Interested in enriching people’s lives?
If you enjoy:
- Working with older adults and people living with a disability
- Planning recreational activities and events
- Helping people feel a sense of purpose
- Engaging people in the arts
- Connecting with people on a spiritual level
Then consider a career in long-term care recreation and life enrichment.
This page is part of our Careers in Long-Term Care Initiative.
Explore life enrichment careers
Recreation Aide
What they do
Recreation aides help organize and lead recreation programs for residents. This may include physical, cognitive, social and emotional care activities. Recreation aides work with recreation therapists and are part of a team that coordinates with volunteers, family and other team members to keep fun and community in LTC homes.
Learn more about what recreation professionals do in LTC.
Education required
- College
- University (optional)
Related careers
- Volunteer coordinator
- Recreation aide
- Recreation therapy assistant
- Music therapist
- Art therapist
- Clergy/spiritual leaders
- Activation manager or life enrichment manager (management)
- Director of recreation/life enrichment (management)
Recreation Therapist
What they do
A recreation therapist (RT) plans, organizes and leads recreation programs for residents. They use physical, cognitive, social and spiritual activities to engage residents in fun and meaningful activities, provide purpose, and promote independence.
Learn more about what recreation therapists do in LTC.
Education required
- College
- University (optional)
Related careers
- Volunteer coordinator
- Recreation therapist
- Music therapist
- Art therapist
- Clergy/spiritual leaders
- Activation manager or life enrichment manager (management)
- Director of recreation/life enrichment (management)
Music Therapist
What they do
An Accredited Music Therapist (MTA) uses music to support residents’ health and well-being. Music therapists use music to impact the cognitive, emotional, physical, social, sensory, spiritual, and communicative needs of residents.
- Music therapy interventions developed through music-based, verbal, and/or non-verbal communication
- Conduct resident assessments, develop treatment plans, implement therapy processes, and evaluate progress
- Music therapy can be used for residents living with dementia, physical disabilities, speech and language impairments, and visual impairments
- Music Therapy can be beneficial in spiritual care, pain control, palliative care and also meaningful shared experiences with residents and their families
Learn more about what music therapists do in LTC.
Education required
- University
- Internship
Related careers
- Volunteer coordinator
- Occupational therapist
- Recreational therapist
- Art therapist
- Clergy/spiritual leaders
- Activation manager or life enrichment manager (management)
- Director of recreation/life enrichment (management)
The webpage is part of the Ontario CLRI at RIA’s Careers in Long-Term Care Initiative
