<![CDATA[Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by joint inflammation that causes pain, stiffness, and decreased functional ability, especially in the elderly. Pain management can be carried out through pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches. One of the non-pharmacological therapies that can be used is warm ginger compresses and warm water compresses. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of warm ginger compresses compared to warm water compresses in reducing rheumatoid arthritis pain among the elderly in Sampali Village.This study used a quantitative design with a quasi-experimental method through a two-group pretest-posttest approach. The sample consisted of 47 elderly respondents selected using total sampling technique. The respondents were divided into two groups: the warm ginger compress group and the warm water compress group. Pain intensity was measured before and after the intervention using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Data analysis was performed using appropriate statistical tests based on data distribution to examine differences before and after the intervention. The results showed that both interventions were effective in reducing rheumatoid arthritis pain in the elderly. However, warm ginger compresses were found to be more effective than warm water compresses. This is influenced by the active compounds in ginger, such as gingerol, which have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, as well as providing relaxation through improved blood circulation. In conclusion, warm ginger compresses are more effective in reducing pain compared to warm water compresses. This therapy can be recommended as a simple, safe, and cost-effective non-pharmacological alternative for the elderly.]]>
