JADE Health participated in the European event “Pain Management in Later Life: Aligning Evidence, Policy and Action”, organised by the International Federation on Ageing (IFA) in Brussels. 

The event brought together policymakers, healthcare professionals, patient organisations, researchers and representatives from European networks to explore the challenges of pain management in older adults and identify opportunities for more coordinated policy action across Europe. 

JADE Health was represented by Elisabeth García, member of the Joint Action coordination team, who participated in the Lightning Round session focused on the cross-sectoral implications of unmet pain management needs. 

Bringing a Dementia and Cognitive Health Perspective 

During her intervention, Elisabeth García highlighted the importance of considering pain management within the broader context of dementia care and healthy ageing. 

People living with dementia experience pain as frequently as other older adults, yet pain often remains under-recognised due to communication difficulties and the complex ways in which pain may be expressed, including behavioural changes, agitation or withdrawal. 

The presentation emphasised that pain should not be viewed solely as a clinical issue. Instead, it should be considered within a wider framework that connects cognitive health, long-term care, healthy ageing and person-centred care. 

Addressing Fragmentation Through Integrated Policies 

During the session a key message was shared that one of the major barriers to effective pain management is fragmentation across care and policy pathways. 

Pain management is often addressed separately from dementia strategies, cognitive health policies, healthy ageing initiatives and long-term care planning, despite the fact that older adults experience these challenges simultaneously. 

Drawing on the experience of JADE Health, the presentation highlighted the importance of integrated approaches that promote collaboration across sectors, shared evidence, common indicators and coordinated implementation. 

The Opportunity for Future Joint Actions 

Although pain management is not a dedicated workstream within JADE Health, the discussion provided an opportunity to reflect on how European Joint Actions can support emerging policy priorities. 

The Joint Action model offers a practical framework for Member States to exchange good practices, develop common approaches and translate evidence into action. In this context, future European initiatives could further explore how pain management can be integrated into broader policies on dementia, healthy ageing, integrated care and long-term care. 

Learning from a Multidisciplinary European Dialogue 

The event featured contributions from experts representing long-term care, nursing, oncology, rehabilitation, employment and economic policy, highlighting the wide-ranging impact of pain on older people's quality of life and wellbeing. 

For JADE Health, participation in this dialogue reinforced the importance of addressing health challenges through integrated, person-centred and cross-sectoral approaches. It also demonstrated how European collaboration can help connect evidence, policy and implementation to improve outcomes for older adults across Europe.