Chronic Pain Management Program
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.