The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just released the results of a disturbing study of nursing home residents. The more significant findings include:
1. Forty-four percent of nursing home residents with pain received neither standing orders for pain medication nor special services for pain management (i.e., appropriate pain management).
2. Nonwhite residents and residents with dementia were less likely to report or show signs of pain compared with white residents and residents without dementia.
3. Twenty-five percent of all nursing-home residents reported or showed signs of pain.
My Take: It is inexcusable for nursing homes to fail to diagnose and appropriately treat complaint’s of pain. If you (or a loved one) are experiencing protracted pain, ask to see the Medical Director or Director of Nursing and DEMAND pain medication. There is no reason to suffer and nursing homes need to do a better job of treating this problem.