DIVERSIONAL AND

RECREATIONAL THERAPY
 LEARNING OUTCOMES
• By the end of this lesson students will be able to
• Define the term ‘activity’
• Differentiate between diversional and recreational
therapy
• List the benefits of recreational and diversional
activities on the elderly
• Enumerate the laws promulgated for the
protection of the elderly in Mauritius
• List the benefits and facilities offered to the elderly
 DEFINE AN ACTIVITY
• Any endeavor, other than routine ADLs, in
which a resident participates that is intended
to enhance his or her sense of well-being and
to promote or enhance physical, cognitive,
and emotional health
• Diversional Therapy/ Recreational Therapy
involves the organisation, design, coordination
and implementation of client centred leisure
based activity programs.
• The aim is to improve the quality of life
through ongoing support and development of
clients psychological, emotional, spiritual,
social and physical needs and well being.
• According to the American Therapeutic Recreation Association
(ATRA), Recreational Therapy means a treatment service
designed to restore, remediate, and rehabilitate a person’s
level of functioning and independence in life activities, to
promote health and wellness, as well as to reduce or eliminate
the activity limitations and restrictions to participation in life
situations caused by an illness or disabling condition.
• Diversion activities, on the other hand, are conducted by
individuals who focus on games and pastimes for fun without
the intensive focus on an individual’s rehabilitative needs that
is the foundation of Recreational Therapy.
• Recreational activities promote self-esteem,
and fulfillment with an emphasis on holistic
care- providing physical, psychological, social,
intellectual and spiritual/cultural support.
• The activities include
• Games, outings, gardening, computers, gentle
exercise, music, arts and crafts.
• Individual emotional and social support
• Sensory enrichment, activities like massage
and aromatherapy, pet therapy
• Discussion groups, education sessions like
grooming, beauty care, cooking
• Social, cultural and spiritual activities 
• The activities are tailored to the particular needs of
each individual or group in order to achieve the
maximum individual enjoyment and fulfillment for
individuals/groups focusing on
• Freedom of choice.
• Maintaining use of visual and hand skills.
• Creative activities with a worthwhile outcome.
• Allowing clients to work within their own capabilities
 
• Giving purpose and meaning to life through activity and
involvement.
• Encourage communication, expression, socialisation and
reminiscence.
• Strategies that help with memory, orientation and mood
swings.
• Strategies that help with personal care such as washing
and dressing.
• Strategies that help with daily living and family life
 
 ACTIVITIES FOR DIVERSIONAL AND
RECREATIONAL THERAPY
• Art – covers a wide range of activities from
basic coloring to still life drawing using
everyday objects to flowers and plants
Benefit for mind and soul
• Baking
Benefits – Giving people the feeling of being
useful and can be done for fund raising events.
• Coloring -can be done by most elderly people
although people with arthritis in their hands
may find it difficult, as with this activity their
hands will be in one position, so give them
plenty of breaks.
• Dance -music and dance for those who don’t
like exercise- even those in wheelchair can join
in with singing and movements
Benefits – exercise and co-ordination
 Embroidery
• Either get pre-designed pieces of fabrics or
get people create their own ones.
• This project done over a period of time and
will be well worth the wait
Benefits – can be very rewarding
 Films
• Arrange a morning movie session- inviting the
residents to choose the film from a variety,
supply drinks and treats.
• Good choice of films - some films could upset
people. If including residents with dementia
try to choose short films or documentaries.
• Benefits – Relaxing together
 Glass painting
• Buy water based - others are very smelly.
• Using glass flames, mirrors, and vases
decorate with various designs.
• Once painted, leave to dry for 24 hours before
firing in a conventional oven for ½ hour on a
low heat.
• Benefit – Creativity and great fun
 Hobbies
• Find out what residents have enjoyed doing in
the past through one to one/group sessions.
Helpful as residents may have had similar
experiences and hobbies – help them to bond
well with each other.
• Reminiscence and socialising- self expression
is enriched.
 Jokes
• Laughter the best medecine!
• Knitting -residents can either make squares
together to make blankets or scarfs and even
knitted toys which can be given as gifts or sold
at fund raising events.
• Benefits – good for arthritis sufferers as it is
exercising for the hand. Can improve self
esteem
 Library
• Mobile library to visit home.
• Benefits – increases social integration and
good intellectual activity.
• Pets talking -used in reminiscence a lot -may
have had many pets over the years and enjoy
talking about them.
• Benefits – helpful for a reminiscence idea
 Reading
• Some residents enjoy to be read to. It is a
chance to just sit back and visualise what is
being read to them.
Benefit – good relaxation activity
• Scrabble
Benefits - improve cognitive memory and
mood recognition
 Tea dancers
• For physical exercise and meeting with other
residents, offer good music beverages
Benefit – socialising, exercise and create
feelings of well being
• Walk -around the grounds of the home or to
the local area
Benefits – exercise, sunlight and fresh air
BENEFITS OF MEANINGFUL RECREATIONAL
ACTIVITIES

