Pain can be missed in dementia and if left untreated, may lead to low mood, anxiety, loss of appetite, poor sleep and reduced socialisation.

A person with dementia who is in pain but unable to communicate this successfully may show changes in behaviour, which others may find challenging, but are actually signs of distress due to an unmet need. Family carers’ know the person well and can see the changes and provide invaluable monitoring of the person’s health and well- being.

Family carers may know what underlying conditions the person with dementia may have which could be contributing to pain. Dementia can happen at any age but is predominantly a disease of older age. People therefore often have multiple co –morbidities/potential causes of pain.

See Change: Think Pain

The same principles of pain management apply equally to those with and without dementia.