Special Care Aides' Attitudes Toward Therapeutic Recreation for the Elderly in Long-Term Care

Abstract

There is great interest in enhancing the quality of life for residents in long-term care facilities and, in that regard, therapeutic recreation is receiving substantial attention. In order for residents to benefit from therapeutic recreation, it is important for all professionals in long-term care homes to have positive attitudes and behaviors toward therapeutic recreation. Special Care Aides have the most contact with elderly patients and are the largest segment of staff that works with the aged. Without the cooperation of Special Care Aides, therapeutic recreation activities will not be successful. The purpose of the present study was to examine Special Care Aides and Care Aides attitudes toward therapeutic recreation for the elderly in long-term care homes using Ajzen's (1991) Theory of Planned Behavior. Participants were 78 Special Care Aides and Care Aides from four long-term care homes. The Therapeutic Recreation Attitude Measurement(TRAM), a revised version of the Leisure Attitude Measure, was used to assess attitudes and behaviors toward therapeutic recreation for the elderly. Participants' intention to perform positive behaviors toward therapeutic recreation predicted their behavior. Participants' cognitive attitudes toward therapeutic recreation influenced participants' behavioral intentions. The implications of these findings for advancing the acceptance of therapeutic recreation activities were discussed.