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Journal of Research in Nursing
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The experience of chronic pain in elderly nursing home residents

Isabel Higgins, RICN, MN, PhD

Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle, Isabel.higgins{at}newcastle.edu.au

The overall purpose of the study reported here was to explore the experience of being old and in chronic pain while living in a nursing home. The aims of the study were to discover what it was like for older people to live with chronic pain, and how and in what way chronic pain impacts on their lives. One major theme from the study is presented here, ‘Being constantly pained’, as it represents the essential feature of the lived experience of pain. In presenting the findings, seven sub-themes are discussed, including: ‘the painfulness of pain’, ‘the certainty/uncertainty of pain’, ‘overwhelming pain’, ‘unvoicing pain’, ‘being old and worn out’, ‘being forgotten’ and ‘taking punishment’. The findings of this study have the potential to increase understanding of the experience of chronic pain in elderly people by nurses and other healthcare professionals. In addition, the findings also have implications for the provision of healthcare in nursing homes and for conducting research with those who are very old. In a climate of limited government funding and support for services in nursing homes, the data highlight concerns about the role of unqualified staff in this setting.

Key Words: aged care • chronic pain • residential aged care • nursing home

Journal of Research in Nursing, Vol. 10, No. 4, 369-382 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/174498710501000402
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