Validation of an acute pain-behavior scale for older persons with inability to communicate verbally: Algoplus.

To compensate for poor acute pain detection in elderly inpatients with inability to communicate verbally (ICV), the Doloplus Collective team devised the 5-item Algoplus behavior-assessment scale specifically aimed at quickly detecting acute pain in these individuals. Algoplus was developed in three successive phases, including expert opinions, caregivers interviews, patient video recordings and statistical procedures. Among the 1500 recorded primary pain behaviors, 48 were selected and clustered into a 5-item scale.

[Palliative care and Alzheimer disease].

Although end-of-life care is a relatively common option for patients with terminal cancer, it has become available only recently for patients with Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is a chronic process of gradual deterioration of cognitive ability and the resulting deficits in activities of daily living. The chronic disease course of Alzheimer's disease gives to the clinician the opportunity to look ahead and plan for the final stages of care.

[Characteristics of pain and pain management in the elderly].

A COMMON SYMPTOM: Pain is a common and underestimated problem in older people who are likely to suffer from many acute and chronic conditions. DIFFICULT ASSESSMENT: Clinical assessment of pain often depends on the patient's ability to communicate his or her experience. If self-assessment of pain is not possible, behavioral hetero-evaluation instruments have been built for easy pain assessment by caregivers.

[Palliative care of the aged].

Palliative care is no longer limited to patients with terminal cancer but now includes other diseases at terminal stage such as advanced Alzheimer disease. Accompanying the elderly at the end of life involves medical, psychological and social approaches. The expression of symptoms, and especially that of pain, can be atypical.