February is Therapeutic Recreation Month

Did you know that February is Therapeutic Recreation Month?

You might be wondering what Therapeutic Recreation is; it’s a health care profession that uses forms of recreation, leisure, and play to help individuals achieve their highest level of independence and quality of life. These health care professionals utilize the APIED (Assess, Plan, Implement, Evaluate, and Document) process to support meaningful interventions based on individual strengths and values. Therapeutic recreation is not just fun and games; it’s a person-centred approach which promotes a healthy and independent life by supporting individual physical, mental, social, spiritual, and emotional wellbeing.

Therapeutic Recreation professionals work in many industries, such as schools, child services, addiction services, correctional facilities, and a host of health care settings, including Long-Term Care or Assisted Living. ELIM employs several Therapeutic Recreation professionals, and the principles and practices of this profession inform our broader Wellness programming present in every area of Elim Village.

“Keeping residents active and engaged and happy for as long as possible, and keeping up that quality of life—that’s so important,” says Sonya Hooft, Wellness Supervisor at Elim Village Fleetwood. “We don’t want residents to be spectators of life; we want them to be engaged and LIVING life—to the fullest.”

It’s so important to us at Elim that residents who live with us have the proper supports in place and are connected appropriately so they can thrive. Our wellness staff are a significant part of facilitating this reality. By knowing residents individually and understanding likes, dislikes, interests, and personal goals, they can help to develop an intentional plan that supports their quality of life as best as possible.

For more information on Therapeutic Recreation, visit the Canadian Therapeutic Recreation Association website.