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Purposeful and Meaningful Leisure and Recreation for
Senior Adults
Dawn De Vries, DHA, MPA, CTRSEmail: [email protected] Art & Science of Aging
Conference
Session ObjectivesParticipants will be able to: O Define what purposeful and meaningful activity
is.O State how engagement in purposeful and
meaningful leisure and education contributes to aging well.
O Identify how to discover purposeful and meaningful leisure and recreation to an individual.
O Explain 3 techniques for motivating and engaging individuals to participate in meaningful and purposeful leisure.
Why do people want to be involved in activities
(work and leisure)?
ACTIVITY IS A BASIC HUMAN NEED
expressed in work and leisure.
Life would be pretty boring and meaningless without it.
1,440 minutes in a day
Does it involve… O A sensory experience? O Solace?O Being active? O Cognitive stimulation?O Emotional health?O Self-Respect?O Seasonal or special activities?O Being inside or outside? O Being out in the community?O Cultural or ethnic traditions?O Religion?O Relationships?O People of all ages?
Purposeful and Meaningful Leisure
DOES NOT MEAN . . . DOES MEAN . . .
O Work or task focused
O You always have to be “accomplishing” something
O Just participatingO Being active
O Involvement in what you value
O Feeling of using your time wisely
O Engagement and interaction
O Satisfaction and enjoyment
So, what is purposeful and meaningful leisure
to you?
Hopkins & Smith (1978) said:
O “Activity is the bridge between one’s inner reality and the external world. It is through our activities that we are connected with life and other human beings. Through activities… we learn about the world, test our knowledge, practice skills, express feelings, experience pleasure, take care of our survival, develop competence, and achieve mastery over our destinies”
Meaningful LeisureO Being Me O Finding Balance O Providing EnjoymentO ContributeO Provide sense of
freedomO Connect us to othersO Challenges
Being MeO What does it
mean?
O ConsiderationsO May need
adaptationsO What activities
are most important to me?
BalanceO Between
relaxation and keeping busy
O Considerations:O Know your
abilitiesO Accept what you
do is best you do at that time
O Take breaks
EnjoymentO Have fun and
laughO Be happy!
O Considerations:O Have fun!O Remember to
laughO Young at heartO Fresh
perspective
ContributeO What does it
mean?
O Considerations:O Recognize valueO VolunteerO AdvocateO Spending time
with others
Freedom• Escape stress of daily tasks
and responsibilities
• Considerations:• Outdoors• Arts and music
ConnectionO What is it?
O Considerations:O Social groupsO Quality
relationshipsO Tremendous
emotional benefits
ChallengeO Grow, learn,
develop
O Considerations:O Try something newO Learn a new skill
or take up a new hobby
O Involve othersO Experience nature
What are the benefits of engagement and
involvement in purposeful and meaningful leisure?
Benefits of InvolvementO Give meaning to lifeO Continue past roles
and leisure interestsO Reduce boredomO Provide meaningful
interactionO Provide structure and
routineO Minimize depression,
anxiety and isolationO Maintain function and
abilities
Benefits Con’t.O Provide sensory stimulationO Maintain quality of lifeO Increase appetite and ability to
sleepO Decrease challenging behaviors O Build on strengths and abilities at a
time of many lossesO Enhance self-esteem
Discovery
1. Past and present interests and skills2. Religious and cultural background3. Abilities4. Past and present roles5. Personality6. Experiences: achievements,
disappointments, concerns, passions, favorites
Factors that may Interfere with Engagement
O PassiveO DepressionO Lack of purpose/
apathyO AnxietyO Communication
challengesO Confusion O Movement patterns
O Feeling of dependence
O AngerO LonelinessO WanderingO Short attention
spanO Sensory lossesO Cognitive lossO Embarrassment
Principles to Follow for Motivating
O Know the person you are trying to motivate.
O Provide a reason for the activity.
O Keep things short and simple.
O Be creative.O Be adaptable and
flexible. You may need to change things as you go along.
O Minimize distractions and confusion.
O Provide environmental cues.
O Allow the person to take the lead when possible.
O Have all supplies on hand.
O Watch for signs of frustration.
O Focus on abilities and strengths.
O Provide ample time for response and task completion.
Motivating TechniquesO Find the best time
of day for that individual.
O Follow regular but flexible routine.
O Be enthusiastic.O Talk with person
before trying to get them to do something.
O “Can you help me?”O Create success.O Use personal
interests and past roles.
O Be realistic.O Be encouraging.O Peer invitations.O Children and youth.
