Making Adjustments – Merging the Best – Proving Your Worth
A One-Day Program for Recreation/Activation Leaders
More complex care needs, new innovations in recreation programming, escalating demands from all fronts, and no extra funds for staff or training – sound familiar? Yes, this is the reality of recreation in long term care today.
The needs of residents entering long term care have increased dramatically over the past 10 years. Expanded community-based services means delayed entry into LTC, which results in elevated care needs, and more of an end-of-life experience for incoming residents. Residents living with some form and level of dementia is the new normal.
At the same time, new recreation programming strategies are being purported on one hand, while others are advocating for the dismantling of recreation in favour of a “universal worker” role, with direct care staff providing recreational opportunities and interventions.
The recreationist’s primary consumer focus today must be “well-informed” family members, who are armed with suspect facts about what it means to live in long term care. The impact of media exposés, postings on social media platforms, the ensuing public outcry and follow-up government inspections, paints every home with the negative brush.
This session focuses on three key elements to ensuring the ongoing growth and success of recreation programs and departments in long term care:
Mending: Making critical adjustments to existing programs for maximum and responsive impact.
Blending: Utilizing new programming approaches and strategies to formulate programs and programming that works within your specific environment.
Ascending: Accelerating positive recognition of the significance and importance of what you do within your home, the community and to outside scrutiny.
Participants will be provided with examples and strategies at each step, along with the opportunity to share and collaborate with peers. The expectation is that each participant will leave with concrete examples of what they can do to more effectively manage and support their recreation programs and departments, and in so doing, provide more person-centred care.
Key Learning Outcomes:
Recognize and identify current key challenges facing recreation/activation in care settings
2. Discuss and evaluate new programming approaches and strategies
3. Develop a customized plan of action for the recreation/activation department