Therapeutic Recreation Assistant (Gerontology Specialization)

This course will provide a comprehensive orientation to Stenberg College and the program of study. You will receive key program resources and information, as well as review effective learning and study strategies that focus on success skills for your own personal learning style. Life skills exercises are also integral to the course, teaching accountability, teamwork and self-awareness. You will be taught how to effectively navigate and learn within the program’s online learning platform (Moodle).

Interpersonal Communication

You will learn theoretical and practical skills to promote effective communication with clients and co-workers in a therapeutic relationship. You will be encouraged to become more aware of the impact of your own communication choices and patterns. You will have the opportunity to develop and use communication techniques that demonstrate personal awareness, respect, and active listening skills. Communication theory, therapeutic communication, cross-cultural communication, and effective teamwork will all be covered.

This course is an introduction to common medical terminology and the body systems and sense organs. You will explore each system including: an overview of that system’s general function; system parts, their specific function and location; relationship with other systems; and common pathologies including signs and symptoms and prognosis of those pathologies. Health promotion strategies related to each system will also be discussed.

Understanding human development is basic to therapeutic practice and is essential for all work with clients. Starting with child development, you gain an overview of early childhood studies before moving on through adolescence and into older adulthood. There will be an introduction to contemporary issues of the older adults examining work and retirement, and social relationships. Death and dying will also discussed within this course.

You will look at separating out common myths from the realities of aging. Taking a sociological viewpoint, you will explore the implications of an aging population on economy, health care, social, and public policy within our global and Canadian society. The relationship between leisure and aging will be examined including the concepts of health promotion, physical and mental wellness, normal ageing changes, continued independence, and exploration of community resources.

This course provides a comprehensive study of program planning and facilitation within the Therapeutic Recreation (TR) process. You will learn to apply the APIE-D model (Assessment, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation, Documentation) in delivering inclusive, client-centered recreation programming. Emphasis is placed on practical skills such as goal setting, session planning, activity analysis, documentation, and group facilitation. You will explore a variety of program types and evidence-based facilitation techniques, with special attention to programming for older adults and individuals with dementia. The course also examines adaptive devices, motivational strategies, and the use of community and online resources. By the end of the course, you will be able to design, lead, and evaluate recreation programs that enhance well-being and quality of life, while working within the professional scope of a Recreation Therapy Assistant (RecTA).

A seven-week final practicum concludes the program and facilitates the transition you from student to graduate. A designated mentor will a guide and encourage you to apply your knowledge and skills in a professional geriatric focused setting. You will be required to be available during the day, afternoon, and weekends. At the conclusion of this experience, there will be a collaborative final debriefing. You will have the opportunity to reflect on and share your experiences as well as evaluate your overall educational experience so the program may be improved in relation to your feedback.

You learn to network effectively (online and in person), to search, and apply for jobs and to prepare targeted resumes and cover letters. You are also provided with coaching and individualized instructor feedback on your resume, cover letter, and interview skills.

WHMIS provides information about materials in the workplace that can be hazardous, such as cleaning agents, compressed gases, and flammable materials. Becoming WHMIS certified will demonstrate the ability to identify hazardous materials and handle them properly.

The Provincial Violence Prevention Training Curriculum will teach you to recognize and respond to violent situations and learn about different types of violence and strategies for dealing with the risks in a variety of health care contexts. The Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum has been developed by a team of experts from Worksafe BC, the Occupational Health & Safety Agency for healthcare in BC, as well as BC health authorities and healthcare unions. This training and certification is offered in collaboration with Fraser Health Authority.

Serving It Right is a mandatory course that educates licensees, managers, and servers about their legal responsibilities when serving alcohol, and provides effective techniques to prevent problems related to over-service.

This one-day course is designed for interdisciplinary front-line staff who work directly with clients with dementia. Taking a person-centered approach, this course teaches you to fully understand responsive behaviours and how to identify triggers in order to be able to respond effectively and appropriately in a workplace setting. You will learn personal de-escalation techniques, respectful self-protection and gentle redirection techniques for when responsive behaviours do occur.

The Personal and Professional Development (PPD) Skills Certificate is a combination of interactive, online modules and synchronous follow-up discussions that apply the general module content to the specifics of your program and future career. In addition to the Soft Skills Development module, you will develop your ability to work with diverse clients, patients, and colleagues through the Gender Diversity and Sexual Orientation; Disability, Neurodiversity, and Accessibility; Anti-Indigenous Racism and Indigenous Gender Diversity; and Anti-Racism modules.