Philosophy of Therapeutic Recreation

When we observe the demographics of todayÐ'ÐŽÐ'¦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 oneÐ'ÐŽÐ'¦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, Ð'ÐŽÐ'§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 activityÐ'ÐŽÐ'Ё (Petraroja, p. 130).

In recent years, there has been a greater focus on recreation therapy towards those with different dementias such as AlzheimerÐ'ÐŽÐ'¦s, because the chance of developing this disease increases drastically with age. Ð'ÐŽÐ'§AlzheimerÐ'ÐŽÐ'¦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 80Ð'ÐŽÐ'Ё (Hawkins, 1996, p.105). The symptoms of AlzheimerÐ'ÐŽÐ'¦s includes gradual memory loss, decline in ability to perform tasks, impairment in judgment, disorientation, personality change, difficulty in learning, and loss of language skills. According to Aristotle, in order for one to live a happy and better quality of life, the mind and the body must remain healthy, as one relies on the other. In explaining the mindÐ'ÐŽÐ'¦s dependence on the body, Aristotle observes:

The incapacity of old age is due to an affection not of the soul but of its

vehicle, as occurs in drunkenness or disease. Thus it is that in old age the

activity of mind or intellectual apprehension declines only through the

decay of some other inward part; mind itself is impassible (Aristotle, On

the Soul, Bk I, ch. 4, 408b 22-25).

This is saying that as a person gets older, it is not the soul, but rather the body that leads to the incapacities one experiences. The idea of therapeutic recreation in the elderly is to keep the body and the mind active, and by doing this, the person will experience less incapacities, thus resulting in more pleasure, more independence, and a greater quality of life.

In view of therapeutic recreation for people with dementia, there are many guidelines, factors, approaches, goals, and behaviors that must be considered. With any type of recreation for people with dementia, there are important goals that the recreation therapist should try to accomplish. Ð'ÐŽÐ'§Since people with dementia live most fully in the present moment, goals and expectations for groups should be focused on the present momentÐ'ÐŽÐ'Ё (Bowlby, 1993). These goals include:

Ð'„Ð'« To fill the day with positive experiences.

Ð'„Ð'« To promote social interaction.

Ð'„Ð'« To increase self esteem.

Ð'„Ð'« To normalize life style.

Ð'„Ð'« To minimize anxiety and mood swings.

Ð'„Ð'« To focus attention on activities.

Ð'„Ð'« To promote pleasure and enjoyment.

By achieving these goals, not only do people with dementia get a boost in physical and mental well-being, they experience many other benefits such as an increased feeling of usefulness and enjoyment, opportunities for friendship, engaging in familiar roles, and reduced boredom, agitation, depression, and wandering.

Without a healthy active mind, a person has trouble deciding and reasoning on his own. Sergio Petraroja explains that, Ð'ÐŽÐ'§the powers issuing in the activities that are characteristically human are the powers of reason and free choiceÐ'ÐŽÐ'Ё (Sergio Petraroja, p. 129). Leisure, which is viewed as a state of mind or a way of perceiving experiences, has five major elements that require the aspects of a healthy mind and body. These include: intrinsic motivation, perceived freedom, perceived competence, flow, and playfulness. Intrinsic motivation refers to self-determined behavior that results in the satisfaction of the individualÐ'ÐŽÐ'¦s internal needs. This point is more focused on maintaining a healthy mind. A person with a healthy mind has the ability to reason, and therefore can determine what it is that intrinsically motivates him. Perceived freedom requires both a healthy mind and body. If one does not maintain a healthy body through recreation, then that person may see himself as having poor health and not possessing certain abilities that allow him the freedom of participating in activities. Perceived competence is an element that also requires a healthy mind and body. This is evident in that, in order for a person to feel they can do something or perform a task, they must possess the appropriate mental competence and physical competence that the act requires of them. Flow is an element that requires a mental capacity. One must cognitively feel intrinsic or internal satisfaction. The final element, playfulness, is composed of both cognitive and physical aspects. One must be able to feel that an activity is fun both physically to the body as well as feeling enjoyable to the mind. Thus, one challenge still facing therapeutic recreation specialists is to nurture playfulness in older adults. Aristotle says that, Ð'ÐŽÐ'§it is the ability to think that distinguishes men essentially from other animals,