Observational Assessment

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These assessment tools have been primarily based on the interpretation of behaviour as cues of pain, and as a result several pain assessment instruments have been designed (Corbett A, 2012). The PAINAD scale and Abbey Pain Scale are two of these tools used in assessing pain in late “severe” stage of dementia and are most commonly used within acute settings (British Geriatrics Society, 2007). Both PAINAD and The Abbey pain scale are six question observational assessments which are predominately used in assessment of pain in persons who cannot verbalise or have communication difficulties – it involves the assessor that being a nurse or care giver being able to assess pain upon what they observe. The six categories for non-verbal observation as