| Throughout my 18 year career in the field of | | | | more confidence you will have, the greater your |
| therapeutic recreation and activities in long-term care, | | | | clinical skills and abilities will be, and in turn, you will |
| I have encountered many obstacles, one of which | | | | have increased professional dialogue. This is a sure |
| has been the challenge of gaining professional respect | | | | fire way to gain respect from one co-worker at a |
| for the field and the role of recreation and activity | | | | time! Take a class on-line, attend the MEPAP course, |
| professionals. As a former recreation assistant, | | | | register for several on-line newsletters (read them!), |
| director, and even at times, as a consultant, there | | | | subscribe to professional magazines, read books, and |
| continues to be a need to demonstrate my | | | | so on. Use the information that you have learned |
| professional abilities and value. At many seminars, | | | | during conversations, report writing and meetings. Let |
| conferences, networking opportunities, and in | | | | co-workers and supervisors know that you are |
| numerous emails, other therapeutic recreation and | | | | taking a class or reading book. They will be |
| activity professionals have expressed this concern | | | | impressed! In addition, inquiring minds want to know, |
| and frustration as well. | | | | so don't be afraid to ask questions. You can learn a |
| Years ago I worked in a facility in which a VIP told | | | | great deal from asking questions at IDCP meetings, |
| me that he did not see the full value of recreation | | | | and regular numerous Q and A sessions with |
| within the healthcare system. Needless to say, I was | | | | supervisors and managers. |
| stunned by such an abrupt comment. I thought | | | | Educate others |
| perhaps this bold statement was made to motivate | | | | Talk to anyone and everyone about the role of and |
| me to revamp the therapeutic recreation department | | | | the benefits of therapeutic recreation and activities. |
| that I was just hired to manage. So, I accepted the | | | | Consider everyone a target to listen to your pitch. |
| challenge. Several years later, this same VIP | | | | Co-workers, department heads, supervisors, |
| approached me and said, "Now I understand the | | | | corporate VIP's, family members, residents, |
| value of therapeutic recreation. You are great at | | | | volunteers, etc. may all benefit from your knowledge |
| what you do." Not only did I change the opinion of | | | | and expertise. Remember to educate the recreation |
| one VIP, but many throughout the entire corporation, | | | | staff and facility staff as well. Consider including the |
| and within the facility itself. How did I do it? In this | | | | recreation department as part of the facility |
| article I share with you my secrets to success and | | | | orientation program and mandatory in-services for all |
| gaining the professional respect we desire and | | | | staff. Get involved in the facility education day or a |
| deserve. | | | | health fair. Another great idea is to host a Recreation |
| Respect others | | | | Fair, setting up a variety of booths with prizes, |
| It sounds so simplistic, but if we want to be treated | | | | demos and educational displays. Such booths may |
| with respect, we first must treat others with | | | | include: physical activities, creative activities, sensory |
| respect. Get to know the role of the department | | | | stimulation, cognitive games and so on. Whatever |
| heads, and other facility staff. It is important to be | | | | you do, incorporate hands-on experiences and fun. |
| aware of the responsibilities of the other healthcare | | | | Promote the department |
| workers so that we can better understand their | | | | Although it can be very time consuming, continuous |
| challenges, goals, qualifications, and so on. We must | | | | promotional strategies help in your quest for respect. |
| follow the chain of command, not step on others | | | | Activity calendars, newsletters, flyers, brochures, |
| toes, and speak to others in a respectful manner. | | | | displays, bulletin boards, and photo albums are just a |
| There are times we must advocate for the residents | | | | few ways in which recreation directors can promote |
| and for ourselves, but there is always a time and a | | | | and advertise. Ensure that all calendars, newsletters |
| place. Choose your battles wisely, and confront | | | | and other promotional displays are attractive and |
| others calmly, have all the facts, and be willing to | | | | purposeful. Many brochures, flyers, banners, etc. can |
| listen to all sides. | | | | easily be done by the recreation staff with |
| Portray a professional image | | | | appropriate computer software, and equipment, |
| Speak, write, act, and dress professionally. Recreation | | | | however, it is often recommended that the large |
| and activity professionals have been branded the | | | | calendars and newsletters be professionally printed. |
| "party people", "bingo callers", "Miss Mary sunshine" | | | | Department brochures or booklets are also a great |
| and so on. With these stereotypes it is often easy | | | | way to promote the department. Often times, |
| to lose our professional footing. Although it is our role | | | | recreation professionals have little input into how the |
| to be "the fun people", we still have to portray a | | | | department is portrayed in marketing materials, so be |
| professional image. Dress comfortably, but | | | | sure to work closely with the marketing or public |
| professionally. Keep in mind the appearance and | | | | relations department for newspaper opportunities, |
| portrayal of the entire department, not just the | | | | local cable TV, radio, the facility brochure, facility |
| director. It is really hard to respect someone who | | | | DVD, website, etc. |
| wears baggy jeans, sweatshirts and t-shirts to work | | | | Be a team player |
| every day! Every time we interact with facility staff, | | | | With the revised F248 CMS guidance, there is great |
| management, etc. we have an opportunity to portray | | | | focus on an interdisciplinary approach to quality of life. |
| a professional image. Meetings are a prime time to | | | | We all must learn to work together, often outside of |
| dazzle others. Present a professional and impressive | | | | the realm of our department. Recreation |
| report at the quarterly QA meeting; utilize clinical | | | | departments are known to be fantastic team players |
| dialogue during an IDCP meeting; discuss happenings | | | | and often times the dumping ground, so remember |
| and successes during the monthly department head | | | | to ensure that you are in fact being a team player, |
| meeting, and keep everyone informed during the | | | | not merely doing someone else's job. Some great |
| daily morning meeting. Ensure that all memos, reports | | | | team player ideas include: special feeding programs, |
| and other correspondences are checked for correct | | | | fall prevention programs, assisting with public relations, |
| grammar and spelling as well. | | | | working in conjunction with the therapy department |
| Become certified | | | | doing a wheelchair Olympics or walk-n-wheel-a-thon, |
| Professional certification is so important not only for | | | | health fairs, assisting with snacks and hydration, and |
| your own professional respect, but for the entire | | | | so on. |
| profession. There are various certifications available | | | | Have confidence/be proud |
| these days, with ADC and CTRS being the most | | | | Many recreation professionals do not know how to |
| prominent in our field. If you are already certified, | | | | define what they do or why they do it. A critical |
| consider another certification. You can become | | | | component to gaining respect of others is respecting |
| certified in just about anything these days, such as | | | | oneself and being proud of the recreation profession. |
| validation therapy, horticultural therapy, remotivation | | | | Have confidence that the profession is worthy and |
| therapy, aroma therapy, laughter therapy and much | | | | an integral aspect of healthcare and quality of life. |
| more. Secondary certifications only add to your value! | | | | Talk about the profession in a positive manner and |
| Consider having other members of the department | | | | don't be afraid to speak out. |
| become certified as well. | | | | In conclusion |
| Join professional organizations | | | | The therapeutic recreation and activity profession |
| Being an active member of a therapeutic recreation | | | | has evolved tremendously over the years. Standards, |
| or activity professional organization portrays that you | | | | regulations, qualifications and expectations have |
| are involved, serious, and supportive of the | | | | become more stringent; however, many recreation |
| profession. Whether local, state or national, these | | | | and activity professionals still feel they lack |
| organizations help keep you informed and provide | | | | professional respect. By making some changes within |
| networking and educational opportunities. | | | | ourselves and our departments, we can gain the |
| Educate yourself | | | | respect we are looking for, one person at a time! |
| Knowledge is everything! The more you know, the | | | | |