Pain management in the elderly.

Assessment and management of pain are among the skills that perianesthesia nurses need to deliver safe and effective care. The principles of pain management remain fairly consistent across all age groups. However, managing the pain of elderly surgical patients presents unique challenges. Many elderly people have painful chronic conditions. Consequently, during the perioperative period, the nurse must manage both the patient's chronic and acute pain. As a group, the elderly are more vulnerable to inadequate pain assessment and treatment and are more likely to have serious side effects of analgesic therapy. Therefore, this report highlights the unique aspects of pain management in elderly patients.