What Do Recreational Therapists Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Recreational Therapists plan, direct, or coordinate medically-approved recreation programs for patients in hospitals, nursing homes, or other institutions. Activities include sports, trips, dramatics, social activities, and arts and crafts. May assess a patient condition and recommend appropriate recreational activity. They also obtain information from medical records, medical staff, family members and the patients themselves to assess patients’ capabilities, needs and interests.

Other tasks include:

• Conduct therapy sessions to improve patients’ mental and physical well-being.
• Plan, organize, direct, and participate in treatment programs and activities to facilitate patients’ rehabilitation, help them integrate into the community, and prevent further medical problems.
• Observe, analyze, and record patients’ participation, reactions, and progress during treatment sessions, modifying treatment programs as needed.
• Confer with members of treatment team to plan and evaluate therapy programs.
• Instruct patient in activities and techniques, such as sports, dance, music, art, or relaxation techniques, designed to meet their specific physical or psychological needs.
• Develop treatment plan to meet needs of patient, based on needs assessment, patient interests, and objectives of therapy.

We asked Recreational Therapists how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

74% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 87% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Recreational Therapists conduct therapy sessions to improve patients’ mental and physical well-being. They instruct patient in activities and techniques, such as sports, dance, music, art, or relaxation techniques, designed to meet their specific physical or psychological needs.

A typical day for a Recreational Therapist will also include:

• Encourage clients with special needs and circumstances to acquire new skills and get involved in health-promoting leisure activities, such as sports, games, arts and crafts, and gardening.
• Observe, analyze, and record patients’ participation, reactions, and progress during treatment sessions, modifying treatment programs as needed.
• Obtain information from medical records, medical staff, family members and the patients themselves to assess patients’ capabilities, needs and interests.
• Plan, organize, direct, and participate in treatment programs and activities to facilitate patients’ rehabilitation, help them integrate into the community, and prevent further medical problems.
• Confer with members of treatment team to plan and evaluate therapy programs.

We asked some Recreational Therapists a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Recreational Therapists also develop discharge plans for patients. They may also confer with members of treatment team to plan and evaluate therapy programs.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Recreational Therapists Prepare and submit reports and charts to treatment team to reflect patients’ reactions and evidence of progress or regression. They might also Develop treatment plan to meet needs of patient, based on needs assessment, patient interests, and objectives of therapy.

In addition, they Counsel and encourage patients to develop leisure activities.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Plan, organize, direct, and participate in treatment programs and activities to facilitate patients’ rehabilitation, help them integrate into the community, and prevent further medical problems.

To some Recreational Therapists, it is also their responsibility to Encourage clients with special needs and circumstances to acquire new skills and get involved in health-promoting leisure activities, such as sports, games, arts and crafts, and gardening.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Recreational Therapist, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others..

They also like working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

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