Advocating for Accessible Pain Relief for Older Adults in the European Union (EU) – White Paper

Living with pain should not be part of growing older.

For many older adults across Europe, pain is something they live with every day affecting how they move, sleep, connect with others, and enjoy life. Yet pain is too often dismissed as “just part of ageing,” leaving many people without the support or relief they need. This white paper explores how pain impacts older adults’ everyday lives, why access to appropriate pain management matters, and what needs to change to ensure older people can age with dignity, independence, and wellbeing. Grounded in real experiences from six EU countries and insights from experts in ageing and health, it calls for more compassionate, person-centred approaches to pain relief.