Will “Recreational Therapists” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

Job Description

Plan, direct, or coordinate medically-approved recreation programs for patients in hospitals, nursing homes, or other institutions. Activities include sports, trips, dramatics, social activities, and arts and crafts. May assess a patient condition and recommend appropriate recreational activity.

Job Details

• The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 29-1125.00
• The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 48,190.00
• The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 23.00
• Currently, there are 18,100 people on this job

Also Known As…

• Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
• Rehabilitation Therapist
• Recreational Therapist
• Recreation Therapist
• General Activities Therapist
• Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS)
• Activity Director
• Activity Coordinator
• Activity Assistant
• Activities Director
• Therapeutic Riding Instructor
• Recreational Therapy Technician
• Music Therapist (Rehabilitation)
• Music Therapist
• Horticultural Therapist
• Ecotherapist
• Drama Therapist
• Dance Therapist
• Creative Arts Therapist
• Child Life Therapist
• Certified Recreational Therapist
• Adventure Therapist
• Activity Therapist

Tasks for “Recreational Therapists”

• Develop discharge plans for patients.
• Prepare and submit reports and charts to treatment team to reflect patients' reactions and evidence of progress or regression.
• Confer with members of treatment team to plan and evaluate therapy programs.
• Counsel and encourage patients to develop leisure activities.
• Instruct patient in activities and techniques, such as sports, dance, music, art or relaxation techniques, designed to meet their specific physical or psychological needs.
• Develop treatment plan to meet needs of patient, based on needs assessment, patient interests and objectives of therapy.
• Plan, organize, direct and participate in treatment programs and activities to facilitate patients' rehabilitation, help them integrate into the community and prevent further medical problems.
• Conduct therapy sessions to improve patients' mental and physical well-being.
• Encourage clients with special needs and circumstances to acquire new skills and get involved in health-promoting leisure activities, such as sports, games, arts and crafts, and gardening.
• Observe, analyze, and record patients' participation, reactions, and progress during treatment sessions, modifying treatment programs as needed.
• Obtain information from medical records, medical staff, family members and the patients themselves to assess patients' capabilities, needs and interests.

Related Technology & Tools

• Audio tape recorders
• Oil painting brushes
• Electronic keyboards
• Canoes
• Acoustic guitars
• Fluidotherapy equipment
• Bicycles
• Softballs
• Ping pong paddles
• Volleyballs
• Electronic metronomes
• Drum sets
• Footballs
• Shuffleboard equipment
• Tennis rackets
• Digital cameras
• Croquet sets
• Motorized wheelchairs
• Harmonicas
• Pool cues
• Golf clubs
• Digital drumsticks
• Bowling balls
• Fishing poles
• Pianos
• Racing wheelchairs
• Wood carving tools
• Therapeutic weight machines
• Recreational sailboats
• Digital camcorders
• Personal computers
• Archery bows
• Baseballs
• Kayaks
• Water skis
• Exercise bicycles
• Snow skis
• Headpointers
• Digital audio recorders
• Basketballs
• 35 millimeter cameras
• Patient hoists
• Therapeutic treadmills
• Baseball bats
• Pottery wheels
• Laptop computers
• Recreational rowboats
• Handbells
• Free weights
• Compact disk CD players
• Skeet shooting equipment
• Desktop computers

• Microsoft Excel
• Avid Technology Sibelius
• Data entry software
• Email software
• Musical instrument digital interface MIDI software
• MakeMusic Finale
• Microsoft Word
• Hyperscore
• Patient electronic medical record EMR software
• Speech recognition software
• Web browser software
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Steinberg Cubase Pro
• Microsoft Office