Pain and mood changes are common in older adults, yet these are often complex or misunderstood. Dementia, pain and depression may each lead to calling out, aggression, agitation or wandering, yet identifying the root cause is essential. In addition, risks from medications used for behaviours often outweigh benefits. 

Alberta continues to face a gap in pain and mood care, with rates of worsening pain and depressive mood higher than the national average. 

The Pain & Mood Toolkit | Alberta Health Services provides practical resources to support care providers:

• e-learning modules                  
• info sheets                    
• journey maps               
• digital stories

These tools support interdisciplinary team approaches to improve comfort, behaviour and quality-of-life for residents with care needs related to pain or mood.

CIHI Pain & Mood Data:

• Experiencing Pain in Long-Term Care | CIHI
• Worsened Depressive Mood in Long-Term Care | CIHI