ABOUT US :
WHERE DOES A REHABILITATION ASSISTANT WORK ?
Rehabilitation or Therapist Assistants can be found working under the direction of Physical, Recreational, and Occupational Therapists, in several different capacities. For the most part, they work in areas such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers, extended care facilities, intermediate care facilities, assisted living facilities, mental health programs, child development centers, community programs and private practice. Their scope of practice is from pediatric care to geriatric care.
WHAT DOES A REHABILITATION ASSISTANT DO?
They carry out the programs created by the therapists. These programs serve to enhance, improve, maintain, or restore the individual's independence and quality of life.
They carry out recreational, occupational, and physical programs to facilitate the mental, emotional, spiritual, physical, and social wellness of the individuals in their care.
As part of a multidisciplinary team, they observe and report changes, developments or other pertinent information to therapists, nurses, care staff and family.
They are trained to know of the client's diagnosis and basic history, the client's goals and limitations, the guidelines and protocols of treatment, and to be able to discuss treatment programs with the therapist.
They maintain, clean and report any concerns regarding equipment used in treatment such as wheel chairs, walkers, splints, canes, mechanical lifts, exercise equipment, recreational equipment etc.
They are trained to communicate effectively and professionally as well as to practice in an ethical and legal fashion.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PROGRAMS RA'S FOLLOW?
Exercise programs, involving stretching, strengthening, range of motion, coordination, stimulation, balance, and socialization.
Positioning programs for comfort, contracture management, skin integrity, and palliative care.
Mobilization involving gait training and walking, transfers, moving in bed and bed exercises, recovery from hip, knee or other surgeries, and the use of equipment such as walkers, canes, crutches, wheel chairs etc.
Neurology exercises involving communication, memory, ADL's (activities of daily living), relearning necessary skills, coordination and motor control, unilateral and bilateral exercises, balance, and overall cognition.
Rehabilitation exercises involving slings, pulleys, springs, transfer techniques, weights, treadmill, parallel bars, stationary bicycle, balance, gait training, pool exercises, theraband and ball exercise programs.
Recreational programs involving arts, crafts, music, reading, movies, bowling, bingo, reminiscing activities, outings, discussion groups, exercise classes, hand massage, nail care, pet therapy and one on one time specific to each individual.
Social exercises and skill retraining programs such as teaching personal banking, shopping and purchasing things, taking the bus, attending community groups successfully, keeping a home clean an organized, maintaining relationships and other social / life skills.
These are just a few examples of the exercises and programs that Rehabilitation Assistants deliver under the direction of an Occupational, Recreational or Physical Therapist.
WHY WOULD ONE WANT TO HIRE A REHABILITATION ASSISTANT?
By hiring Rehabilitation Assistants it allows the therapist more time to work on other areas other than hands on / direct client care. The therapist can be more involved in education for clients, staff, family and others involved in the care of the client. They have more time to assess and re-assess programs created for the clients in order to provide the best care possible. They can fully depend on the RA's to carry out exercises and programs effectively. By working together, therapists and assistants are able to see more clients than the therapists working alone. The therapists can also depend on the RA to report observations, changes, gains, declines, needs, wants etc. This also provides the therapist with more information to create more effective programs to suit the client and help them achieve their goals.
LINKS:
P.T. Associations- BC Physio
O.T. Associations- occupational therapists
Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists
The BC Society of Occupational Therapists
College of Occupational Therapists
R.T. Associations BC Recreation therapy
Canadian Therapeutic Recreation Association
EDUCATION:
Here in Kelowna, the Rehabilitation Assistant course is offered at Okanagan University College. It has just been developed into a two year diploma program and OUC is now accepting applications for fall 2005. There are three other colleges that offer a Rehabilitation / Therapist Assistant course, see the links below for more info.
PRACTICUM AND CLINICAL EXPERIENCES
Practicum sites may be in places such as hospitals, intermediate and extended care facilities, community agencies or private agencies and government institutions. Locations are throughout B.C. and Alberta. Efforts are made to accommodate student's preferences for locations of clinical practice. Students must arrange their own transportation to and from the practicum sites. In most cases a valid driver's license and access to a reliable vehicle is required. Any travel expenses are the student's responsibility.
EDUCATION COST (APPROXIMATE AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
To be updated.
HOW TO APPLY
Applicants should apply online at ouc.bc.ca/admissions. Application forms may be obtained in person or by mail from any Okanagan University College centre.
LINKS:
Other colleges that offer Rehabilitation Assistant or Therapist Assistant courses are as follows:
MEMBERSHIP:
If you choose to become a member of this Network, it will provide you with the most current Job Postings from different sources, discounts on courses and conferences (where applicable) as well as other information that will be group e-mailed to members only. As our membership grows, we will be able to offer our members even more! Most of all, developing a large membership will allow us more of a "say" regarding educational changes or other changes in our profession. Please note, you will need an e-mail address or hotmail account in order to receive membership information such as job postings.
To become a member of the Rehabilitation / Therapist Assistant Network, please send your full name, address, e-mail address and a phone number to rehabtherapistassistnetwork@shaw.ca Once we receive your info and request to become a member, we will send you the address to which you can send your cheque or money order.
The cost of membership is $20.00 per year, and membership dues are due on July 1st, 2004. On April 1st, 2005, membership dues go down to $10.00 until July 1st, 2005 when they go back up to $20.00.
CONTACT :
Karla Fredrich - President
Please send us your questions, comments, thoughts, stories, and any other important or relevant information that we can share with our members. Our address is rehabtherapistassistnetwork@shaw.ca
THOUGHTS, ideas, AND STORIES:
It took me a long time to get this web page done, and it is still under 'construction'. I just want to thank all of those who supported me and encouraged me to get it done. I think it is a great start to a very good thing for Rehabilitation / Therapist Assistants in BC.
Karla Fredrich, President.