The management of pain in older people

Pain is common throughout life, with virtually everyone experiencing at least one episode of acute pain. However, the prevalence of chronic or persistent pain is less common, with about 20% of the world’s population living with chronic pain (Dahlhamer et al., 2016). The prevalence of chronic pain increases up to the age of 85 years, after which it begins to decline (Fayaz, Croft, Langford, Donaldson, & Jones, 2016; Meana, Cho, & DesMeules, 2004; Schofield, 2018). Up to 40% of older people (aged 65 years or older) experience chronic pain, and up to 80% of aged care facility residents experience persistent pain (Gibson, 2007; Schofield et al., 2019).