Pain perception in the elderly patient.

In the elderly patient, the barriers to effective treatment of pain are substantial. Even the perception of pain may differ from that in those of less advanced years. Of course, many other factors impinge on the presence of, and treatment of, pain in elderly patients. Issues of physical accessibility to treatment, cost of drugs, the presence of coexisting illness, the use of concomitant medication, and even the ability to understand the complaints of the patient who has cognitive impairment are only some of those factors that contribute to the complexity of the situation.