What is Diversional Therapy?

Understanding Diversional Therapy in Aged Care

Have you always wanted to help elderly people, but don’t know where to start?

Do you long to leave work at the end of the day knowing that you made a positive difference in people’s lives? Well, you’re not alone, because many people feel the same way! That’s why a career in diversional therapy might be the break you have been searching for to fulfil your dreams!

Diversional therapy in the aged care sector is all about designing client centred activities that help individuals to feel empowered and live their best lives. The focus is on improving an individual’s quality of life through a variety of activities that support their psychological, spiritual, emotional, social and physical needs.

Where patients suffer from cognitive or physical disabilities, it’s important to promote individual choices, decision making and participation. Activities are therefore designed specifically for each individual, tailored to their specific needs and optimised to achieve the maximum amount of enjoyment and fulfillment.

At NCA, we provide an entry level Certificate IV in Leisure and Health that targets the aged care sector. This course supplies all the skills and knowledge you will need to prepare for work as an allied health assistant, which involves delivering therapeutic and program-related support to allied health professionals. It’s a general course, designed to give you the skills and knowledge needed to work across a range of allied health services under the guidance of an allied health professional. People working at this level may have some supervisory duties and be responsible for the performance of support level workers.

A diversional therapy assistant who works in the aged care sector designs, manages and facilities leisure and recreational programs that enhance the lives of the elderly residents in his or her care. These activities are designed to provide opportunities for individuals to willingly  participate and in so doing, promote their own self-esteem and personal fulfilment.

Freedom of choice is an integral part diversional therapy, so the therapist will assess the recreational needs and abilities of each patient in order to design programs that support their physical and emotional needs. For example you may design physical exercise programs, social activities, such as movie nights or day trips, craft programs and education classes.

If you have a caring and compassionate nature, good communication skills, love solving problems, and have excellent organisational skills, a career as a diversional therapy assistant might be the solution you need to live your best life!

A diversional therapy assistant who specialises in the aged care sector may work in aged care residential facilities, palliative care units, day care and respite centres, mental health centres, private practice, private and public hospitals, and in specialist organisations who focus on delivering aged care disability services in the community. As a diversional therapy assistant, you will find career opportunities across Australia in cities, small towns, rural and remote areas.

As a diversional therapy assistant your day may begin by meeting with an elderly patient’s family to discuss their leisure and recreational needs. You later combine this information with your own assessments and design a leisure program for their relative that supports their daily needs and life goals. You may attend another meeting with allied health workers and professional health staff to discuss the progress of an individual patient, followed by supervising the work of volunteers as you deliver a managed activity to a group of elderly residents.

If you want a career that helps people to live their best lives, then a diversional therapy assistant might just be your ticket to a life well spent! Anyone who feels passionately about contributing to the health and well-being of our elderly population will find an enormous amount of satisfaction in this line of work. As a diversional therapy assistant you can take advantage of job opportunities across Australia, living life on your own terms!

Other related Courses you may be interested in:

Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance – HLT43015