Can Teddy bears relieve pain? Findings in a project sponsored by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services show that methods for managing pain without drugs can be extremely effective. According to officials of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, early findings in the two-year project, conducted in nursing homes, indicate that the management of the residents pain improved by about 45%.
Physical therapy, exercise, music therapy, aroma therapy, therapy in whirl pools, and massage were used to help reduce pain. Also, treasured items like teddy bears or other personal items were also used. According to David Gifford, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer for Quality Partners of Rhode Island, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) for Rhode Island, ”This project brings home the importance of assessing every nursing home resident closely, and responding with a creative, personal approach that meets the residents’ unique needs and experience.”
