Therapeutic Recreation
- Population and Issue
The population considered is a group of veterans aged above sixty-five years and have served in the military service for at least thirty years. The group has a challenge of dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and requires immediate help to be assimilated back to society.
- Programme: Massage therapy for veterans
Therapeutic massage has a primary goal of providing relaxation and comfort. Veterans need a calm and comfortable environment that does not involve the remembrance of the traumatic experiences of war as they undergo the assimilation process. The comfortable environment allows the veteran undergoing the activity to perceive life differently.
- Areas of Concern
Veterans are a difficult-to-deal-with type of people and need a thorough introduction to the whole functionality of the massage program. The therapist needs to discuss understanding the problem at hand before starting the massage program. Also, the therapist should be flexible and be able to adapt to the client’s needs. Involving the client in setting the expectations enables the client to feel as having full control of the massage session. Lastly, the therapist needs to understand the generational differences in clients.
- Purpose
The massage programme is aimed at relieving the client of headache, anxiety and pain interference. Also, the programme aims to produce significant reductions in reported levels of pain, irritability, tension, depression, and anxiety. The general purpose is to improve the health of the veteran.
- Terminal Performance Objective 1
To demonstrate acceptance of the importance of other people’s input in one’s life.
- Performance Measures
To demonstrate reduced stress and depression
- Enabling Objectives
Before the beginning of each day’s session, the client will report to the therapist on the relationship between the client and family members, especially partners.
- Social Interaction Patterns
The massage programme uses the ‘relate and belong pattern’. The goals of the programme are aimed at achieving a state where a veteran feels a sense of belonging and has a healthy relationship with the society.