Interdisciplinary Pain and Disability Programs for Older Adults

Rehabilitation for musculoskeletal injury and associated acute and chronic pain is a very important therapeutic intervention for older adults because of the high incidence and prevalence of disability in this population. There is a vital need to improve the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of rehabilitation and pain management in older adults because of the links between musculoskeletal pain, falling, pain medicine prescription, and rising medical costs. Acute and chronic pain syndromes in older adults need to be addressed using the biopsychosocial model which allows for a more complete determination of the causes and consequences of pain and disability. To accurately assess and treat using the biopsychosocial model, it is necessary to use an interdisciplinary program that promotes coordinated care and timely communication between several different types of healthcare practitioners and the patients receiving the treatment. Interdisciplinary care depends on communication between the various healthcare providers and between these healthcare providers and the patients including their family. Using an interdisciplinary approach to treat people with pain syndromes has resulted in clinically meaningful changes in both objective and subjective categories. Physical and mental function, ambulation, nutritional conditions, and the mood of patients have all been demonstrated to improve with interdisciplinary care programs for older adults. Therefore, our current healthcare providers and our generations to come must be formally educated and encouraged to participate in interprofessional education and interprofessional practice in an effort to allow for the development of rich and evidence-based programs designed to provide interdisciplinary care using a biopsychosocial model.