Therapeutic Recreation: Preserving Quality of Life

1. Therapeutic Recreation: Preserving Quality of Life Kristin M. Gillette, CTRS July 8, 2003 University of Phoenix, On-Line William Lee, Instructor

2. Introduction to Therapeutic Recreation • Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (TRS) are in the business of providing certain services to people for the purpose of improving their health, functional abilities, and quality of life.

3. Tutorial Objectives • By the end of this tutorial you should: • Be able to define the term, “Recreation.” • Understand the History of Therapeutic Recreation. • Understand the Leisure Ability and Service Delivery Models. • Know where to find more information about Therapeutic Recreation.

4. What is Recreation? • According to David Gray and Seymour Greben (1974): “Recreation is an emotional condition within an individual human being that flows from a feeling of well-being and self satisfaction. It is characterized by feelings of mastery, achievement, exhilaration, acceptance, success, personal worth, and pleasure. It reinforces a positive self-image. Recreation is a response to aesthetic experience, achievement of personal goals, or positive feedback from others. It is independent of activity, leisure, or social acceptance.”

5. History of Therapeutic Recreation • Greeks and Romans viewed health, recreation and leisure as vital components of their society. • Benjamin Rush, the father of American psychiatry recognized the therapeutic value of recreation activities for psychiatric clients in the 1700’s.

6. History of TR Cont. • “In one of the earliest TR studies reported, the authors of a project at the Lincoln State School and Colony in Illinois noted that students with developmental disabilities made better emotional and social adjustments to their living situations when allowed to participate in play activities (Frye & Peters, 1972).” • Health care reform emphasized dignity for all patients and allowed practitioners freedom to experiment with new treatments. • The playground movement in the early 1900’s reemphasized the need for play. • Recreation came to be viewed as a basic institutional service that improved morale and enhanced the treatment of persons with disabilities, any disabilities from substance abuse to dementia, to heart attack victims.

7. Where Can I find Therapeutic Recreation? • Therapeutic Recreation Specialists work in a variety of settings including: • Nursing Homes • Substance Abuse Clinics • Hospitals • Rehabilitation Centers • Psychiatric Centers • Child Care Centers/Pediatrics • Private Practice

8. Therapeutic Recreation Service Delivery Model

9. Therapeutic Recreation Service Delivery Model Explained • Provides the actual components of a TR program-how it is organized to accomplish its goals: • Diagnosis or assessment of need. • Treatment or rehabilitation of a problem or need. • Educational Services. • Prevention and Health Promotion Activities.

10. Leisure Ability Model

11. Leisure Ability Model Explained • The Model is a graphic representation of the various components of TR services. Service purposes, roles of TRS, and the concept of autonomy or choice for clients are portrayed. The Model also attempts to illustrate the concept of a continuum, at times implying movement through the various service components. The ultimate goal of independent leisure involvement and lifestyle is beyond the parameters of the Model. The Model itself only represents those services that would be designed and implemented under the auspices of various agencies involved in the delivery of TR services. (Peterson and Stumbo, 2000, pp.25).

12. Reaching for the Goal • The emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation is to help all patients reach for their goal of leisure and recreational independence by providing them with the tools for success.

13. Individual Programs • Each person is unique, so are their specific therapeutic programs. • Each program starts with an assessment. • From the assessment, goals and interventions are created by the CTRS. • The program begins after review with the patient. • After a specified period of time, the program is evaluated for effectiveness.

14. Client-Centered Programming A Case Study • Each TR program is as unique as the individual who is participating in it. • Programs are planned with the person’s interests in mind. • For example, and individual comes to a rehabilitation center with a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Before the accident they were avid golfers. • Now, they have to learn to walk all over again.

15. Client-Centered Programming Cont…. • Our TBI patient is having a hard time with their standing balance. A CTRS is called in to help. Since the CTRS knows that our patient loved to play golf, they would bring in a golf club and make the patient work with the club to increase standing balance, and improve gross and fine motor coordination skills by picking up, grasping, and swinging the club. In no time at all, our patient will be back on the golf course enjoying their favorite sport.

16. Images Everyone benefits from therapeutic recreation. TRS/CTRS work in all fields with a variety of populations. We all need positive, healthy recreation and leisure participation.

17. Final Thoughts • Therapeutic Recreation has been a recognized profession since WWII when war veterans were recouping in hospitals for long periods of time. • This is a profession that is widely accepted and is still trying to be understood. • Maintaining professional certification ensures that this procession will continue to be recognized. • Advocate for your clients. • Advocate for yourself. • Advocate for your profession.

18. Contact Information • For more information about Therapeutic Recreation visit the following websites: • The American Therapeutic Recreation Association : www.atra-tr.org • The National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification : www.nctrc.org • Therapeutic Recreation Directory and Resources : www.recreationtherapy.com

19. References • Carter, MJ., Van Andel, G.E., Robb, G.M. (1995). Therapeutic Recreation: A Practical Approach. Waveland. Prospect Heights: Illinois. • Kraus, R. (1998). Recreation and Leisure in Modern Society. Jones and Bartlett. Sudbury: Massachusetts. • Peterson, C., Stumbo, N.J. (2000). Therapeutic Recreation Program Design: Principles and Procedures. Allyn & Bacon. Needham Heights : MA.