Empathetic Algorithms: Integrating Emotional Intelligence and AI in Chronic Pain Management for Older Adults

Abstract

This chapter explores how the fusion of Emotional Intelligence (EI), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Integrative Medicine can redefine chronic pain care in older adults. Grounded in research, it addresses the biopsychosocial complexities of pain through a multidimensional lens of gerontological nursing. It examines how emotionally intelligent communication enhances AI-driven tools and supports integrative therapeutic models to improve outcomes, empathy, and dignity in older patients. The chapter presents person-centered interventions, such as AI-assisted pain assessment with emotional profiling, integrative therapies like mindfulness and acupuncture, and emotionally intelligent nursing training. It aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being, SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, and SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities), offering scalable, ethical, and interdisciplinary strategies to transform pain care for ageing populations.