This is the ARCHIVE SITE - IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTAbout ATRA
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April 28, 2003
Contact: Laurie
Jake, ATRA Communications Coordinator
Phone (480) 460-1525 or
Ann D Huston, ATRA Executive Director
Phone: (703) 683-9420
First Class graduates with Flying Colors for the ATRA Dementia Practice Guidelines
In continuing efforts to advance the care of individuals with Dementia, the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) is pleased to announce the results of the first approved training workshop and competency based testing for the new Dementia Practice Guidelines. The first ever group of DPG Training attendees, including 45 Recreational Therapists and 2 nurses all achieved successful passing scores. The training is structured in six 50-minute segments, with a test associated with each 50-minute segment. Areas covered in the training include; knowledge/understanding of dementia, appropriate selection of interventions, assessment and identification of the disturbing behavior to treat. At the conclusion of the training, a case study test is completed that pulls together the knowledge and skills covered in each of the segments.
As quality of
life issues become increasingly more recognized by the healthcare
community, experts agree that nonpharmacological interventions
such as recreational therapy should be attempted before medications
are prescribed for disturbing behaviors. Earlier this year,
ATRA released the highly anticipated Dementia Practice Guideline
for Recreational Therapists to assist in the management of
disturbing behaviors for older adults with Alzheimer's disease
and related dementias.
The Dementia Practice Guideline training is focused on ensuring
that recreational therapists have the skills and knowledge
base to successfully implement the new DPG. ATRA will offer
future regional workshops to make certain that the Dementia
Practice Guidelines can be implemented throughout the country.
In addition, ATRA has plans to post a Dementia Practice Recreational
Therapist Directory onto ATRA website, which will include
the names of everyone who has successfully passed the training
and is qualified to implement the DPG for consumer and employer
use. The need for this program is great. According to the
Alzheimer's Association approximately 4 million Americans
currently have some form of Dementia.
The Dementia Practice Guideline is intended for recreational therapists working with older adults with dementia in all care settings. The American Therapeutic Recreation Association, the largest, national membership organization representing the interests and need of recreational therapists, will coordinate the trainings and the distribution of the Dementia Practice Guidelines.
ATRA President Glenn Thompson explains, “ATRA's Dementia Practice Guidelines represent an exciting advancement in the management of dementia. This new publication and training provides a tool that can make a marked difference in the quality of life for a person living with dementia”.
For more information, please contact Laurie Jake, CTRS, ATRA Communications Coordinator at (480) 460-1525 or the ATRA National Office at (703) 683-9420.
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The American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) was founded in 1984 to advance the profession of therapeutic recreation. ATRA is a non-profit, professional membership organization dedicating 100% of resources and efforts to promote therapeutic recreation professionals in health care and human service settings. For more information, please contact the ATRA National Office at the information below.