Assessment Tools For Recreational Therapy

Recreational Therapy Assessment is an evidence-based guide connecting the recreational therapy assessment process with the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) to help therapeutic recreation professionals classify individuals' functionality to better meet the needs of clients.

This book fills a gap in the therapeutic recreation literature concerning client assessment. It educates the reader about the importance of client assessment, how assessment relates to treatment planning and programming, and ways to improve the process of data collection, analysis, interpretation, and reporting..

Since its first edition in 1990, this has become the standard reference book on assessment in Recreational Therapy. As with the earlier editions, the purpose of this book is to provide both the therapist and the student with specific, critical information about the assessment process, specific tools, and specific standards related to assessment. The information on national assessments, such as the RAI/MDS for long-term care, is especially important to therapists. The fourth edition has 726 pages with five new assessments and updated information on all national and international standards. This book is used in over fifty colleges and nine different countries!

Recreational therapy is a profession of practice - and our practice includes more than the hands-on application of knowledge and skills. It is unrealistic to assume that we can help our patients toward a more holistic lifestyle without also understanding the environment in which we practice. This book, then, is meant to be a tool to help the therapist fit into the professional environment of his/her choice. To be able to fit into this environment, the professional must be able to understand the issues and the trends along with the implications of both. To this end the editors and authors of this book present the current issues in the rapidly changing world of health care to stimulate discussion and thoughtful dialog among both students and professionals.

Recreational Therapy for Specific Diagnoses and Conditions offers detailed descriptions of 39 diagnoses and conditions that are treated by recreational therapists. Each diagnosis chapter has a description of the diagnosis or condition, including the incidence or prevalence and the ages most affected. This is followed by the causes of the condition; social, emotional, and bodily systems affected; secondary problems that may be found; and information about the patient's prognosis. The next section of the chapter is devoted to the assessment process for the whole treatment team and, in more detail, what the recreational therapist must do to assess the status of the patient. Specific assessment tools and connections to the categories of the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health are provided.

The profession of recreational therapy relies on the ability to plan, implement, and evaluate the services offered to clients. Determining what those services will be requires a complex assessment process in which therapeutic recreation specialists, recreational therapists, and other rehabilitation professionals integrate client assessment with the classification from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF). Recreational Therapy Assessment is an evidence-based guide that illustrates best practices in performing those assessments in different settings so the needs of each client can be addressed. Recreational Therapy Assessment provides direction on how to assess clients in order to determine their specific needs. The first book of its kind structured to facilitate program planning at an individualized level, readers will find assessment protocols for various consumer groups: Older adults Mental health consumers Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities People with physical disabilities Those from diverse cultural backgrounds Of particular value to readers is understanding how the ICF classification system can aid and affirm assessment goals and outcomes, and how practitioners can better integrate their services with those of other members of an interdisciplinary team of providers. The chapters include practical examples, case studies, reflection questions, and learning activities to promote student understanding and assist in the assessment and classification process. Conducting effective consumer assessments is a vital skill for both current and future professionals in the field of recreational therapy. Recreational Therapy Assessment will prepare readers to perform those assessments to help them plan and implement customized services for a range of clients.