Up to 80 percent of people with dementia in residential aged care facilities experience some type of pain. However, because of their declining brain function and abilities, they may be less able to communicate to their carers that they are in pain. Therefore, it is challenging for carers to identify, assess and manage pain in this group. This can result in under-treatment of pain and reduced quality of life for people living with dementia.
Dr LihuiPu will discuss evidence-based practice to improve pain assessment and management for older people living with dementia. We will also share the use of innovative technologies to support pain in dementia care.
Recording of a webinar held on 13 June 2023
Presenter
Dr Lihui Pu
Dr Lihui Pu is a Research Fellow at the Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University. Her work has focused on the use of technologies, including the social robot PARO and PainChekapp to support older people, in particular people with dementia with chronic pain. She is currently developing a staff training platform to support pain assessment and management in people living with dementia.
Facilitator
Professor Wendy Moyle
Wendy Moyle is renowned for her work developing and evaluating technology such as social robots, improving the quality of life for people with dementia and their carers. She conceptualised and led a seminal randomised controlled trial that investigated the effect of a social robot on emotional response in people living with dementia. Wendy is committed to improving the quality of life of older people through psychosocial interventions to reduce symptoms of dementia, depression and delirium.