Impact of Pain on Family Members and Caregivers of Geriatric Patients

Catherine Riffin; Terri Fried; Karl Pillemer

doi:10.1016/j.cger.2016.06.010

Impact of Pain on Family Members and Caregivers of Geriatric Patients

Clin Geriatr Med. 2016 Nov;32(4):663-675. doi: 10.1016/j.cger.2016.06.010. Epub 2016 Aug 4.

Authors

Catherine Riffin¹, Terri Fried², Karl Pillemer³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. Electronic address: catherine.riffin@yale.edu.
² Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Geriatrics and Extended Care, Department of Internal Medicine (Geriatrics), Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, 950 Campbell Avenue, West Haven, CT 06516, USA.
³ Department of Human Development, College of Human Ecology, Cornell University, MVR G77, Ithaca, NY 06902, USA.

Abstract

This article provides an overview of the literature describing the effects of geriatric patients' pain on family members' relationships, psychological well-being, and physical health. The theoretic mechanisms that underlie the association between patients' pain and family members' outcomes are outlined, and studies describing these mechanisms are summarized. Limitations to the current literature are discussed, and key recommendations for future research and practice are presented.

Keywords: Coping; Family members; Geriatric pain; Interpersonal relationships; Pain perception; Relationship closeness; Spouses.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Adaptation, Psychological*
Aged
Caregivers / psychology*
Family / psychology*
Family Relations / psychology
Humans
Pain / psychology*
Pain Perception*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding