Course Description
The purpose of this course is to give the student an appreciation of the diversity, attitudes and needs encountered by the older adult and the Therapeutic Recreation implementation strategies and techniques that meet their needs. Using the techniques of exploration, examination and analytical approach, students will study social structures, diversities and personal and social attitudes to design and develop leisure activities and programs appropriate to older adult clients.
Course Content
The following global ideas guide the design and delivery of this course:
Attitudes:
- societal myths and realities of aging
- self awareness of personal beliefs and values
- self determination
Change Process
- change and its impact on the older adult
- understanding losses in the older adult’s life
- stress and stress management
- cognitive and psycho social changes
Social Structures
- social Systems theory
- levels of health care
- family issues
- community recreation
- community services
- hospice care
Diversity
- cultural diversity and ethnicity
- understanding dementia: causes, progression, behaviours, strategies for helping
- individual identity descriptors
Leisure
- the health benefits and value of leisure
- the role of leisure in the health of the older person
- how leisure choices are impacted by transition to institutional care
Therapeutic Recreation Interventions
- motivation
- recreation participation
- interpersonal communication skills
- non-verbal communication
- recreation and leisure activities and experiences
- special care programming and strategies
- life review and reminiscing
- death and dying
Leadership
- contexts
- one on one
- small group
- large group
- home
- institution
Leadership Experiences
- creative/expressive activities
- physical, social, cognitive, emotional and spiritual goals
- reminiscing
- sensory stimulation
- assessment, planning, delivery and evaluation stages
Learning Activities
- lecture
- group work
- recreation participation
- video tapes
- demonstrations
- student instruction
- guest speakers
Means of Assessment
This course will conform to Douglas College policy regarding the number and weighting of evaluations
An evaluation schedule is presented at the beginning of the course
This is a graded course.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Examine societal and personal attitudes about aging
- Examine the challenges and growth in the typical life changes experienced by an older adult
- Examine the impact of dementia on an older adult and their family
- Explore the end of life issues experienced by an older adult
Textbook Materials
A list of recommended textbooks and materials is provided for students at the beginning of each semester.
Resources include:
- Selected readings from a variety of therapeutic recreation practice textbooks
- Selected audio-visual and computer resources
- Selected readings from books and journals
- Therapeutic Recreation fine arts and adaptive equipment and supplies