Older Adult and Caregiver Pain Experience During Hospital-to-Home Transitions

Pain Manag Nurs. 2026 Apr 8:S1524-9042(26)00123-2. doi: 10.1016/j.pmn.2026.03.013. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Pain is cited as the most common reason that older adults seek medical care and is one of the leading causes of disability in the United States. The objective of this study is to describe older adults and their unpaid/family caregivers' experience and perspective of pain during hospital-to-home transitions.

DESIGN AND METHODS: This study was a secondary analysis of interview data from a grounded theory study using content analysis. Pain emerged as an important aspect of a hospital-to-home transition, with all but five of the original older adult and caregiver participants spontaneously mentioning pain and it's role before, during, and/or after hospitalization.

RESULTS: Thirty-six of the 41 older adults and caregivers were included in this analysis. Four categories (perception, impact, management, and interactions) emerged regarding older adults' and caregivers' experience of pain during their hospital-to-home transition. Older adults and caregivers discussed how pain affects themselves and each other.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Our findings add new evidence supporting the importance of recognizing and managing pain throughout an older adult hospital-to-home transition, especially in how it may impact their ability to function at home. Pain impacted participants admitted for both medical and surgical reasons and affected both the caregivers and the older adults physically and psychologically.

PMID:41956900 | DOI:10.1016/j.pmn.2026.03.013