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Recognising, assessing and managing pain in older people with dementia

Last Reviewed: 10/03/2025
Recognisingassessingandmanagingpainino

Course

Exclusive quality-assured RCN course.

Available to RCNi Plus subscribers

Applicable for any nurse with an RCNi subscription

How to recognise, assess and manage pain in older people with dementia.

Who is this resource for?

Explains what the component is for

This resource is aimed at nurses and nursing support workers across all settings and levels of practice, including students of health, social work and care professions.

Course information

This module aims to provide nurses with information on how to recognise, assess and manage pain in older people with dementia. It discusses why a comprehensive pain assessment is crucial to effective treatment and pain management and emphasises the importance of involving family, carers and friends in the assessment process to build up a better picture of a person's previous medical and pain history.Don't forget that you do not have to complete our two-hour learning modules all in one go. Tailor your learning to fit into your busy schedule by undertaking one or two sections at a time. You can stop and save your learning at any point and pick up where you left off when you return. Learning aims and intended outcomes Understand how older people with dementia can communicate their pain and discomfort through behaviours that change as their communication difficulties increase Understand, through case studies, how to use an observational assessment tool Build up a ?pain picture' of a person with dementia using different methods and observational assessment toolsDisclaimer Please note that information provided by RCNi Learning is not sufficient to ensure competence in the skill. Assessment of competence should take place in line with local practice. Practice should always align with local protocols and procedures, latest guidelines and any regulatory code. All modules should currently be viewed together with available national and local Covid-19 guidelines. For advice, go to www.rcn.org.uk/covid-19

Authors

Karen Harrison Dening

Head of research and publications, Dementia UK.

The RCN delivers quality-assured and up-to-date resources for the nursing workforce. Reviewed annually, RCN Learn resources meet the RCN Nine Quality Standards.

: 14 Mar 2025.
 https://uatlearnamber.rcn.org.uk/Search/554-recognisingassessingandmanagingpainino.
Last Reviewed: 10/03/2025