What is Therapeutic Recreation?

Therapeutic recreation is the use of recreation by qualified professionals (recreation therapists) to promote independent functioning and to enhance the health and well-being of people with illnesses and disabling conditions. Recreation is based on the simple premise that recreation has therapeutic value.

The Goals of Therapeutic Recreation

As recreation therapists, our primary goal is to teach individuals different ways they can enjoy their leisure time and to improve the cognitive, physical, emotional, spiritual and social skills. (Datillo 2000)

Benefits of Therapeutic Recreation

Recreation has been found to have therapeutic benefits in:

1. Physical health and health maintenance
2. Cognitive function
3. Psychosocial health
4. Growth and personal development
5. Personal and life satisfaction
6. Societal and health care systems outcomes

Therapeutic Recreation Assessments

The first step to administer a recreation assessment, which assists the therapist in determining the strengths, needs and interests of an individual. The intervention plan is created with the needs of the resident in mind.

An assessment includes:

• Past recreation history of the residents.
• Current attention span of the resident
• Current social contacts of the resident
• Socialization skills of the resident
• Attitude of the resident toward leisure choices
• The resident's physical and cognitive abilities