The Abbey Pain Scale is a clinical tool specifically designed for assessing pain in patients with dementia. This population often struggles with communication, making traditional pain assessment methods ineffective. The Abbey Pain Scale is a behavioral pain assessment tool that measures observable signs of pain such as vocalizations, facial expressions, and changes in body language. 

The clinical utility of this calculator is to provide healthcare professionals with a systematic way to identify and quantify pain in dementia patients, which can guide appropriate pain management strategies. It is particularly useful in long-term care settings or hospice care where patients may have advanced dementia and significantly impaired communication abilities.

The Abbey Pain Scale may not be suitable for use in patients who do not have dementia or cognitive impairment, as it relies on behavioral observations rather than self-reported pain levels. It may also be less effective in patients with very early-stage dementia who can still communicate their pain effectively through traditional methods.

Abbey pain scale for patients with dementia

# Criteria
 ## Vocalization (whimpering, groaning, crying)
A. Absent (+0)
B. Mild (+1)
C. Moderate (+2)
D. Severe (+3)
## Facial expression (looking tense, frowning, grimacing, looking frightened)
E. Absent (+0)
F. Mild (+1)
G. Moderate (+2)
H. Severe (+3)
## Change in body language (fidgeting, rocking, guarding part of body, withdrawn)
I. Absent (+0)
J. Mild (+1)
K. Moderate (+2)
L. Severe (+3)
## Physiological changes (temperature, pulse or blood pressure outside normal limits, perspiring, flushing or pallor)
M. Absent (+0)
N. Mild (+1)
O. Moderate (+2)
P. Severe (+3)
## Physical changes (skin tears, pressure areas, arthritis, contractures, previous injuries)
Q. Absent (+0)
R. Mild (+1)
S. Moderate (+2)
T. Severe (+3)
## Behavioral changes (increased confusion, refusing to eat, alteration in usual patterns)
U. Absent (+0) 
V. Mild (+1)
W. Moderate (+2)
X. Severe (+3)

# Conditions
- score <= 2
- score <= 7
- score <= 13
- score >= 14
- score == 0