Statement: A study to assess the effectiveness of Guided Imagery on level of Stress among the Elderly in Selected Old Age homes of Aurangabad city, Maharashtra. Objectives:1 To assesses the level of stress among the elderly.2 To determine the effectiveness of Guided Imagery on level of stress among elderly.3 To associate the level of stress among the elderly with their selected demographic variables.

Hypothesis: H0 : There is no significant reduction in the level of stress among the elderly after administering guided imagery. H1 : There is significant reduction in the level of stress among the elderly after administering guided imagery. Research methodology: Approach and Design: Evaluative approach. A quasi experimental nonequivalent control group design was used for study. Sampling technique: Non probable convenient sampling technique was used for selection of sample. Sampling Size: 60 (Experimental-30, Control-30). Setting: Old age homes. Reliability: Reliability of tool was done with the help of split half method (r = 0.87). Pilot Study: After reliability pilot study was conducted on 10 samples. Tool: Pre test done (Both experimental & control group) with the help of modified stress assessment scale through structural interview schedule. After assessment of stress level prior to intervention than 20 minute guided imagery given to experimental group with the help of audio tape of guided imagery CD for 14 days. On 15th day onward post test was done in experimental and control group.

Results: Study finding of level of stress among the Elderly: In Experimental group 16.7% of the elderly had mild stress, more than half (56.7%) of them had moderate stress and 26.7% of them had severe stress. In control group, 40% of them had mild stress, 56.7% of them had moderate stress and 3.3% of them had severe stress.Study findings of effect of guided imagery: In pre test, in Experimental group, 16.7% of the elderly had mild stress, more than half (56.7%) of them had moderate stress and 26.7% of them had severe stress. In post test, 80% of them had mild stress and 20% of them had moderate stress. This indicates that the stress level significantly reduced after guided imagery.The ‘t’value was found to be 12.9 at 29 degrees of freedom. P-value at 29 degrees of freedom was 0.000. Since the p-value is small (less than 0.05), the null hypothesis is rejected. Stress score in pretest was 97.2 which reduces to 66.6 in posttest. This indicates that the level of stress of elderly improves significantly after guided imagery.The ‘t’ value was found to be 6.3 at 58 degrees of freedom. P-value at 58 degrees of freedom was 0.000. Since the p-value is small (less than 0.05), the null hypothesis is rejected. The mean difference in stress score is 30.6 for experimental group which was 5.1 for control group.For experimental gorup the average change in stress score is significantly higher tham that in control group.

Conclusion:The study revealed that guided imagery is very effective and safe method to reduce the level of stress among the elderly.

Keywords: Assess; Guided Imaginary; Stress; Elderly; Old age homes.