Abbey Pain Scale: Assessing Pain in Dementia

The Abbey Pain Scale is a trusted tool for assessing pain in people with late-stage dementia who can't speak up. It helps care staff spot hidden distress quickly. This observation method looks closely at six specific signs of discomfort. It focuses on non-verbal cues like vocalisation, facial expressions, and shifts in body language. Raters score each item from absent to severe based on exactly what they see. The total score ranges from zero to eighteen, categorising pain as no pain, mild, moderate, or severe. This simple system makes it easy to track symptom changes over time. It is handy for aged care settings where residents cannot tell you they hurt. Nurses can use it during routine checks or after giving medication to see if it worked. By relying on observation rather than questions, it ensures vulnerable patients get the relief they need without any guesswork involved.