Internationally
and in Singapore, prevalence of chronic and persistent pain in older adults
above 65 years old is 1 in 5. Pain in
the older adults is
associated with significant suffering, disability, social isolation, and
greater costs and burden to health care systems.
Pain
in the older adults is multifaceted and the approach to management of pain in
older adults needs to be coordinated and comprehensive. Multi-disciplinary
approach incorporating pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions is
efficacious but is underused as older adults with pain are under-represented,
resulting in these older adults being offered fewer treatment options.
This
workshop aims to equip the Allied Health Professionals and Pharmacists with
knowledge and awareness of a multi-disciplinary approach to pain management in
the older adults.