Humans by nature are social beings, and without daily interaction in some form, depression and loneliness can set in. This is especially true when it comes to the elderly. As people age, they become more dependent on others, not only for physical care but also to provide them with social interaction and companionship. The importance of recreational therapy in a nursing home should not be played down, as it increases the quality of life for many seniors.
Recreational therapy consists of activities that provide seniors with a source of social interaction. Family visits are far and few between, some once or twice a month; attending social events gives them a place to socialize, make friends, and catch up on the latest gossip. Being social helps provide the basic human need to belong, and helps to promote self-esteem (Crockett 23-24). We have activities that specifically target social interaction 2-3 times a week. When Mrs. Smith began attending activities she started to make friends and continued spending time with them on her own time; which keeps them feeling lonely and without purpose in between visits.
An important aspect of recreational therapy is the activities schedule. Done on a monthly and daily level the activity calendar gives the residents a sense of routine and something to look forward to
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One of the most important types of recreational therapy is the hands-on projects. By facilitating projects for residents to figure out, we are helping them to retain mental sharpness, fine motor skills, and independence (Skalko 246). The crafts that residents take out of the activities provide them with pride. Often a resident will stop everyone who passes to show off a new creation. Mrs. Smith hangs all of her paintings around her room, and will even paint pictures for her friends to hang up. As Mrs. Smith continues to paint she is retaining fine motor skills in a way that she