They also help them recover from an illness. In hospitals and rehabilitation centers, recreational therapists help patients recover from medical problems. They consult with doctors, psychologists, and other medical workers about the patient. Therapists also assess patients based on medical and family information. They develop and carry out activity programs for each patient.
Therapists observe and record patients' progress.
These records are used to monitor improvements and make changes to programs. In nursing homes, therapists improve the general health and well-being of a group of people. However, they still work with individuals and on medical problems. Activities for these groups include sports, games, and field trips. Therapists at nursing homes may be called activity directors.