Book Description

The purpose of the book, Recreational Therapy for Older Adults is to provide a comprehensive textbook for any college or university teaching an undergraduate or graduate course in recreational therapy or therapeutic recreation for older adults within their curriculum. A textbook that provides information that connects to health and human service competencies in the field of geriatric, gerontology, and interprofessional practice is desperately needed. Therefore, the textbook will provide an overview of gerontology and geriatric topics in addition to best practices in recreational therapy. Currently there are no textbooks in existence for teaching this course. This textbook will be key to providing a workforce that is qualified to provide services to an aging world. In addition, the approximately 30% of the CTRSs who work with older adults will want to purchase this book for their professional libraries. Textbook Organization: Each chapter will include objectives, key words, an introduction, specific content for each chapter, conclusion, reading comprehension questions, suggested classroom activities, test questions, and references. In addition, many chapters will provide case studies and text boxes highlighting best practices. Chapter Highlights: Chapter 1 will provide an overview of recreational therapy services for older adults, federal laws impacting older adult services, and definitions of old, including chronological vs. biological age, frisky, fragile, frail, young-old, old-old, and the oldest of the old. In addition, terminology surrounding the study of older adults such as geriatrics, gerontology, ageism, culture change, National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) data, and global aging will be addressed. Chapter 2 covers demographics, health disparities, social security, Medicaid, Medicare reimbursement, and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Federal tags (CMS F-tags) that effect recreational therapy practice. Furthermore, information on the recreational therapy process, non-drug approaches to care, and care transitions will be discussed. Chapter 3 highlights biological aging and reviews typical processes of aging by the body systems. An overview of chronicity, including the compression of morbidity is discussed. A comprehensive section on healthy aging is provided that includes access to health care and supportive services, age-friendly communities, aging in place, brain health, caregiver quality of life, care coordination and transitions, nutrition, physical activity, obesity, self-management strategies, and social engagement. Chapter 4 discusses the biological factors and theories of aging and longevity. Concepts such as life span, life expectancy, and healthy life expectancy are reviewed. Moreover, a variety of biological and environmental theories of aging are presented. Lastly, the anti-aging medical movement and blue zones are debated and discussed. Chapter 5 focuses on chronic and acute conditions and geriatric syndromes. The top five chronic health conditions (heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease) and common acute illnesses (pneumonia, influenza, common cold, acute bronchitis, urinary tract infections, diarrhea, shingles), along with many geriatric syndromes (dementia, delirium, incontinence, falls, osteoporosis, weight loss) are presented. Chapter 6 helps the recreational therapist understand the psychological perspectives, including mental health and mental disorders experienced by older adults. Creativity, wisdom, intelligence, and memory are presented, and mental disorders such as neurocognitive disorders, delirium, depression and anxiety disorders, major depression, dysthymia, and minor depression are discussed. Rounding out the chapter is an overview of psychoactive medications and the use of non-drug approaches to care are provided. Chapter 7 informs recreational therapy practice by highlighting theoretical concepts. A review of health promotion models such as the health belief model, the transtheoretical model, and the international classification of functioning, disability, and health is provided. Many social and psychological theories are presented that can guide practice. Examples include, but are not limited to role theory, activity theory, successful aging, optimizing health and well-being through therapeutic recreation, positive psychology, person-directed care, and gerotranscendence. Chapter 8 provides the reader with a comprehensive review of assessment in recreational therapy for older adults. A discussion on why practitioners need to conduct assessments, the communication skills required along with useful and practical comprehensive assessment information. You will find assessments on cognition, physical function, screening techniques, mood, anxiety, delirium, pain, qualify of life, federal assessment (MDS 3.0), and the Buettner Assessment of Needs, Diagnoses, and Interested in Recreational Therapy in Long-Term Care (BANDIRT). Chapter 9 offers numerous recreational therapy interventions for older adults. An overview of the Dementia Practice Guidelines is provided along with interventions that support behavior management, cognition, falls, healthy aging, hospice, palliative, and comfort care, depression, pain management, and physical interventions. Chapter 10 encourages the reader to consider the many roles of the recreational therapist. The chapter highlights to role the Ombudsmen Reconciliation Act (OBRA) has played in clinical practice, the differences between recreational therapy and activities professionals, and the many roles of the recreational therapist. For example, how we can affect an older adults quality of life and the role of the recreational therapist in culture change. In addition, a discussion on the recreational therapist many roles such as the expert clinician, trainer and educator, and consumer of evidence. Chapter 11 reviews the many job settings a recreational therapist may work. There are many more job opportunities to work with older adults besides long-term xi care and skilled nursing facilities. Examples include, but are not limited to; home care, PACE programs, Hospital Elder Life Programs (HELP), mental health services, and palliative and hospice services. An appendix is provided to the reader that includes work the authors and their colleagues have done over the many years they have worked in recreational therapy.