This course is endorsed by ACN according to their Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Endorsed Course Standards. It has been allocated 3CPD hours according to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia – Continuing Professional Development Standard.
Pain is a common concern in aged care, with studies showing that 93% of older people regularly experience pain, and almost half of them feel it constantly. Pain significantly impacts a person’s quality of life, affecting their physical and psychological well-being. It can lead to decreased mobility, increasing the risk of falls and fractures, as well as feelings of isolation, as the individual may withdraw from activities due to discomfort. This can further result in depression, anxiety, and disrupted sleep, which impacts overall health.
Managing pain requires a comprehensive approach that includes medication, physical therapy, and alternative therapies. Healthcare professionals must regularly assess pain levels and adjust treatment plans to provide optimal pain relief. Communication is key, and caregivers should encourage open dialogue with patients to ensure pain concerns are addressed properly.
With the focus on Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards, we recognise the pivotal role that effective pain management plays in ensuring a high standard of clinical care and positive outcome for older people.
PainChek has partnered with Anchor Excellence to develop a pain management online series. This online series provides healthcare professionals with skills and knowledge on understanding, assessing, and managing pain in an aged care setting. Facilitated by pain and aged care experts, this 3-module virtual course will provide the skills to deliver quality care and improve outcomes for residents and patients.
What will the modules cover?
- Module 1 – The person with pain (7th March 2024 | 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Sydney Time)
- Define and explain the nature of pain
- Identify Pain in the Aged Care Context
- Understand the impact of pain on well-being
- Module 2 – Pain Assessment (14th March 2024 | 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Sydney Time)
- Examine and understand the different methods of pain assessment
- Understand the different types of pain management interventions
- Understand Pain & Brain disease – Dementia
- Module 3 – Compliance Requirements (21st March 2024 | 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Sydney Time)
- Understand the importance of frequent pain assessment
- Examine effective pain assessment data evaluation – Self-reflection exercise
- Understand the implications of pain assessment information for AN-ACC classification
Testimonials
“The Understanding Pain in Older People masterclass, facilitated by Carla from Anchor Excellence and Catherine Smith from PainChek, was an enlightening exploration into the multifaceted impact of pain on seniors. This session extensively covered areas such as falls, diminished mobility, and compromised quality of life. The collaboration between these experts provides a significant stride forward in effective pain management strategies for the elderly population. A truly insightful and educational experience. Thank you!”
Care Manager, New South Wales
“Attending the Understanding Pain in Older People masterclass, hosted by Carla from Anchor Excellence and Catherine Smith from PainChek, was a professionally enriching experience. The comprehensive discussion encompassed critical aspects such as the correlation between pain and falls, sleep disturbances, and emotional wellbeing. This collaborative effort adds tremendous value to the field of geriatric pain management. Highly recommended for healthcare professionals seeking a deeper understanding of this crucial subject.”
Facility Manager, Victoria
“This masterclass explored the relationship between pain and quality of life. The incorporation of evidence-based best practices for optimal pain management and relief was very interesting. The session has increased my understanding of pain’s impact but has also given me practical tools for enhancing the care I provide to residents. This was a great session and one I would highly recommend for those seeking to elevate their expertise in pain management.”
Registered Nurse, Queensland
Led by industry experts
Join Dr. Irene Stein, Carla Beheram and Dawn Kerr in this 3 module series “Understanding Pain in Older People”. Tailored specifically for the aged care community, this ACN Endorsed series is expertly aligned with the highest quality standards.
Carla Beheram
Head of Clinical Governance,
Anchor Excellence
Dawn Kerr
Senior Clinical Specialist,
PainChek
Dr. Irene Stein
Aged Care and Clinical Governance Specialist, Anchor Excellence
About Anchor Excellence
Providing Leading Aged Care Consulting and Advisory Services
Founded in 2018 by Cynthia Payne, the Anchor Excellence Aged Care Consultancy is an Australian wide organisation with 20 aged care specialists. All experienced leaders in their fields, their complementary mix of skills support aged care leaders in executive management, governance, strategy, quality and compliance management, asset and property management, stakeholder management, customer experience and coaching. As a combined team, Anchor Excellence Aged Care Consultants can provide support and advisory services to your aged care home, in-home care services and disability organisation, delivering a seamless experience that creates sustainable change. Our aged care consultants provide services across Australia, so whether your organisation, aged care or home care is located in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth we are here to support you in any way we can.
About PainChek
PainChek is an Australian-based company that develops pain assessment technologies. Pain often goes unrecognised and undertreated in people with communication difficulties. PainChek Universal is a clinically validated smartphone-based medical device that enables best-practice pain assessment for all people, everywhere. It provides a complete point-of-care solution that combines the PainChek® App with the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS).
The PainChek® App uses artificial intelligence and facial recognition to detect pain in those who cannot self-report. This gives a voice to those who cannot verbalise pain, whilst also driving objectivity and consistency in all assessments. For those who can self-report, PainChek Universal also includes access to the Numerical Rating Scale, a well-established standard used to document pain levels. PainChek Universal supports pain assessment using both tools at the point of care, for those people whose ability to communicate fluctuates. PainChek® is being rolled out globally in two phases: first, PainChek® for adults who are unable to effectively verbalise their pain, such as people with dementia, and second, PainChek® for infants who have not yet learnt to speak. Both the adult and infant products have received regulatory clearance in numerous markets, including Australia, Europe, the UK, NZ, Singapore and Canada. The PainChek® Shared Care Program is a PainChek® licensing model which enables a professional carer to share their resident or patient data securely with other healthcare professionals or designated home-based family carers for ongoing pain assessments or clinical data review. To find out more, visit www.painchek.com.
