Abstract
Statement of Problem
In today’s society, many older veterans are experiencing social, physical and emotional deficits due to their living environment. Based on these deficits, Veteran Affairs (VA) Community Living Centers (CLS’s) are providing a supportive living environment encouraging social engagement and physical activity. This research project examined the efficacy for nature-based interventions for aging veterans with various disabilities, residing in a community living center, through participation in a recreational therapy program. The purpose of this project was to create an innovative 6-week nature-based indoor/outdoor leisure education program using Behavior Activation for aging veterans residing in a Veterans Affairs (VA) Community Living Center (CLC). Several aspects of programming were considered and evaluated throughout the process of developing a program named “N.A.T.U.R.E. (acronym = Nature, Appreciation, Therapeutic, United, Recreational, Environment), a 6-week nature-based indoor/outdoor leisure education program using Behavior Activation for aging veterans residing in a VA CLC.
Sources of Data
Analysis of the literature, connecting resources through the VA CLCs, identification of an aging veteran population, and locations (types of centers best served) were all instrumental in the research methods process. The literature review suggested aging veterans residing in CLCs could best be served with the N.A.T.U.R.E. program, a 6-week nature-based indoor/outdoor leisure education program using Behavior Activation for aging veterans residing in a VA CLC.
Conclusions Reached
As more people are aging, there will be more older veterans in need of CLCs. The research in the development of this project will help to inform the VA’s Recreation Therapy Departments in the development and implementation of a N.A.T.U.R.E. program, of its use in healthcare and community-based practices, through leisure recreation therapy programs, as they are designed to meet the specific rehabilitation needs of aging veterans residing in CLCs. Since nature-based interventions (NBIs) are considered a recreational/leisure therapy, the recreational therapy profession should be a leader in the promotion of implementing a nature-based leisure education program for veterans residing in a CLC, and to incorporate the development of research examining its effectiveness in improving mental health, physical functioning and quality of life.