A Holistic Approach To Pain Control With Geriatric Clients

Abstract

In this experimental design, fifteen persons over 65 years of age who were experiencing lingering pain were taught to use guided imagery as a method of pain control. The control group (N-15) was not introduced to the technique of guided imagery in an effort to control their pain, but instead spent the same length of time with the group leader in irrelevant activities. All subjects reported a decrease in perceived pain, but the experimental group over a thirteen week period showed an 87 percent decrease in pain perception.