Course Description
The purpose of this course is to give the student an appreciation of the adult and the changes, diversity and needs of adult clients. Therapeutic Recreation implementation strategies and techniques will be used to study age related changes, social structures and diversities to enable the design and development of a variety of leisure experiences for adult clients.
Course Content
Age Related Changes in Adults
- biosocial theories of growth and development
- psychosocial theories of growth and development
- cognitive theories of growth and development
Social Structures
- social systems theory
- family
- community
- community recreation
- community agencies
- work/career
Diversity
- physical disabling conditions
- mental health issues/mental illness
- substance abuse and addiction
- ethnicity, gender, cultural and socioeconomic influences
Change Process
- change and its impact on the adult
- understanding losses in the adult’s life
- understanding the grief process
- stress management
- pain management and pharmacology
Attitudes
- self-awareness of personal beliefs and values about mid-life and aging
Leisure
- the health benefits and the value of leisure
- the role of leisure in the health of the adult
- overcoming losses
- physical, social and emotional health
- social support networks
Therapeutic Recreation Interventions
- interpersonal communication skills
- non verbal (augmentative) communications
- therapeutic touch
- environmental/therapeutic milieu
- special therapies
- recreation and creative arts activities and experiences
Therapeutic Recreation Frameworks and Strategies to Solve Problems
- different contexts: one on one, large group community
- leisure activities and experiences
- physical, social, cognitive, emotional and spiritual activities; creative/expressive activities; oral-discussion, storytelling, newspaper; visual; sensory stimulation
Means of Assessment
Evaluation is consistent with Douglas College Course Evaluation Policy. 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:
- understand age related changes in the adult
- explore the role of social structures within multiple perspective as they relate to the adult
- understand and respect diversity in adults with particular emphasis on understanding common disabilities an adult may experience
- apply the leisure perspective to the health promotion of the adult
- show an analytical approach to selecting effective therapeutic recreation interventions
- select/design appropriate frameworks and strategies to solve problems
- apply effective group process and leadership techniques within a variety of contexts and by using a variety of leisure activities and experiences
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 text books
- selected audio-visual and computer resources
- selected readings from books and journals
- Therapeutic Recreation fine arts, adaptive equipment and supplies