Some people wonder whether or not individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia experience pain the way the rest of us do. Indeed, with the way the disease impairs memory, speech, and other functions related to the brain, it’s easy to see how one might imagine or even assume that someone with Alzheimer’s disease might not perceive pain to the degree the rest of us do.
Such an assumption, however, does not reflect the reality of the situation for those 5 million people living with the disease, as recent study from the University of Melbourne and the National Ageing Research Institute indicates. The study, by Leonie J. Cole and colleagues actually suggests that those individuals with Alzheimer’s disease may, in all likelihood, experience pain as much of the rest of us—if not more. That said, if you’re a caregiver, then you should do everything within your power to help manage your loved one’s pain.
The trouble with the disease, unfortunately, is that those experiencing normal—or even enhanced pain—have pronounced difficulty communicating that they’re in pain. Consequently, caregivers and medical professionals potentially can easily run into difficulty when trying to determine the right amount of medication to administer, and sadly, some individuals do not get the level of prescription drug support needed to adequately manage pain. If you suspect that your loved one isn’t receiving the care he or she needs, should you take time to consult with his or her physician. If, after multiple consultations you still feel your loved one’s not getting the proper care, then you may want to consult with an Ohio elder law attorney for advice on how to proceed.
