Nonverbal Signs of Pain in Older Adults to Watch For

Pain doesn’t always look the way we expect it to. Rather than hearing, “My back hurts,” or “My knee is bothering me,” you may notice something entirely different. An older loved one may become unusually quiet, seem more irritable, lose interest in meals, or have greater difficulty participating in everyday activities. At first, it’s easy to assume these changes are simply part of aging or dementia.

Sometimes they are. Sometimes they’re actually nonverbal signs of pain that have gone unrecognized.

This is particularly common for someone living with dementia or another condition that affects communication, but it can also happen when a person has spent years minimizing aches and pains or accepting discomfort as an unavoidable part of growing older.

Knowing what to watch for can help your loved one receive the medical attention they need before discomfort begins affecting their overall health and quality of life.

Look for Changes in Daily Behavior

One of the earliest clues that something is wrong is often a change from what’s normal. Perhaps your loved one no longer enjoys favorite activities, has become more withdrawn, or seems unusually impatient. Maybe they’re eating less, sleeping more, or becoming increasingly restless.

Although these behaviors don’t always point to pain, they shouldn’t be ignored when they persist or continue to worsen. A noticeable change in behavior is often worth discussing with a healthcare provider.

Watch How They Move

Pain frequently becomes most noticeable during movement. Pay close attention to how your loved one gets out of bed, stands up from a chair, walks across the room, or reaches for items. Hesitating before moving, relying more heavily on furniture for support, or favoring one side of the body may all indicate they’re trying to avoid discomfort.

These subtle changes can provide valuable information, particularly when they’re new or gradually becoming more pronounced.

Keep a Simple Record

Medical appointments are often brief, making it difficult to remember everything you’ve observed over the previous several weeks.

Keeping notes for just three days can help. Record changes in behavior, when they occur, what your loved one was doing beforehand, how long they lasted, and anything that seemed to improve or worsen the situation.

Sharing these observations with your healthcare provider can help identify patterns and determine whether additional evaluation or changes to the treatment plan are needed.

Respond With Reassurance

When an older adult becomes upset or refuses to participate in an activity, it’s natural to encourage them to keep trying. But before doing so, consider whether pain may be influencing their response.

Acknowledging what you observe with calm, reassuring statements such as, “Let’s sit down for a minute,” or, “You seem uncomfortable today,” can help reduce frustration while allowing you to better understand what’s causing the change in behavior.

Our Skilled Clinicians Notice the Details

One of the benefits of home health services is having experienced clinicians who regularly assess changes in a patient’s condition.

Because nurses and therapists see patients consistently over time, they’re often able to recognize subtle changes in mobility, strength, endurance, or behavior that may indicate increasing pain or another medical concern. Those observations are documented, monitored, and communicated with the physician so concerns can be addressed as quickly as possible.

Nonverbal Signs of Pain: What Older Adults May Be Telling You Without Words

Look for Changes in Daily Behavior

Watch How They Move

Keep a Simple Record

Respond With Reassurance

Our Skilled Clinicians Notice the Details

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