Health Promotion and Therapeutic Recreation in Rural Longterm Care

Abstract

The importance of health promotion and maintaining wellness for seniors is widely acknowledged. Nevertheless, little research has explored the intersection between the rural context and its influence on the process of health promotion within long term care (LTC) settings. Our research sought to examine this intersection. Semistructured interviews and document analysis were conducted, and the data were analyzed using thematic analysis and the socio-ecological model. This allowed us to examine the influences of various social systems on understandings of health promotion and outcomes. The results suggested the role of therapeutic recreation teams and a multidisciplinary approach to care within the LTC considerably influenced the way health promotion was engaged in the facility. Challenges and opportunities of carrying through these initiatives in a rural setting made evident the need for a context-focused approach to care. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.