Increasing functional activity
People with chronic pain are inclined to reduce their activity levels over time. The reasons for this go beyond the physical dimension of pain. This course considers the practical implications of altered functional activity and offers ideas for actively supporting individuals to maintain mobility and increase their activity levels.
- The effects of inactivity and benefits of mobility
- Body knowledge and personal anatomy
- Physical, psychosocial and environmental factors
- Individual goal setting: purpose, adherence and motivation
- Facilitating functional activity
Assessing pain with older people
Accurate assessment can enhance communication, facilitate active support, inform appropriate intervention, improve record keeping and offer insight into the development of management systems. This short course considers the incidence and impact of pain on older people, factors that influence pain and its assessment and approaches that can be used to assess pain with people who have a range of communication abilities.
- The impact of pain on older people
- The nature of pain in older people
- Why bother with assessment?
- Approaches to assessment
- Assessment in cognitively impaired individuals
- Outcomes of assessment
Assessing pain in older people
Managing pain in older people
With increasing life expectancy and an existing incidence of pain in older people of between 44-80%, challenging the myths surrounding pain in this age group is important if it is to be managed effectively and comfort is to be promoted. This course challenges some of the beliefs that are held about pain in older people, discusses practical ways of managing pain and promoting comfort and considers the role of family and friends.
- Beliefs about pain and its management
- Understanding medication management and the influence of ageing
- How to use non-drug approaches to actively support pain management in the elderly
- Promoting rest and sleep
- The role of family and friends
User perspectives on pain
Consumerism is an ever growing part of today's society. The old tradition of "practitioner knows best" is being replaced with a focus on user empowerment, choice and involvement. It can be difficult, though, to follow these messages through into areas that have tended to be dominated by a medical model. This seminar introduces participants to user issues in health and social welfare and offers practical guidance on engaging people in their own pain management.
- A brief overview of government initiatives
- The philosophy of user empowerment & disempowerment
- Implications of increasing user involvement
- Practical solutions
Pain in people with disabilities
A significant proportion of people with disabilities experience pain either as a consequence of the underlying problem, or as a result of the impact of the disability upon posture and activity. The content listed below is deliberately broad to allow us to work with you to apply the session to your particular area of need.
- Incidence and types of pain
- The impact of pain
- Managing the impact
- The needs of the family
Coping with pain: the role of families and carers
Recent Government legislation, Department of Health strategy and professional publications emphasise the importance of involving carers in care management. The focus is, in part, prompted by the potential benefit to the individual of involving their family and/or carer. This 2 hour course considers the impact of pain upon families and carers and explores ways in which carers can support the individual (and staff) by being involved in the assessment and management of the person's pain. The specific content is adapted according to whether the person with pain is living at home or in a care setting.
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People with Pain
