Philosophy of Therapeutic Recreation

When we observe the demographics of today¡¦s society, we notice that there is quite a change in the average age, as well as life expectancy. In 1993, the average life expectancy rose to an amazing 75.5 years, with women living an average of 79 years and men living an average of 72 years (Hawkins, 1996, p. 4). With this gradual rise in age, the idea of therapeutic recreation for the aging population has taken on a significant role. Therapeutic recreation uses recreation and leisure activities to meet the needs of people in order to improve their quality of life. These needs include social, physical, cognitive, emotional, and spiritual. The experience of engaging in recreation is perceived to have therapeutic benefits. Engaging in recreation can be characterized by feelings of mastery, achievement, exhilaration, acceptance, success, personal worth and pleasure. When one goes through a positive recreation experience there is an achievement of a goal or receiving positive feedback from others. All this contributes to a positive psychological state by increasing one¡¦s confidence and self-esteem and allows for personal growth and development, which are benefits to individuals. Aristotle agrees in the importance of achieving happiness through accomplishments by stating, ¡§Happiness is not something that can be achieved at a given point in time, after which nothing else remains but to bask in the state of psychological euphoria resulting from the accomplishment. Happiness, rather, involves a continuing activity¡¨ (Petraroja, p. 130). In recent years, there has been a greater focus on recreation therapy towards those with different dementias such as Alzheimer¡¦s, because the chance of developing this disease increases drastically with age. ¡§Alzheimer¡¦s has been diagnosed in 5% to 7% of older persons over the age of 65 and in 20% of those over the age of 80¡¨ (Hawkins, 1996, p.105). The symptoms of Alzheimer¡¦s includes gradual memory loss, decline in

References: Alzheimer¡¦s Disease and Related Disorder Society. (1999). Activities. Alzheimer¡¦s Society NZ Inc. Aristotle. (1973). Aristotle¡¦s Ethics. Faber & Faber 3 Queen Square, London. Aristotle. (1941). The Basic Works of Aristotle. Random House Inc., New York. Apostle, H. G. (1975). Aristotle: The Nicomachean Ethics. D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht, Holland. Bell, Virginia, and David Troxel. (May, 1998). Activity Director¡¦s Guide: Key Points for Planning Activities for Dementia Residents. Volume 25, No. 5. Bowlby, Carol. (1993). Therapeutic Activities With Persons Disabled By Alzheimer¡¦s Disease and Related Disorders. Aspen Publishers Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland. Hawkins, Barbara A., Marti E. May, and Nancy Brattain Rogers. (1996). Therapeutic Activity Intervention With The Elderly: Chapter 1 ¡V The Population: Demographic Characteristics and Diversity Considerations. Venture Publishing Inc., State College, Pennsylvania, pp. 3 ¡V 16. Hawkins, Barbara A., Marti E. May, and Nancy Brattain Rogers. (1996). Theraeutic Activity Intervention With The Elderly: Chapter 6 ¡V Psychological Illnesses and Psychiatric Disorders. Venture Publishing Inc., State College, Pennsylvania, pp. 103 ¡V 123. Hawkins, Barbara A., Marti E. May, and Nancy Brattain Rogers. (1996). Therapeutic Activity Intervention With The Elderly: Chapter 10 ¡V Environmental Considerations. Venture Publishing Inc., State College, Pennsylvania, pp. 187 ¡V 198. Petraroja, Sergio D., Ph.D. Persons, Minds and Bodies ¡V Physical Education as an Eminently Moral Enterprise: An Aristotelian Perspective. University Press of Canada, (Date Unknown).