We have had calls to Sunday House Call from listeners who were had chronic pain that was not adequately controlled. Many of the callers were older individuals whose quality of life was suffering. By 2025, almost one quarter of all Canadians will be over 65 years old.

Chronic pain in older people is associated with reduced quality of life, including depression, impaired physical function, and social isolation. The International Association for the Study of Pain has declared Oct 2006 – Nov 2007 the Year Against Pain in Older People in order to raise awareness of these issues.

• Dr. Lucia Gagliese, PhD, CPsych, clinical psychologist and research scientist with expertise in geriatric pain. She is Associate Professor at School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences at York University, Assistant Professor in the Departments of Anaesthesia and Psychiatry, University of Toronto, and staff scientist, Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Management at University Health Network (UHN) and Mount Sinai Hospital. She is also Affiliate Scientist, Division of Behavioural Science and Health, Toronto General Research Institute, UHN and Senior Scientist at the Ontario Cancer Institute.