Pain Management in the Older Adults A Narrative Review

With an increase in life expectancy in the United States, octogenarians and nonagenarians are seen more frequently in clinical practice. The older adults population is projected to make up 20% of the total US population by the year 2030. The 2016 US Census Bureau estimated the number of people in the United States aged 65 years and older as 49.2 million, with greater than 50% between the ages of 65 Approximately 66% of people older than 65 years report chronic pain of some type. The rate is higher for those suffering from other chronic illnesses and living in nursing homes.2 Poorly controlled pain interferes with activities of daily living, decreases ambulation, causes mood disturbances, and increases cognitive decline. Collectively, these comorbidities could lead to other morbidities, such as deep vein thrombosis,