Aim The aim of this study was to identify barriers to optimal pain management in long-term care (LTC) from a nursing perspective.

Method A quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive design was used.

Results Patient-related barriers were seen as interfering more often with optimal pain management than organisational-related or caregiver-related barriers. Difficulty assessing pain due to problems with cognition, older patients’ inability to complete pain scales and communication difficulties as a result of sensory impairment were common barriers.

Conclusion A targeted approach to address the identified barriers would help improve pain management practices in LTC.