The Whys and Hows of Outsourcing Recreation Therapy in Senior Living Communities

Senior Living communities are flourishing hubs for our aging population, filled with professionals that aim to ensure the daily lives of those within the communities are thriving and obtaining the best services possible.

In senior living, there are domains of wellness that are always being addressed within the care team from nursing to recreation. Within senior care communities, there is always recreation staff on hand to provide large and small group activity programs. Recreation Directors are dealt the hand of creating meaningful programming for all residents, in all stages of life. And sometimes, they might need a little help! We cannot expect a single person to do it all, and outside services can aid in closing the gaps of service within the domain of leisure services in senior living spaces.

An organization can decide to outsource recreation therapy (RT) services for a variety of reasons. But they might think it’s only appropriate for large group programming. That is not true! A professional within a senior living community, most likely the recreation director or wellness/nursing director, can refer to Empower Recreational Therapy to provide individual RT sessions for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to:

· Those residents not attending and/or engaging in community activities

· Socially isolated residents

· Aid in overcoming barriers to leisure (i.e., depression, motivation, acclimation)

· Assist in developing independent leisure skills

· Dementia-related behaviors that restrict leisure participation

. Residents who refuse conventional therapy services (i.e., PT, OT, ST)

Empower RT can also offer specifically tailored group programming based on community needs and interests. These programs are not diversional activities meant as a one-size-fits-all but are developed based on the assessed needs of your residents. Programs are evidence-based and aim to address specific goals for all within the group.

· Delay The Disease: Weekly classes that empower people with Parkinson’s with symptom-specific exercises that promote physical, cognitive, and emotional outcomes.

· Brain Fitness: Classes that focus on cognitive abilities through scientifically proven novel-enriched activities to promote cognitive stimulation and growth.

· Expressive Therapy Services: Classes that focus on art, music, and dance to stimulate the creative side in your residents and improve leisure participation and behavior management. Goals in the program will be tailored to specific resident needs.

. Adaptive Outdoor Recreation: Classes that facilitate meaningful active, outdoor recreation activity, such as outdoor handcycling, for ALL ability levels.

When an organization decides to outsource recreation therapy services, they not only get comprehensive assessments on their residents, individual RT sessions, and group programming; Empower RT also offers staff training and educational in-services. Empower RT can aid facility staff in dementia communication training, symptom and behavioral management, and provide resources for adapting activities for all residents in an array of life stages.

Empower RT is here to assist senior living communities and their residents thrive in their environments and engaging in leisure regardless of abilities, disease progression, or skill. Every resident needs a purpose. By outsourcing recreation therapy services, an organization can showcase its belief in providing the best care and services possible for all residents in their care. Together, we can empower seniors in their leisure lives.

To learn more about what Empower RT can provide to your organization visit us here:

https://www.empowerrectherapy.com/services

3 Recreational Therapy Interventions To Improve The Lives Of Those Living With Alzheimer's Disease

September is World Alzheimer's Month, which is dedicated to spreading awareness, information, and challenging the stigma around dementia on a global scale. Approximately 5.7 million people in the U.S. currently have Alzheimer’s disease and the number of Americans with Alzheimer’s is projected to triple to 16 million by 2050. Worldwide about 50 million people have some form of dementia, and someone in the world develops dementia every three seconds.

With these statistics, it is glaringly apparent the need for education, and de-stigmatization around dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Those living with these brain changes deserve to live fulfilling lives, filled with compassion, leisure, and love -- meeting them where they are and creating programming that focuses on their abilities, not their deficits. Below are three interventions that EmpoweRT implements with clients living with Alzheimer's to improve physical, cognitive, social, and emotional well-being and quality of life. Though there are no "catch all" programs that assist those living with brain change, there are certain programs that can help minimize the secondary components of these diseases such as isolation, depression, and anxiety. All leisure programming is person-centered and tailored to each individuals needs, and interests, not strictly their medical diagnosis.

1. Therapeutic Gardening

Planting is a good way to relieve stress. It can also create a sense of accomplishment and purpose for the patients. If done with other people, gardening can foster belongingness and a sense of community. It’s a good way to help maintain skills while exercising the mind and body. Gardening has an array of benefits such as increasing time outside which lends to happier attitudes and life outcomes, along with being able to focus on specific motor skills by watering plants, planting flowers, and enabling choice of tasks. According to The Alzheimer’s Society, “exercising in the garden helps develop an appetite, boosts energy levels and promotes a better night’s sleep. Maintaining, as far as possible, existing skills that give pleasure and confidence.”

2. Household Task Skill Building

It has been studied that many of those living with Alzheimer's and other dementia's also struggle with low self-esteem, having them participate in daily household tasks can make them feel empowered and independent. Folding clothes, linens and towels, for example, is a good ways to assist in cognitive skills like organization, step by step instructions, and allowing clients to feel a sense of accomplishment and independence that is many times taken away or done by someone else. Having recreation therapy programming surrounding household chores allows for families of clients, and clients themselves to feel more at-home, more in control, and touches on an array of developmental skills while improving those self-esteem components. Working on household tasks, is a great way for families and caregivers to get involved in meeting their loved one with brain change where they are and not doing everything for them. Doing tasks together leads to higher socialization, empowerment, and cognitive retention.

