Pain Management

As people live longer, a growing proportion of later life is spent managing chronic health conditions, including pain, which disproportionately affects older adults. Pain is often persistent and under-addressed, with significant implications for functional ability, independence, and quality of life. Pain also sits at the intersection of health, ageing, workforce participation, and social support. Inadequate pain management can restrict economic participation through increased absenteeism, early retirement, and job loss, while placing emotional, physical, and financial strain on families and caregivers. Together, these impacts contribute to broader pressures on health, social care, and community systems, underscoring the importance of pain management as a core component of healthy ageing.