Recreation Programs for Caregivers of Older Adults: A Review and Analysis of Literature from 1990 to 1998

Abstract: Due to social, economic, and medical factors, more adults are choosing to care for ill or disabled relatives at home. Although leisure and recreation have particular benefits for informal family caregivers of older adults, caregivers often have limited social and leisure lives. The purpose of this paper is to use an integrative review technique Article: Many factors are enhancing the longevity of older adults in the United States; however, living longer often brings with it illnesses or diseases related to aging. As a result, more adults are finding themselves caring for ill or disabled family members in their homes without pay. Additionally, these informal family caregivers Leisure has been found to provide unique benefits to people of all ages and situations. For example, leisure can serve as a buffer to stress Much of the caregiver literature of the 1980s cited a desire for leisure identified by caregivers (e.g., Bedini & Bilbro, 1991) but rarely identified research that explored these needs and perceptions. Caregivers seemed to want recreation and leisure in their lives, but because of a variety of barriers and stigmas due to caregiving, they had reduced or forsaken it altogether METHODS An integrative review technique (Jackson, 1980) was implemented to conduct this analysis. According to SUMMARY OF FINDINGS A total of 22 journal articles were reviewed to determine the status and successfulness of programs that provided training, opportunity, or time for the leisure and recreation of caregivers of older adults. Five groups or categories were identified by this procedure. Category topics included interventions (n = 2), respite (n = 5), support groups (n = 4), education/training (n = 4), and a combination of support group and education-training group (n = 7). Purpose Fourteen of the 22 articles scientifically evaluated the effectiveness of a leisure, recreation, or social support program for caregivers of older adults. Only one article actually tested the effect of a leisure/recreation program specifically. Overall topics within the articles included subjective burden (n = 7), support networks (n = 5), social support (n = 4), knowledge and use of community services (n = 4), time use (n = 2), activity restriction (n = 2), life satisfaction (n = 1), life upset (n = 1), and self-care (n = 1). Seven articles proposed the benefits or effectiveness of selected programs based on literature and conceptual logic, however, were not empirically tested. These topics included balance of caring responsibilities for self and care-recipient (n = 5); leisure information, skills, and resources (n = 4); identifying and using community resources (n = 3); social support (n = 2); social network (n = 2); relief of caregiver burden (n = 1); decreasing leisure constraints (n = 1); and leisure involvement (n = 1). The remaining article described an assessment tool that dealt with perceived social support and had direct implications for the leisure of caregivers of older adults

Increasing Diversity among Students in Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Studies Curricula: A Case Study

Abstract: Much has been written about increasing the cultural competence of students in recreation, parks, and leisure studies curricula. Little has been written, however: about how these programs can increase the actual number of individuals from underrepresented groups. This article discusses the reasons for problems in recruitment and retention of underrepresented groups in higher education. Data -specific to recreation, parks and leisure studies curricula are also presented. Additionally, the paper outlines the conceptual background and actual components of a case example that successfully increased the number of African American students in a therapeutic recreation program by 23% over four years. Finally, this article will offer specific recommendations and strategies gleaned from the case example as well as from the literature for ways to improve the contextual conditions of a department or institution in order to not only recruit but also retain students from underrepresented populations. Keywords: diversity. underrepresented students. students of color. Mentors Article: Introduction Much has been written recently about increasing the cultural competence of students in recreation, parks, and leisure studies curricula. For example, within the last decade, studies and articles have addressed the course content and effective teaching strategies to increase awareness and cultural knowledge of diverse groups in recreation and leisure studies curricula (e.g.. The purpose of this article is to identify the dire problem that exists regarding the presence of underrepresented groups in recreation, parks and leisure studies curricula. and to discuss strategies for increasing the number of underrepresented students. To accomplish this purpose, this paper will present the problems with recruitment and retention of underrepresented populations in higher education in general and then specifically in recreation parks, and leisure studies. Additionally, it will provide a description of a case example that successfully increased the number of African American students in therapeutic recreation by 23% over four years. Finally, this article will offer several specific recommendations and strategies for improving the contextual conditions of a department or institution in order to recruit and retain students from underrepresented populations