Rehabilitation also needs to address the issues of preventing social isolation and sensory deprivation. These can easily occur when people are confined to a specific environment without any interaction. We need to remember that although the pain sensation may be uncomfortable, it serves as a protective mechanism. Similar to hunger, thirst, and fatigue, pain serves to inform us of information about our internal environment and the need to take some action to prevent injury or illness. Pain signals us when some body function has become impaired or some body part has been injured.
Some examples are the pain of kidney stones or a broken bone.
Despite advances in the research of pain and its management, information and strategies relate to children and the adult population. Research addressing the topic of pain in elders is lacking. This is most likely due to the misconception that pain is an inevitable outcome related to aging. This limitation of knowledge contributes to the multitude of myths and stereotypes about aging. Misconceptions about pain in elders and thus the fears of the younger generations become perpetuated.