Project Overview

Despite its high frequency, pain in older adults is under-assessed and undermanaged. Seniors with severe dementia have difficulty communicating the subjective state of pain due to cognitive impairment. Pain in this population leads to responsive behaviours that are often misattributed to psychiatric disturbances, resulting treatment psychotropic rather than analgesic medication. Psychotropic medication has been shown to hasten death and increases fall risk. Our work will improve pain care in older adults with dementia who have limited ability to communicate their pain. We are working on the following technologies and areas:

1. Development of computer vision systems to monitor pain behaviours and warn long-term care (LTC) staff when pain appears to be present in seniors with severe dementia. This improved diagnostic tool is intended to work as LTC residents go about their daily routines.
2. Tablet app development and refinement to facilitate the monitoring and recording of pain behaviours by LTC staff;
3. Refinement and dissemination of interactive web-based platforms capable of providing cutting edge pain education to LTC staff in rural and remote areas;
4. Public policy and large scale knowledge mobilization to facilitate adoption of our solutions and to address practice and policy gaps in senior care.