What are typical signs that a resident is in pain and requires assessment?

• A. No signs of distress
• B. Facial grimacing, body tensing, agitation, guarding, or verbal expressions of pain; use a pain scale to assess.
• C. Pain is always obvious to staff; do not use a pain scale.
• D. Pain should only be assessed if the resident states it verbally.

Answer: (B)

Recognizing pain in residents relies on noticing nonverbal signals and using a structured way to measure it. Typical signs include facial grimacing, tense or guarding posture, agitation, and verbal expressions of pain. These cues can show up even when the resident cannot clearly state they hurt, so paying attention to changes in behavior, movements, or routine can reveal distress that needs assessment. To quantify how much pain is present, use a standardized pain scale appropriate for the resident—this gives a consistent way to rate intensity and to monitor whether interventions help. After assessing, report findings to the nurse and document them, then re-check after treatment to ensure relief. If someone can’t communicate verbally, these signs and the scale remain essential tools to guide care. Noticing that pain isn’t always obvious and should be assessed even without a verbal statement is why this approach is preferred over waiting for explicit verbal reports.