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LTC residents social and emotional needs being ignored, TRO says

March 30, 2021

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By Sarah Grishpul

Therapeutic Recreation (TR) specialists, who provide recreational activities for LTC residents, say they have been left out of the provincial government’s long-term care staffing plan.

And Therapeutic Recreation Ontario (TRO), the association representing them, says this will have a negative impact on the social and emotional well-being of LTC residents.

In December 2020, the provincial government announced a new staffing plan to increase the investment in registered nurses (RNs), registered practical nurses (PRNs), and personal support workers (PSWs), to provide LTC residents with an average of four hours of daily direct care.

However, increased funding for Therapeutic Recreation (TR) professionals was not included in the plan.

“I think that there is a focus on body care,” said Rozalyn Werner-Arcé, Executive Director of TRO, “but not about the social, emotional well-being of the residents.”

Werner-Arcé believes that the role of a TR is one of the most misunderstood healthcare professions.

The duties of a TR in long-term care homes is to plan and facilitate recreational activities that aim to add purpose and meaning to residents’ lives.

“Some people think that therapeutic recreation is about bingo and birthday parties, but it’s so much more than that,” said Werner-Arcé.

With many homes under lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, residents are forced to remain isolated in their rooms all day, which impacts their social and mental well-being.

According to Werner-Arcé, homes with limited capacity, resources, and one TR assigned to 60 residents constrains staff from ensuring everyone gets individual attention and treatment.

TRO wants the provincial government to prioritize the well-being of residents by recognizing TR services as essential and providing the resources accordingly.

Another important step, according to Werner-Arcé, would be to include TRs in Ontario’s LTC Staffing Plan and hire more TRs.

“I think it’s not just about keeping people alive. It’s about ensuring that every day of that life matters up until their very last breath,” said Werner-Arcé.

“And I think sometimes we forget about that.”