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The issue of evaluating and alleviating pain in the elderly in nursing homes
PANOVA, Vladislava
The bachelor's thesis "The issue of evaluating and alleviating pain in the elderly in nursing homes" deals with research into the nursing care of elderly people with pain who are permanently housed in social facilities, so-called nursing homes. The research was conducted in selected homes for the nursing homes in the South Bohemian Region. The thesis consists of two parts: theoretical and empirical. The theoretical part is divided into 3 individual chapters. The first is about gerontology and geriatrics, it describes different perspectives on aging, aspects of old age, society's view on the elderly, etc. The second clarifies the concept of pain and related areas: anatomy and physiology, collection of patient history, therapy, etc. The third tells about social facilities and legislation. The empirical part was carried out by a qualitative research investigation, using a semistructured interview method. Data analysis took place in the form of open coding, using the "pencil and paper" method. The codes created further were classified into individual categories and subcategories. According to the obtained data, we can say that nurses are well informed about the methods of pain assessment of their clients based on standardized methods and personal experience while working with them. They know well the pharmacological and nonpharmacological methods of pain relief and they are excellent at cooperating with the members of the multidisciplinary team who oversee implementing some of the given methods. In addition to the good aspects, the lack of a certain standard for the assessment of pain in seniors suffering from dementia syndrome is discovered, which needs to be created in the future not only for social, but also for medical facilities. The results of the bachelor's thesis can be used for further research in the field of nurses' work in social facilities and nursing care for elderly people with pain and inability to express themselves verbally.
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