What is a recreational therapist? Well, a recreational therapist job description would include the following: helping people who have difficulties with their mental and physical functions so as to enable them to live their lives better. They are trained in the field of health care so that they can assist patients with recovering from traumatic events and health conditions. A recreation therapist helps the client in planning their rehabilitation and therapies. The job may also involve helping clients manage their disabilities or injuries so that they can resume living their normal lives.
How does a recreation therapist help the client?
First, the physical examination of the patient is done. In doing so, the therapist is able to determine the extent and type of disability or injury that the patient might have. Based on the assessment, appropriate treatment programs will be formulated and implemented that will help the patient recover from the condition or health condition causing their disability.
There are a lot of activities that a recreational therapist is required to perform. First, he/she should visit the facility of the patients so that they can assess their condition and discuss things with the patients. During the visit, they should observe the patients’ behaviors and decide what treatments will be best for them. Aside from that, the therapist should also attend the patients’ community outings so that he/she can learn about the habits and routines of their friends and families. He/she will also get to know the interests and needs of the patients in order to design individualized treatment plans for them.
Apart from assisting the patients in recovering from their condition, the therapist is required to be updated on current information about the same. This is necessary so that the therapist can help his/her patients plan for their future. The therapist should be involved in the rehabilitation of patients by visiting the facility where the patients are staying. At the same time, he/she should be acquainted with the latest developments in therapeutic recreation. This includes the latest findings in mental health and the various research techniques used in it.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the hourly rate of these professionals is $37 an hour. This rate includes all compensation and wages including benefits such as holiday pay, medical insurance, and social security. Professionals working in this field have the choice to opt either to be self-employed or work for an organization that offers a roster of workers. Some therapists have been licensed to treat different kinds of illnesses and conditions. Their annual salary ranges from around $30,000 to over a hundred thousand dollars depending on the location, hours they work, and the specialty of the therapist.
With the help of a variety of tools and resources, recreational therapists can help their patients recover from their health conditions or disabilities. The basic tools of this profession include exercise equipment, specialized pillows, and equipment designed for a patient’s specific needs. In some instances, these professionals also make use of devices that encourage a patient to move his/her limbs. A nursing care facility may allow for a certain number of hours for therapy sessions with these professionals depending on the rules of the facility. The annual salary of these professionals depends solely on the rules of the state.
It is worth noting that there are also health facilities that hire these kinds of therapists. In these cases, the duties of the therapist in these health facilities differ from the ones in nursing homes. These professionals may help patients with problems such as muscle spasms, Alzheimer’s disease, cerebral palsy, diabetes, and other physical ailments. In these cases, the annual salary of the therapist working at these health facilities may vary depending on the location and the nature of the job description.
If you want to become one of these professionals, you need to complete a formal education program. It is important that you have a degree in either psychology or social sciences so that you can specialize in the type of job description that you prefer. This would mean that you should also be willing to learn about the different kinds of recreational activities that you could help people with. After completing your educational requirements, you can apply to a number of job positions around the country. When you are ready to start your training, you can consider taking up a certificate course in recreation therapy.