3. Therapeutic Yoga

It has been stated by the Alzheimer's Association that individual's should participate in both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities to assist in decreasing falls, maintaining balance, and the correlation between heart health and brain health. Studies have generally shown that individuals with Alzheimer’s disease experience positive effects of regular exercise. A study showed that a home-based multicomponent exercise program with a caregiver that combined aerobic, strength, and balance training resulted in improvements in executive function compared to a control group. Though cognition cannot improve with physical fitness, it can delay or slow increased cognitive decline. Yoga is a strengths based exercise that utilizes all of these approaches (aerobics, strength training and balance training) and can be tailored to fit any individuals needs or abilities. Yoga has been shown to decrease stress levels, increase motor skills, and improve overall health and bodily functioning, which in turn can lend to positive life outcomes, and may delay more severe cognitive decline.

Alzheimer's and other dementia's have been steadily increasing in older adults across the United States and the world for many years and it is impertinent that healthcare professionals and caregivers understand ways to improve the lives of those living with these brain changes. By hiring a recreation therapist to work with your family member, it allows for creativity, leisure in their daily lives, decreased isolation, and improvements in an array of wellness domains. Let's work together to improve the lives of those living with brain change by booking a consultation with us today.

For a free consultation visit us here: https://www.empowerrectherapy.com/contact

Five Recreational Therapy Interventions With Older Adults In Mind

As we age, our needs change. What we once might have done daily for leisure might be seen as too dangerous, too out of reach, too time-consuming; for fear of falling, hospitalization, or anything in between. Recreational therapy, designed and implemented by a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist can aid older adults in getting back to what they used to enjoy, find new hobbies, and create a sense of community that many times is lacking as we age. Below are 5 recreational therapy interventions that have older adults in mind:

1. Animal Assisted Therapy

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) includes a set of non-pharmacological interventions aimed at improving human health through the use of trained animals. Research has shown that pet owners are generally less likely to feel lonely, visit the doctor less often, take less medication, recover from illness faster, and cope better with stress. One study even found that spending just 15 minutes with an animal initiates hormonal changes in the brain, dropping stress levels and increasing serotonin (the “feel-good” hormone) levels. There are a plethora of emotional, physical, and mental benefits of animal-assisted therapy; including but not limited to increased mobility, lower blood pressure, improved mental stimulation, and increased self-esteem.

2. Leisure Education & Skill Building

Older adults may have an overall lack of leisure in their daily lives, and EmpoweRT aims to mitigate that. Recreation Therapists work to adapt and teach new skills, as well as minimize barriers to leisure so older adults can participate in recreational pursuits during therapy sessions, and on their own. A great example of skill-building leisure could be the recreational pursuit of creating art. Creating art has long been considered an incredibly therapeutic experience. Because creating something from nothing, using pencils, paint, clay, or other materials can be a satisfying experience. The therapeutic use of art encompasses the fun of art, with the purpose of therapy, with goals tailored to specific needs. For older adults, therapeutic art programming can also help restore functioning and a general sense of well-being. Therapeutic art programs also have been proven to aid in increasing cognitive skills, intellectual stimulation, improve physical/motor skills, promote socialization, and relieve stress.

3. Aquatic Exercise

We know that regular exercise and staying active are key to aging well and staying healthy. Associated with an improved overall wellness, reduced risk of falls, dementia prevention, and even a lower risk of death, regular exercise is non-negotiable for older adults seeking to stay healthy as they age. But sometimes health conditions can make traditional exercise challenging. Aquatic exercise is a great solution for seniors to exercise regularly while reducing the impact on joints. Aquatic exercise has been shown to enhance mood and reduce anxiety, improve cardiovascular health, increase strength and balance and reduce the impact on joints during exercise. Aquatic exercise is a wonderful way to get back into a pool, with the safety of a therapeutic specialist, and get your body moving without the joint pain. EmpoweRT works with clients who have pools and partners with community aquatic spaces to provide these services.

4. Adaptive Yoga

Yoga has been called one of the best forms of exercise for older adults. Recreational therapy adapts yoga poses and routines for optimal challenge promoting seated and standing participation. Over time, yoga can help seniors improve their flexibility and balance, enhance their strength and boost their mood. More specifically, yoga for older adults can help prevent the onset of osteoporosis, which causes bones to become brittle or weak. Osteoporosis occurs when the creation of new bone can’t keep up with the decrease of bone mass and density that occurs with aging. Even if you have some physical limitations, yoga can help ease the aches and pains associated with aging. With slow, deliberate movements, and body/mind connection yoga can help in your overall health and well-being.

5. Nature Therapy & Outdoor Recreation

A research study, The Benefits of Nearby Nature in Cities for Older Adult, reported that older individuals with access to nearby nature showed increased participation in outdoor physical activities, improved mental health and cognitive function, and an increase in social interaction with those around them and their community. These benefits found through access to nature are key ingredients to our well-being as we age. Along with the physical benefits of time spent in nature, the restorative effects of nature support mental health and well-being. In older adults, studies show that physical activity in green spaces can be linked to better moods, decreased chance of depression, reduced stress levels, and improved cognitive function. Working with a CTRS in a therapeutic nature setting can aid in increasing mental health, improve physical health, and much more. EmpoweRT is committed to getting our clients of all ability levels outdoors as tolerated for a variety of recreational pursuits which include, but are not limited to, gardening, hand cycling, kayaking, and golf.

EmpoweRT can provide all of these recreational therapy interventions, and many more. Contact us for a free consultation to discuss recreational therapy opportunities for you.

https://www.empowerrectherapy.com/contact