The Importance of Recreational Therapy for Seniors

When you think of recreational therapy, the first thing you think of probably isn’t the elderly or aging population. Most people think of adapted sports, or possibly rehabilitation facilities, but the senior population often is overlooked. In nursing homes or long term care facilities, of course the patients may not be participating in the strenuous sport-like activities that you may see in other recreational therapy settings- but that doesn’t make their needs any less important!

Remember, recreational therapy does much more for an individual than improve their physical health. It also can strengthen a person’s mental and emotional health, social abilities, cognitive skills, and overall happiness in general. Oftentimes, older people who may be in a long term care

facility or receiving end of life care need all of these parts of their life to be improved. And believe it or not, a recreational therapist can run programs suited for the elderly population that accomplishes all of these things, physical health included!

When working with the elderly population, remembering that it’s the little victories that matter is key. Sure, you may not be able to get your patient up and throwing a baseball back and forth-- but you CAN get them playing cards or bingo with each other! Take bingo for example, and let's go through the list. Keeping

their arms, hands, and fingers active placing chips on their bingo card is helping their muscles stay mobile, strong, and controlled. Listening to the caller of the game, comprehending what number they’ve called, and absorbing that information to then check their own card and place a chip if they have the number keeps their cognitive function sharp, and combat the cognitive decline that tends to affect people with age. Getting out of their rooms or housing to a group activity with their friends, or new individuals they could connect with, allows them to keep their social lives active and secure. And finally, being able to go out to an activity they enjoy, like bingo, keeps them happy and will improve their mental health. It’s a home run!

Not only does it keep them happy and overall more healthy- it also combats more serious possible health issues. According to one blog from a senior living facility called American Orchards in Arizona, a lack of activity from elderly people can contribute to things like cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, depression, dementia, hypertension, obesity, cardiovascular issues, injury, and even premature death. So, it’s clear- recreational therapy programming is not only important for the elderly population, it’s NEEDED!

Now that you know the facts- here are some program activities I suggest running for elderly populations! Remember, always put the PATIENT’S interests first!

• Bingo

• Card Games

• Trivia

• Puzzles

• Board Games

• Social “Parties”- ice cream socials, coffee socials, birthday celebrations, etc.

• Current Events (newspaper reading, etc)

• Story Times (you OR them telling/reading stories)

• Musical Events

• Sensory Stimulation Programs

• Pet Therapies

• Arts and Crafts Activities

• Sewing

• Knitting

References:

Roper, Kelly. “20 Great Ideas for Nursing Home Activities.” LoveToKnow, LoveToKnow Corp, seniors.lovetoknow.com/Nursing_Home_Activities_Ideas.

Orchards, American. “Elderly Enrichment: The Importance of Activities for Seniors.” American Orchards :: Senior Community, 30 Aug. 2019, www.americanorchardsaz.com/blog/elderly-enrichment-importance-activities-seniors/.