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On the 18th September 1992 the New Zealand Society of
Diversional and Recreational Therapists Incorporated (NZSDRT
Inc.) was incorporated under the Incorporated Societies Act
1908. Since then, every 18th of September we celebrate our
National Diversional and Recreational Therapy Day followed
by six days known as National Diversional and Recreational
Therapy Awareness Week. During this week, Diversional and
Recreational Therapy professionals all over Aotearoa
celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of the role
we play in the New Zealand Health Care System.
This
year, we celebrate 30th years of National Diversional and
Recreational Therapy in our country. Diversional and
Recreational Therapy is a very important healthcare
profession that involves the organisation, design,
coordination and implementation of person centred
therapeutic recreational programmes.
Diversional and
Recreation therapy practitioners work with people of all
ages, cultures, and abilities to design and facilitate
leisure and recreation programmes. Meaningful activities are
designed to support, challenge and enhance the
psychological, spiritual, social, emotional and physical
wellbeing of individuals.
The Diversional and
Recreation Therapist provides opportunities for individuals
to choose to participate in leisure and recreation
activities which promote self-esteem and personal
fulfilment. The Diversional and Recreation Therapist
facilitates individual client choice, decision making and
participation when developing and managing recreational
programmes.
During the pandemic, Diversional and
Recreational Therapists, in particular those working in Aged
Care, played a vital role in ensuring that in particular the
psychosocial and emotional needs of people living in
retirement villages, care homes, hospitals, dementia care,
palliative care and the end of life, wasn’t
compromised.
Studies show that social isolation,
loneliness and the lack of meaningful cognitive stimulation,
increases the risk of mental health issue, higher mortality,
dementia and suicide, but on the other hand access to social
connections, meaningful engagement e.g., purposeful
activities, enhances people’s quality of life and overall
wellbeing – an area which Diversional and Recreational
Therapists are skilled on. Diversional and Recreational
Therapist unique understanding of a person holistic needs,
as well as understanding the needs of our communities, make
us an integral part the solution in the fight against social
isolation, loneliness, dementia, and many other health
related illnesses. Diversional and Recreational Therapists
focus on humanistic application that truly benefits the
client.
If you know a Diversional and Recreational
Therapist, we would like to invite you to acknowledge them
and to celebrate them on the 18th
September, the same way we celebrate other health
care professionals throughout the year, as they are equally
important for our health care
system.
My hope is that one day,
everything that is currently encompassed “as health”
such as exercise, a healthy diet, access to medication, will
also encompass prescribing dancing, listening to music,
playing games, walking in nature or facilitating meaningful
connections. Access to professional therapeutic recreation
services, are equally essential for a person health and
wellbeing, and access to recreation is a Human
Right.Orquidea Tamayo
Mortera
© Scoop Media
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