Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia Scale (PAINAD)
Assesses pain in patients with dementia.
Choose the description that best fits the patient's behavior.
Advice
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As with pain management in general, pain should be assessed serially and medications titrated accordingly.
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The PAINAD scale requires close and attentive observation of the patient.
Critical Actions
Analgesic medications should be used judiciously in dementia, in a fashion guided by the patient’s (or proxy/surrogate’s) goals of care. Always keep the “double effect” of opioids in mind.