Natalie Garrandes

LEI 4711
Recreation Therapy Treatment Program and One Session
Rational and Purpose of Treatment Program: The purpose of this
program is to get the clients involved in exercise and fitness to better
improve their health. The hope is to increase the clients ability to perform
and manage their fitness needs independently. They will also see
improvement in the maintenance of their current physical fitness level.
Staff Requirements/Competence: This program requires a Certified
Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) and CTRS assistants. The
requirements/competence of both the CTRS and the assistants are as
followed:
CTRS
Program Protocol
Program Plan
Program Observations
Program Evaluation
Program Delivery
Risk Management Considerations
CTRS Assistant
Program Observations
Program Delivery
Entrance Criteria/ Diagnosis and systems to be treated: The targeted
group for this treatment program are individuals with early to middle stages
of dementia. There are many suitable exercises opportunities that may be
beneficial for people in the early or middle-stages of dementia. Walking is a
great exercise because it can be done anywhere without the need of
specialist equipment.
Exit Criteria: At the end of the treatment the client should have gained the
knowledge of the benefits of movement, exercise, and walking. They should
know the proper exercising techniques to perform before and after walking.
They should also have improved their fitness levels.
Safety Considerations:

Client Risks: It is important to consider the age, abilities and type of

dementia someone has, as well as their needs and preferences, when they
undertake physical exercise. Younger people with dementia may be able to
undertake a greater amount of physical activity. Before starting any exercises
it is important to know if the client has any of the following conditions as it
may affect their ability to participate in the activity:
-Heart problems
-High Blood pressure
-Unexplained chest pain
-Dizziness or fainting
-Bone or joint problems
-Balance problems
-Frequent falls.
Environmental Risks: Environmental risks to consider is the location where
the walking is going to take place. Are there sidewalks for the clients to walk
on, is the weather good to be able to conduct the activity outside, if walking
in a hallway are there railings for the clients to hold on to if they are tired.
These are all important factors to take into consideration so that the clients
can perform the activity to the best of their abilities.
Facility and Equipment Required: This activity can be performed without
any equipment. All that is required is a group of participants, a CTRS, an
assistant, an open area, and a good pair of sneakers.
Outcome Criteria (Expected Change): The client is expected to have a
change in their fitness level, and an improvement in their overall health.
They should be able to maintain stronger muscles and flexible joints, which
will help them maintain their independence longer. They should see an
improvement in the health of their heart and blood vessels, which can reduce
the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease. There should be an
improvement in their sleep, cognition, socialization, confidence, self-esteem,
and mood.
Session Name/Title:
Walkathon
Session Description:
The activity chosen is called Walkathon. This activity can be done
individually, with one-to-one supervision or in a small group. The session is
meant to encourage participation in physical activities. Clients are
consulted regarding their current fitness needs and are assessed on their

knowledge of fitness and walking. Once the client is introduced to all the
benefits of walking and exercising, an individualized or group walking
program is developed. The activity consists of warm-up stretching, walking,
and cool-down stretching. The clients are required to walk 30 min per day
for 5 days a week, and the distance walked is recorded once weekly.
Session Objectives:
The goal of this activity is for the client to facilitate independent walking
and exercise, and to socialize with other participants.
Session Life Skills:
Walking is one of the basics of human movement. Walking is a great way to
play with body mechanic variables. This activity will help the client to
explore different body mechanics by exaggerating and hyper-focusing on
different parts of the movement. Besides the actual mechanics of walking,
the client can also explore the sequence of movements like rhythm,
breaking, pace, and timing.
Session Time:
The goal of this activity is to have the client perform minutes of physical
activity per week. This equates to 30 minutes of activity per day, for at
least five days a week. This can be broken up into shorter sessions
throughout the day, with each session lasting a minimum of 10 minutes.
Session Materials:
The only thing needed to perform this session are the clients and a good
pair of sneakers!
Session Process:
Clients are encouraged to walk daily and to keep track of their distance.
They will exercise prior to walking to loosing up any stiff joints and reduce
the chance of injury. The client is required to walk a total of 30 minutes per
day for 5 days a week. The 30 minutes can be broken down as follows:
-Two 15-minute sessions daily
-Three 10-minute sessions daily
Then 1x weekly the total distance waked is tallied and compared to the
weekly projected goal. Each week the goal is increased and every time the
goal is met a prize may be given to motivate participation. Examples of
these prizes can include, candy, favorite mean, or even a new pair of
sneakers. After each walking session has finished the activity will end with
a set of cool down exercises. These exercises will help the body to adjust to
all this movement and help to avoid injury.
Session Content:
The CTRS and their assistants will discuss and explain the contents of this
activity with the clients. They will discuss with the clients their specific
fitness needs, and give them the proper instructions on how to properly
exercise before and after walking. The benefits of walking and exercising
are introduced to the clients and these benefits are related to their physical

health and to their treatment issues.