Do you know that Qualified Therapeutic Recreation (TR) professionals are playing a very important role in our society and the lives of elders? They are trained to understand the mental, physical, psychological, spiritual, and social domains of residents with diverse and complex needs and abilities.
The job titles are inconsistent, the professionals may be called: Activation Aide, Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, Recreation Therapist, Recreationist, Activation, Life Enrichment Aide, or Recreation Assistant. The term “Therapeutic Recreation professional” is used to unite all the above job titles.
They support quality of life outcomes through therapeutic interventions based on individual assessments and treatments which include developing meaningful programs and providing individualized support such as:
- Baking/Meal Groups
- Community Outings
- Gardening
- Intergenerational Programs
- Adaptive Sports (Golf, Bowling, Curling)
- Laughter Yoga
- Pet Therapy
- Physical Support (Fun & Fitness, Chair Yoga, Tai Chi, Wellness Walks)
- Cognitive Stimulation (Mental Aerobics, Name that Tune, Reminiscing, Armchair Travel, Current Events, etc.)
Elaine is an 85-year-old woman with dementia who had recently moved into a long-term care home. When asked what mattered most to her, she spoke up and said, ‘I just wish someone would dance with me’. She emphasized that people were taking good care of her physical needs – making sure she was dressed and fed and clean and warm – but what she most wanted was for someone to stop and just dance with her.
In Long Term Care Homes, Therapeutic Recreation is about bringing joy and quality of life to LTC home residents. It is about maintaining each resident’s sense of meaning and purpose, and their capacity for happiness, self determination, and autonomy.
Therapeutic Recreation is practiced across a variety of health care settings including long-term care, mental health, rehabilitation, and hospitals as well as in retirement homes, community-based disability services and adult day programs.
To learn more about the opportunities available to CLI College students and to begin your journey toward rewarding career in the field of recreational therapy, contact admissions team at +1 (416)-747-5152
Sources
- Therapeutic Recreation Ontario. Therapeutic Recreation Ontario: A blueprint to combat LTC residents’ helplessness, loneliness and boredom.