Pain Management Program

News & Resources

Pain Management Program recieves
Better Practice Award

Hall & Prior were recently presented with a Better Practice Award from the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency. One of the 41 Better Practice recipients, Hall & Prior received the award for their Pain Management Program.

Improvements in pain management were attained at two of Hall & Prior's New South Wales homes, Caroline Chisholm in Lane Cove and Sirius Cove in Mosman. These improvements were the result of the introduction of a comprehensive program solely focused on the management of pain.

The program results have been rewarding. Within one year of introducing the program, 100 per cent of residents from both homes became participants. Six months after entering the program, more than half of the residents experienced improved pain ratings and 30 per cent had unchanged pain levels, despite 46 per cent of these residents experiencing significant natural progression of a diagnosed disease.

Implementation of the program

Beginning in 2010, the program involved initial development and delivery of training for staff in the form of self-directed learning packages, tool box training sessions, poster displays and guest speakers.

With the help of doctors, staff, volunteers, residents and relatives, Hall & Prior were able to introduce activities and alternative therapies. These therapies included working with doctors to review medications, introducing the use of hot packs, massage, exercise and music.

One therapy that Hall & Prior are extremely proud of is the introduction of Tapping Touch. This therapy originated in Japan and is where light tapping of residents is conducted to music. Hall & Prior is the first aged care provider in Australia to provide this therapy.

The success of the program has just not been the therapies, the commitment from managers and staff has been a major factor in the program's success. they have been willing to try different ideas, participate in training and keep an open mind, all with the collective aim of reducing resident's pain and improving their quality of life.