Recreational Therapy

Policy Statement
The Recreation Therapy Department will provide high quality services to our customers. These services will focus on and enhance individual’s abilities as well as address specific needs.

Purpose
The Recreation Therapy Department provides individual and group recreation therapy and diversional activities to promote independence with leisure and recreational skills.

Recreation Therapy
Recreational Therapist help restore, remediate, or rehabilitate patients in order to improve functioning and independence as well as reduce or eliminate the effects of illness or disability. Recreational Therapists perform professional work requiring knowledge of the concepts, principles, practices, and the use of various interventions to treat physical, social, cognitive, and emotional conditions associated with illness or chronic disability. One of the purposes of recreation therapist is to provide recreation resources and opportunities in order to improve health and well-being. Recreational therapists also assist in coordinating community re-entry outings, provide ramp guidelines/information as needed, issue adaptive equipment and can provide TV/VCR or TV/DVD for your room.

Aquatic Therapy
Aquatic Therapy is the procedure of improving function through utilizing the unique properties of water. Individualized modalities are used during treatment, resulting in land-based skills. Aquatic fitness is a mode of aquatic exercise in a class setting that is held at various depths of water with the intent of improving physical and/or mental health and to maintain mobility.

A physician prescription/referral for treatment is needed for a patient to participate in aquatic therapy. The physician will include the diagnosis, duration/frequency of therapy and any suggestions for treatment modalities.

A contraindication (reason that prevents the carrying out of a medical procedure) for aquatics could include: open/draining wounds, bowel incontinence, deep vein thrombosis, tracheotomy, severe respiratory infection, and non-tunnel catheters.

Staff
Within the rehabilitation center, there are currently four Recreational Therapist, all of which are licensed by the state of North Carolina and nationally certified through NCTRC. Of the four licensed therapists, one is a certified aquatic therapist.

Contact Information
If you have questions about our Recreational Therapy Department, please contact the Rehabilitation Supervisor at (910) 615-6054.

For more information on our Recreational Therapy internship program, please click here.

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