Celebrating Therapeutic Recreation Month
This month, we’re recognizing the amazing work and the positive impact Recreational Therapists have on our hospitalized patients in acute care hospitals.
Therapeutic Recreation in Geriatrics
Stephanie Neville joined our QCH Behaviour Support Clinical Team in the program of Geriatrics at QCH in June 2020 in the middle of the second wave of COVID-19. Stephanie worked on outbreak units helping patients cope while in isolation.
Every day Stephanie becomes an important part of our patient’s stories at QCH. She reminds them of their favorite songs by signing the words to them, she organizes activities to stimulate their cognition and to enhance their physical strength and mobility. Most importantly she makes patients smile and laugh and engage them with meaningful conversations that keep their spirits high. She gives them hope.
Recreational Therapists such as Stephanie are the front-line heroes that bring brightness in the lives of our patients and families at QCH.
“Stephanie brings joy and meaning to the lives of our patients at Park Place through companionship, music, and thoughtfully curated activities. Her role is essential to managing patients with dementia and other behavioral challenges and she is a true champion when it comes to adopting a gentle persuasive approach. We are so fortunate to have Stephanie as part of our team and it always makes my day when I see how patients light up in her presence.”
“I would like to think when we come to the hospital that the way we heal our patients are the way we would see our loved ones. Stephanie gives that joy and comfort to patients that medications cannot. She makes sure patients feel dignified and not part of a system that simply churns them through. I encourage everyone to take the opportunity to witness the work Stephanie does and see the care she gives the vulnerable population she works with.”
Therapeutic Recreation for our Mental Health Patients
Our Mental Health Inpatient unit also has Recreation Therapists, Shannon Young has worked at QCH since 2014 and Pamela Bennett has been with us since May 2021.
A key component of recreation therapy in mental health is to create a therapeutic environment that is both calm and invigorating and conducive to mental health healing and personal recovery. Through recreational activities, Shannon and Pam nurture patient rapport, foster positive experiences, and promote engagement. Pam says “a simple game of bean bag toss can transform the unit's atmosphere with laughter, enjoyment, and improved social cohesion.”
We run several groups throughout the day to meet the variety of patients' needs. Each morning begins with fitness, such as yoga or gentle stretches, to promote behavioural activation, boost mood, increase energy, and reduce tension.
Our art groups encourage patients to use their creativity and self-expression as a coping tool for reducing anxiety and experiencing relaxation, mindfulness and emotional well-being.
Group games like jeopardy are excellent for stimulating cognition, memory, attention and problem solving. They also promote social skills as patients practice collaboration, cooperation and friendly competition.
