Component Task: Facilitating Recreational Therapy/Therapeutic Recreation

This is a social therapy that uses leisure activities and other activity based approaches to assess and address the needs of the patient. It is to improve his/her psychological, physical health and wellbeing. This is usually facilitated by the nurse and interventions such as arts and crafts, playing of “ludo”, “oware”, cards, dance, video games, gardening etc. are used to help the patient.

Aims

·         Help patient reduce depression, stress and anxiety

·         Help patient recover basic physical and mental abilities

·         Build confidence, social skills and socialize effectively

·         Promote self esteem

·         Improve circulation and help patient relax

Types

·         Indoor recreational activities

·         Outdoor recreational activities

Requirements

1.        Tables and Chairs (where necessary)

2.      Available recreational items

·         Radio

·         Television

·         Playing cards

·         Ludo

·         Draught

·         Oware

·         Football

3.      Assisting nurse(s)

4.      Serene environment

5.      Patient’s folder (Electronic/Manual)

Steps

1.        Advance Preparation

·         Prepare patient(s)

·         Prepare venue, give time and date

·         Ensure patient(s) has/have taken medication, meals and is/are well groomed

·         Organize recreational items (both indoor/outdoor)  

2.      Welcome and receive patient(s)

3.      Sit patient(s) in a desired pattern

4.      Establish rapport (refer procedure) and explain the procedure to the patient(s)

5.      Identify specific interests and capabilities of the patient(s)

6.      Gather all the necessary recreational items for the therapy

7.       Organize the therapy in the ward/outdoor/in a special department according to patient(s) interest

8.      Modify therapy according to the age and physical strength of the patient

9.      Sit closer/opposite patient(s) or be with patient(s) depending upon the recreational activity of choice

10.    Explain the rules of the game to the patient(s)

11.      Initiate and demonstrate how the recreational activity is performed

12.    Play games/ recreational activity with the patient(s)

13.    Observe patient’s attention span, performance rate and interaction 13. Allow patient(s) to win most of the rounds when you are playing with him/her e.g. ludo

14.    Ask patient(s) opinion about the game and allow them to express their feelings

15.    Encourage patient(s) to ask questions and answer appropriately the activity by indicating to patient the positive aspect of his/her behavoiur during the activity

16.    Express appreciation to patient(s) and direct them to the next activity

17.    Document the procedure and any observation made in nurses’ notes/Patient’s folder