Whilst my first career was in diagnostic pathology, which I really enjoyed for 25 years with all its fascinating science, somehow the memory of my grandmother ’living’ in a nursing home back in 1981, never left me. So, in 1995 I dipped a toe into volunteering in nursing homes, and next thing you know I am studying again, this time to become a Diversional Therapist. Over the years I have worked and volunteered in a variety of facilities, both for-profit and not-for profit, and in later years taught Certificate 4 Leisure & Health at TAFE in Western Sydney. Along the way I have met so many people living and working in Aged Care Facilities that leave me in awe, and in turn inspire me to never give up, despite the resident to lifestyle staff ratios being enormous. I learnt to take a deep breath and stake one step at a time, and I hope that comes through in this book too.
Teaching enthusiastic students that ask tricky questions is a wonderful motivator to spend time thinking about the potential components of a satisfying life. Obviously there isn’t one easy answer or pathway, not even for one individual, but I saw seven separate elements, all related to facilitating recreation activities. They are relevant to different degrees to different people, but I wonder if a little bit of each is helpful for all of us.
While there are fantastic books on many of the elements examined in this book, I have tried to write a book that connected these 7 elements, and to also link what we do every day to recent scientific and social research. I like to think that scientific proof is catching up with what we have known from our own observations over many years. This is that residents appear to be happier or more content when they are engaged in an activity that has meaning in that moment, whether that means relaxing, conversing with an interested listener, having fun, overcoming a personal challenge or helping others and most importantly, feeling respected and having membership in a group of people who are friendly and really care.
I wanted to prepare a book that encouraged further reading of the many very helpful books by insightful and impassioned authors. I also wanted to offer suggestions as a starting platform of ideas for specific actions ‘at the coalface’ of residential care.
I wanted to acknowledge the time, effort and emotional energy that caring and thoughtful lifestyle team members give to their task, to say nothing of the flexibility we need, because leisure must inherently have a sense of freewill. I hope this book supports your efforts in some way, and encourages you to share your ideas and endeavours with other similarly impassioned RAOs and Diversional Therapists.
Judy Greenidge: B App Sci. (Medical Science) B. Health Sci ( Leisure & Health) Cert 4 Training & Assessment