Frequently Asked Questions

This section provides an easy way to link your questions about pain assessment and management to the resources in this website.  Questions are posed and the answers are detailed in resources provided throughout the website. 

About Us

1. What is the Pain Workgroup of the Center for Nursing Excellence in Long-Term Care™?  See description of the Pain Workgroup.

2. Who was involved in the development of this Web site?  Project Leaders and Consultants

3. How was the project funded?  Funding of Web site

4. How do I use this Web site?  How to Use this Web site

5. What are the policies and disclaimers for the use of this Web site?  Policies and Disclaimers 

6. Who do I contact if I have questions?  Contact Us

Pain Assessment - General

7. What are the core principles of pain assessment for providers?  Core Principles of Pain Assessment for Providers

8. What are commonly used terms when describing pain?  Pain Assessment Terminology (Glossary)

9. How can I know if a resident is in pain?  Recommendations for Pain Assessment in Cognitively Intact

10. How frequently should I reassess pain in the nursing home setting?  Recommendations for Pain Assessment in Cognitively Intact

Pain Assessment Tools

25. What specific tools are recommended to assess pain in older persons who have severe dementia or who are nonverbal? Recommendations for Pain Assessment in Cognitively Impaired

26. How do I use the Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia (PAINAD) tool?  See Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia (PAINAD) Instructions

27. What is the PAINAD Tool?  See PAINAD Tool

28. How do I use the Pain Assessment Checklist for Seniors with Limited Ability to Communicate (PACSLAC) tool?  Pain Assessment Checklist for Seniors with Limited Ability to Communicate (PACSLAC) Instructions

29. What is the PACSLAC Tool?  PACSLAC Tool

Pain Management

30. How are analgesics used in cases of suspected pain in residents with cognitive impairment?  Analgesic Trial for Suspected Pain in Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment

31. What resources are available regarding pain medication and addiction?  Pain Management in Patients with Addictive Disease (ASPMN)

32. What are some barriers or myths to effective pain management?   Barriers to Effective Pain Management  and Pain Myths

33. What about concerns of addiction in residents taking pain medications?  Addiction Terminology

34. What is the best way to communicate with the prescriber about management of a resident’s pain?  Communication with Prescriber Form

35. Other than medication, what other interventions may be used to help with a resident’s pain?  Non-Drug Pain Management Interventions

36. What tools are available for monitoring/following up on the effectiveness of pain management?   Pain Flow Sheet: Cog Impaired and Pain Flow Sheet: Cog Intact

37. How is pain defined?  Pain Definitions

38. Is there a resource that explains words used in assessing and treating pain?  Pain Definitions

39. What are the principles of pain management for older adults?  See Core Principles of Pain Treatment and World Health Organization (WHO) Ladder

Education - Providers

40. What interactive educational resources could be used to educate staff members about pain? Education Game (Pain Jeopardy)

41. What resources are available regarding end of life care?   Geriatric ELNEC (End of Life Nursing Education Consortium) PowerPoint  and HPNA Position Statement on Pain Management

Education - Patients and Families

42.   What information is available to train nursing assistants about detecting pain or discomfort, and to understand the ways they can help cognitively impaired older adults? Detecting Discomfort in Dementia video.

43. What resources are available to families and older adults dealing with persistent pain?  Persistent Pain Patient Education Forum

Quality Improvement

44. What tools are available to help a facility to implement its quality improvement program and to track the progress the facility has made in improving pain assessment and management?  Overview of Quality Improvement Process and Steps to QI Worksheets and Advancing Excellence : Improving Pain Management Implementation Guide

45. What can I use to evaluate my facility’s performance?  Facility Assessment Checklists and Pain Data Tracking Tool

46. How can I obtain a random sample to track and study our quality improvement activities in pain management?  Random Sample Strategy

Resources - Clinical Practice Guidelines

47. Are there published guidelines about assessment and management of persistent pain in older adults?  American Geriatric Society (AGS) Persistent Pain 2002 (JAGS) 

48. What are the current pharmacological treatment recommendations for persistent pain in older adults?   AGS Persistent Pain Pharmacotherapy Update 2009 (JAGS)

49. What are recommendations for opioid use in non-cancer pain?  American Pain Society (APS) Opioid Use in Non-Cancer Pain

50. Are there published recommendations on how to assess pain in persons with dementia who are unable to self report?   American Society of Pain Management Nursing (ASPMN) Position Statement 2006

51. Are there published recommendations about treatment of persons with addictive disease?  American Pain Society (APS)/ American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM) Position Statement on Pain in Addiction

Resources - Federal Regulations

52. Where can I find federal regulations regarding pain in the nursing home? MDS 3.0 and Pain Regulatory Guidelines

53. Are there links to organizations and website where I might find additional information regarding pain management and pain assessment?  Organizations/Web links