Chronic Pain in Old Age

Chronic pain is a daily fact of life for many elderly people. The pain is often seen as a product of age, and is only too readily accepted as inevitable by patient and physician. This collection of original essays offers a comprehensive biopsychosocial approach to address the complex symptoms and treatment of chronic pain in the elderly. The nineteen contributors come from many disciplines, including psychology, medicine, social work, physical therapy, and nursing. Their primary objective is to improve the quality of pain management for seniors, but they also urge readers to examine their own attitudes and beliefs about elderly patients, to avoid the pitfalls of ageism and to refrain from using age to rationalize inaction. The volume is loosely divided into three overlapping sections. The first addresses social, psychological and epidemiological issues. The second section deals with family issues, including their role in pain management. The final section addresses psychological and medical interventions.