Safe and effective pain management in elders.

The elderly are often either untreated or undertreated for pain. The consequences of undertreatment for pain can have a devastating impact on health and quality of life, resulting in depression, anxiety, social isolation, cognitive impairment, immobility, and sleep disturbances. Reasons cited by healthcare professionals for inadequate pain control include lack of training, inappropriate pain assessment, and reluctance to prescribe opioids, however, the undertreatment of pain can be legally considered to constitute neglect, abuse, or negligence. The appropriate treatment of pain is humane and with good diagnostic efforts, proper consideration of appropriate medications and monitoring for adverse effects, healthcare providers can help to successfully control pain.