The Occupational Therapist's Role in the Management of Persistent Pain in Older Adults

Abstract

Occupational therapists play a key role in health care in mitigating the impact of pain on occupational performance. Occupational therapists working with frail older adults usually work within an interdisciplinary team. An interdisciplinary coordinated approach has been recognized by the American Geriatric Society in their 2002 clinical guideline “The management of persistent pain in older persons” as the most effective treatment for persistent pain. The occupational therapist working with an interdisciplinary team usually provides client education, functional training in activities of daily living, environmental adaptations, and cognitive-behavioural therapy. Therapists have varying amounts of training specific to pain management. In order to offer the best therapy for our patients, as efficiently as possible, it is important that we are aware of the research supporting our interventions and also to advocate for older adults to have access to these services, as it is demonstrated that they do benefit from them.