Chronic Pain Management

Chronic Pain Management Program

painManagement

Chronic Pain Management Program (CPMP) helps Residents control their pain. The program was based on a pain management module developed in 2003 to improve quality of life of Residents.

What is Chronic Pain?

Chronic pain is long-lasting pain greater than 6 months in duration.  It is quite different in its causes and reasons for persistance compaed with acute pain.  It is estimated that up to 83% of Australian Aged Care Residents are affected. Unfortunately, chronic pain is sometimes wrongly seen as a part of ‘normal ageing’, and often overlooked or ignored.

Chronic Pain Symptoms:

  • Whincing or Grimicing
  • Verbal complaints
  • Anxiety / Reluctance to Move
  • Weight Loss
  • Attention seeking behaviours
  • Sleep disturbance
  • Increased falls risk
  • Depression
  • Polypharmacy (pain killers)
  • Social isolation
  • Poor movement patterns

Benefits of Chronic Pain Management

The reduction of pain levels and a subsequent change in behaviour, quality of life and ability to carry out activities of daily living.

Benefits to Staff

  • Happier, more comfortable residents
  • More satisfied families of residents
  • Improved compliance with aged care accreditation standards
  • Improved bed occupancy rates
  • Improved funding and revenue streams
  • Potentially significant financial return on investment via ACFI funding
  • Improved staff morale
  • Greater physiotherapy presence to assist with resident needs.

How to get the Pain Program going

We take care of CPMP implementation and management. This includes:

  • Education of Residents & Staff
  • Pain Assessments
  • Creation of treatment plans
  • Treatments
  • Ongoing Communication & Documentation
  • Maintaining Standards of Quality and Outcomes

We work closely staff to ensure that programs are viable, effective and achieve their intended outcomes.