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Therapeutic Recreation Week highlights care for seniors |
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Wednesday, 13 February 2008 |
Rhonda Wagner, a therapeutic recreation assistant, sits around the table with residents in continuing care as they share memories they have of growing up on farms and talk about their favourite animals.
By Jennifer Elves
Taber Times
For residents in continuing care at the Taber Health Centre, reminiscing about the past, with other residents and staff members on a regular basis, is part of life.
Referring to old times is way residents benefit on a recreational level.
In continuing care, residents have the opportunity take part in the recreation-participation program, which includes indoor activities as well as weekly outings, when weather permits.
A therapeutic treatment program, which involves residents discussing, and sometimes reminiscing, on a certain theme, is also offered.
Last week was Therapeutic Recreation Week, and to celebrate, residents had a party with entertainment by the band, The Oilers, on Feb. 4, and had lunch with residents at Coaldale's continuing care on Tuesday.
"It (the programs) are really good. It gets you out. It gets you contact with other people," says resident Doris Neuman. "You see places that maybe you haven't seen in a while."
She added it is nice to be able to enjoy Mother Nature and get some fresh air on the weekly outings.
"I was born and raised on a farm, so you kind of get used to being outside," says Neuman. "I'm an outside girl myself."
Some outdoor trips residents have enjoyed include coffee visits and lunches downtown, picnics at the M.D. of Taber Park and places in Lethbridge such as Japanese Gardens, shopping trips and a carnival, as well as entertainment at Lethbridge's Pavan Park. Sometimes at the outings, the group meets up with residents from other continuing-care departments in Chinook Health, which Wagner says enables them to sometimes see old friends who used to reside in Taber's continuing care.
Indoor activities include things like painting and making collages.
Vivian Rombough, a resident in continuing care who can not do some of the activities due to difficulties with her hands, paints with assistance from a volunteer.
Despite not being able to do all activities, Rombough says the activities are interesting to watch.
She enjoys the company of the therapeutic recreation assistants and recreation therapists and finds socializing with other residents enjoyable.
"It is great, especially in the winter time. You've got to have some activities to keep your mind going, especially with myself because I can't read, knit or anything (anymore), so this is great," says Neuman.
Therapeutic recreation involves functional intervention, leisure education and recreation participation, which support goals of assisting individuals to maximize independence in leisure, optimal health and the best possible quality of life.
Benefits from recreational therapy can include improved memory and cognitive functioning, enhanced learning, improved coping and reasoning skills, greater independence and quality of life, increased self-esteem, self concept and adjustment to disability. Other benefits include a reduction of stress, depression and anxiety, promotion of a positive attitude, improved basic motor functioning and reduced risk of falls. Increased positive attitudes and skills acquisition, increased self confidence, community integration and knowledge to choose healthy leisure activities are other positives. |
