Online Counseling

Self-Care

Book Store

Keepsake Store

Alzheimer's Caregivers Tips - How to Spot Pain

Elizabeth Postle, owner and matron of a nursing home for 15 years, talks about pain and dementia, and explains how to tell if a person with dementia or Alzheimer’s is in pain and what to do about it.  She provides help for Alzheimer's caregivers in the form of education and training, through her website and her book.  

How do you know when someone with dementia or Alzheimer's is in pain? 

All parents of young babies know that they have to recognize the cry of hunger or colic, babies cannot tell you that they have teething pain.  Similarly caregivers of people with dementia or Alzheimer’s have to recognize changes in behavior patterns to ascertain that something is wrong. People with dementia don’t know how to tell you that they have pain.

A few signs of pain for Alzheimer's Caregivers to be aware of. . . 

Any of these signs may mean that your loved one is in pain but is unable to explain what is wrong: 

  • They may be more agitated.
  • Nights may be disrupted more than usual.
  • Aimless wandering may be a new symptom.
  • They may have developed a temperature.
  • Are they noisy - shouting more than usual?
  • Is the sufferer’s incontinence worse than usual?
  • Are they becoming aggressive?
  • Has the loved one suddenly become unable to walk?

Any of these changes or unusual behavior should be reported to the Doctor as your loved one is unable to say I have earache or colic or explain what is wrong. 

Look out for changes of behaviour which might indicate pain

When we are caring for someone on a daily basis any change of behavior is easier to notice.  Is the loved one restless and more agitated than usual?  Could it be that they are constipated, for example and have colic?

Have they had a cold recently? Could they have a sore throat or a chest infection?

Has there been any change in their appetite are they eating more or less than usual? This could indicate a dental problem. Regular dental checks are essential as they could have a problem which could affect them eating well and cause pain.

Are they wandering around the home more?  Is incontinence of urine a new symptom which could indicate a urine infection?  Is their temperature normal?

Whilst helping to shower the loved one, the carer should become aware of any skin problems. Are there any sore areas or rashes seen? Do they need a podiatrist visit, a corn or long toenail can cause discomfort.

Remember to give people with dementia lots of drinks during the day.  Always have mugs of water available for them as dehydration can cause problems too. They cannot tell you they are thirsty and it can cause them discomfort.

Any changes of behavior could be a sign of discomfort.  Are they noisier than usual, this can be a sign that they have pain.

Has their sleeping pattern changed? Any discomfort will prevent your loved one from falling asleep as well as they used to.

If in any doubt then a doctor’s visit is the safest bet.  People with Alzheimer's cannot explain the pain they have and like everyone can fall victim to other illnesses.

Caregivers do a great job and deserve all the help they can get so must never be afraid to ask for advice from doctors, dentists, pharmacists, podiatrists and any of their care team members.

What to do about pain if your loved one has dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

Sometimes pain relief and antibiotics are all that are needed to relieve a difficult new situation. Because someone has dementia, it does not mean that they are immune from all the other ailments we can suffer from. We can explain that we have back pain or neck ache but they cannot.  It is up to the carer to notice that all is not well and report your suspicions to the doctor.  He or she can examine your loved one and pain relief can be given as needed.

Never be afraid to voice your concerns no matter how trivial, because to save your loved one from pain is very worthwhile. 

My book is full of Alzheimer's Caregivers Tips: 

I have written a book all about caring for your loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s.  I have focused on the needs of the caregiver who is often grieving and in need of much support, as well as the best ways to care for the person with Alzheimer's.  Click on the image to see what else it includes.  

A Healing Hug for Alzheimer's Caregivers - bookClick here to see contents

More Pages of Alzheimer's Caregivers Tips: 

Understanding unusual behaviours in Alzheimer's 

7 Warning Signs You Have Alzheimer's Spouse Grief



Please Support this Site with a Donation


If you have found our site helpful, please consider a small donation towards our running costs.  It is expensive in time and money to maintain the site and we try to keep it as ad free as we can! 

If everyone were to donate just one dollar, it would cover our costs.  A little more will help us to expand and reach even more people. 

Please note we are not a not-for-profit organisation, so you won't be able to claim this donation against your tax!  But we do need to eat and pay the phone bill!

You can use your paypal account but you don't need to belong to paypal to use this secure payment button, it accepts all major debit and credit cards. We do not collect any of your personal information when you make a payment. 

We thank you and all our readers thank you for whatever you can afford. 




For USA Residents: 

Please help our colleagues at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, USA by joining in their research study:



SUPPORT FOR BEREAVED PARENTS

Parent Support Study Logo

Losing a child to cancer is devastating, and there is a critical need to develop effective supports.

A federally-funded study in the United States (US) evaluating different types of support for bereaved parents is currently seeking participants. Parents residing in the US may be eligible if they lost a child diagnosed with cancer at least 6 months ago and live in one of the following states: NY, NJ, PA, CT, FL, or TN (other eligible states are being added, please complete the survey to check with us).

To find out if you may be eligible, please click here, visit our website at bereavedparentsupportstudy.com, or email us at parentstudy@mskcc.org.

Keep in touch with us: 

Sign up for our newsletter and receive:

"The 10 Most Important Things You Can Do
To Survive Your Grief And Get On With Life"


Our free downloadable and printable document "The 10 Most Important Things You Can Do To Survive Your Grief And Get On With Life" will help you to be positive day to day.  

The 10 points are laid out like a poem on two pretty pages which you can pin on your fridge door to help you every day! 

All you have to do to receive this free document is fill in your email address below. 

You will also receive our newsletter which we send out from time to time with our newest comforting and helpful information.   You can unsubscribe any time you like, and don't worry, your email address is totally safe with us. 

NEW BONUS - Also receive a copy of our short eBook - '99 Ways to Spot a Great Grief Counselor'.  Available for instant download as soon as you sign up. Never waste money on poor counseling again! 

Join us on Facebook for articles, support, discussion and more.  Click 'Like' below.

Grief and Sympathy


Share this page:
If you found this page helpful, please share it.

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.