, 2008.
D’Arcy, Yvonne. Overturning barriers to pain relief in older adults. Nursing. 39(10) 32-38, 2009.
Feldt, Karen. The checklist of non-verbal pain indicators (CNPI). Pain management nuts, 2000.