Why you should read this article:

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To enhance your understanding of how to identify and assess pain in people with dementia

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To consider approaches that could be used to manage pain in people with dementia

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To contribute towards revalidation as part of your 35 hours of CPD (UK readers)

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To contribute towards your professional development and local registration renewal requirements (non-UK readers)

There is little evidence to suggest that people with dementia experience less pain than those without dementia, however they are less likely to report their pain due to the cognitive impairments they experience as their dementia progresses. A comprehensive pain assessment that involves family members, carers and/or friends in the process is crucial to gain an understanding of a person’s medical and pain history, and to ensure effective pain management in people with dementia. This article describes the identification, assessment and management of pain in older people with dementia. The author includes a fictional case study with the aim of supporting nurses to reflect on possible indicators of pain in a person with dementia and to consider the tools they may use when identifying and assessing this pain.