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

Background

As populations age, many people spend an increasing proportion of later life managing persistent or recurring pain, which limits mobility, affects mental and physical well-being, and reduces opportunities for social and economic participation. Despite its prevalence, access to effective pain management remains inconsistent, with many older adults facing financial, structural, and informational barriers that restrict their ability to obtain appropriate therapies, management options, and support. In light of this, the study, Advocating for Accessible Pain Relief for Older Adults in the European Union (EU), aimed to examine the person-centered burden of pain in older adults and highlight the importance of accessibility to pain management options in protecting the health, well-being, and rights of older people.

Methodology

To inform this work, the study used a two-part data collection approach, guided by strategic oversight from an advisory committee comprising experts in pain, ageing, and health systems. A roundtable with experts and multinational survey captured the experiences of adults aged 55-95+ living with acute, chronic, or recurring pain across six EU countries.

Findings

Pain significantly affects functional ability, quality of life, and participation in social, work, and family roles. Long wait times, limited access to specialists, and financial constraints emerged as major barriers to receiving appropriate care. Gaps in provider training, inconsistent assessment practices, and limited public awareness and education further exacerbate these challenge. Opportunities, outlined from the study, include improving patient education and provider training on age-responsive and person-centered pain care; addressing structural and financial barriers through policy and system investment; and advancing interdisciplinary and multi-sectoral approaches that bring together clinical, rehabilitative, psychosocial, and community supports.

Key messages

• Ensuring equitable access to pain management is essential to supporting healthy ageing and upholding the rights and dignity of older people.

• Access to pain management remains inconsistent, with many older adults facing barriers that restrict their ability to obtain appropriate management options and support.