Due to COVID-19, Recreation Therapists are continuing to take the leadership role of supporting the client’s mental health and wellbeing throughout isolation. Thankfully, there is an abundance of options to help us connect and support clients to enhance and transform their lives.
Below are some top useful Tech Tips for Recreation Therapists to continue providing amazing services to their clients.
Communication software:
- Programs that provide constant communication to your volunteers and your clients
- Skype (Free between Platforms)
- Zoom ( Free under 45 min)
Top Entertainment Apps:
- Programs that provide entertainment to clients
- Netflix (Paid)
- Amazon Prime (Paid)
- YouTube (Free)
- Free Live Streaming Apps (Free)
- Ted X (Free)
Translation App:
- If you have clients that require translations, Google Translation app is amazing. it can:
- Translate voice in seconds including two-way conversations in different languages.
- Translate text. Including language detect.
- Translating scanned images and photos. This is amazing in which you aim your camera at any text and it will translate (even using similar or same font!) It will appear on the screen as if the image is naturally in that language!
Prices
- Tablets
- Start around: $80
- Laptop
- Start around: $250
- Amazon Firestick (Highly recommended)
- Starts around $80
- Apple TV
- Start around: $270
- Coffee Machine starts around
- Start around: $200
- Virtual Reality (VR) Headsets
- Start around: $250
Please note: Recreation Therapists should make sure to wipe the devices carefully before handing them to a different user or client. Manufacturers of this device have provided a set of guidelines on how to maintain the device hygienically. However, in order to ensure safety, it would be ideal to provide each client with their own VR Goggles.
All the tech in the world can be meaningless without providing the right engagement and support. Therefore, Recreation Therapists must use their communication skills and relationships to help clients identify their goals, implement strategies and work through their states of change. All these devices are simply tools to work towards a meaningful and purposeful life.
The digital platforms and devices that are mentioned above will help engage and connect. Whilst isolation is important for the safety of individuals and the public as a whole, there are also adverse effects that we need to counteract.
Key issues of isolation and loneliness
- Loneliness can be damaging to mental and physical health
- Physical decline and health issues
- Less able to deal with stressful situations
- More likely to feel depressed
- Problems processing information
- Problems with memory and decision-making
Recreation Therapists give clients a boost in their mental health by providing engaging activities.
Benefits of Engagement
- Improve physical health
- Enhanced mental Health
- Better self-esteem
- Increased cognitive function
- Sense of belonging
- A sense of purpose and meaning
Recreation Therapists know how to connect, build rapport, ask better questions, have meaningful conversations and achieve the goal of their clients. These quick tech tips and tools help bridge the communication gap so we can continue to transform the lives of individuals and provide meaning and purpose to their lives.