Improved Cognitive Skills

•        Ability to follow simple directions
•        Communication
•        Interpersonal Skills
•        Decision Making
•        Attention Span
•        Sensory Awareness
•        Environmental Awareness
•        Ability to make needs known
•        Memory Skills
•        Self-Expression
Physical benefits can include:
• Decrease in blood pressure
• Decrease in heart rate
• Increase in bone mass and strength
• Increase in lung capacity
• Reduction in incidence of diabetes
• Increase in muscle strength
• Increase in sense of well being
• Increase in flexibility, balance and coordination
• Improvement in immune system 
 Improved physical skills
•        Fine/gross motor skills
•        Endurance
•        Mobility and Range of Motion
•        Hand/Eye Coordination
•        ADL Skills/Body Awareness
•        Strength and Flexibility
•        Sleep Patterns
•        Skin Integrity
•        Appetite
•        Incontinence
•        Decrease use of pain medications
 Improved Emotional Well-Being
•        Socialization
•        Motivation
•        Creative expression
•        Self esteem and confidence
•        Stress management skills
•        Decrease learned helplessness
•        Increased independence
• Depression
Decreased Behavior Issues
•        Wandering
•        Sundown Syndrome
•        Agitation
•        Anxiety
•        Repetitive Motions
•        Yelling and Screaming
•        Use of physical restraints
 ENHANCING QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH
MEANINGFUL RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES
 One to one visits –
• Friendly conversation ie. talk about resident’s favorite
interests, their family, etc.
•  Play a quick game of cards or other game
•  Talk about current events, facility news, or read a quick story
• Bring outside, to the activity room, lobby, etc.
 Tactile Stimulation
•  Give a hug, hand massage, or hold hands
•  Offer a variety of tactile equipment
 Environmental Awareness
• Talk about the environment i.e.  Do you hear that
music?
• Inform the resident that the activity room is down the
hall, etc.
• Point out facility signs i.e. bathrooms, dining room,
phone, etc.
• Divert to fish tanks, rummage areas, multi-sensory
rooms, birds, plants, etc.
 Music/TV/Movies
• Put on appropriate music or television stations in
resident rooms or the day room.
• Remember that, each resident or patient has a
preference.
 Ask the recreation staff for specific details.
•  Encourage resident/patient independence
•  Adapt activities and/or use adapted equipment
 Parallel Programming
•  Work with residents who are not involved in the group
activity.      
• Group/seat residents according to functional abilities and
interests
• Provide activities that meet the interests and abilities of
the residents i.e. hand out magazines, books, offer pictures
to color, provide manicures, encourage residents to put on
makeup or comb hair, table games, diversional/sensory
activities, range of 
motion, massages, talk one on one with residents.
 Other Interventions       
•  Assist recreation staff with motivating residents to participate in activities.
 Assist in transporting residents to the day room or to special events.
• When applicable, monitor safety and positioning of residents; release
restraints
• “Talk up” activities. Notify residents of the scheduled activities for the day
•  Help to motivate the residents and congratulate them on their
achievements.
•        Validate/re-assure cognitively impaired residents
•        Bring in magazines, books, music, knick-knacks, videos, etc.
 Participate in large events such as parties, talent shows, BBQ’s.  
 LEGAL PROTECTION FOR THE ELDERLY IN
MAURITIUS
• The Protection of the Elderly Persons Act 2005
became effective as on September 1, 2006
• to ensure that adequate protection is
provided to elderly people against ill-
treatment, be it physical, verbal, emotional
harassment or financial prejudice.
 It provides the setting up of
• A Protection of the Elderly Network
• A Monitoring Committee for the elderly
• An Elderly Protection Unit
• An Elderly Watch for different regions of the
country
• The Rodrigues Committee for the Elderly
• Equal Opportunities Act, 2012
• National Pension’s Act
• Senior Citizen Council Act
• Trust Fund for Soroptimist Day Care Centres
for the Elderly Act
• Protection from Domestic Violence Act, 1998
• Mental Health Care Act
 SOME BENEFITS AND FACILITIES FOR THE
ELDERLY
• Free public transport.
• Social assistance- income support, free
wheelchairs, hearing aids, dentures and
eyeglasses
• Specialized geriatric sessions in all health points
• Separate queues for them to collect their
medicines in hospitals.
• Day Care Centres
• Participation in cultural programs and plays
organized by the Association and the Senior
Citizens Council.
• The Ministry of Social Security have set up the
Suicide Prevention Network with the help of the
Senior Citizens Council –advise youngsters-crucial
for the inclusion and social stability of elderly as
they are faced with severe marginalisation and
loss of self esteem with retirement
• Residential care homes covered under the Residential Care Homes
Act 2003
• Recreation centres – cater for 22,000 residents
• Centenarian policy and program initiative
• Domiciliary (Physician) care home visiting program for those aged
90 and above and those aged over 75 years with severe disabilities
or who might be bedridden
• Carers Allowance for severely disabled and dependent persons)
• Welfare and recreational activities through a network of some 576
Senior Citizens Associations (9 regional peak associations) with an
overarching National Senior Citizens Council
• Free flu vaccination program for older people
• Adult literacy and numeracy programs as well as
training in acquiring basic skills in information and
communication technology in order to allow them
to fully participate in social and community life.
• Training program for carers
• Observatory on ageing (for research on the socio
economic impact on ageing)
• Legal counselling program for the elderly on
property rights for senior citizens
 Referencing
• Joanne Oram – The Therapeutic Activities for the Elderly.
A Guide for Recreational and Diversional Therapists
Re- creative resources by Kimberley Grandal BA, CTRS,
ACC/EDU
http://www.recreativesources.com/index.htm
• Diversional therapy in Australia.National Council
www.diversionaltherapy.org.au
• Berger K.S., The Developing Person Through the Life
Span.