326-J:1 Definitions. –
In this chapter and RSA 328-F, unless context otherwise requires:
I. "Board" means the recreational therapy advisory board.
I-a. "Executive director" means the executive director of the office of professional licensure and certification.
II. "Recreational therapist" means a person currently licensed to practice recreational therapy in the state of New Hampshire.
III. "Recreational therapy" means a treatment service designed to restore, remediate, and rehabilitate a person's level of functioning and independence in life activities, to promote health and wellness as well as reduce or eliminate the activity limitations and restrictions to participation in life situations caused by an illness or disabling condition.
(a) For purposes of accomplishing therapeutic recreation goals, recreational therapy may include:
(1) Remediating or restoring an individual's participation levels that are limited due to impairment in physical, cognitive, social, or emotional abilities.
(2) Analyzing and evaluating recreational and psychosocial activities to determine the physical, social, and programmatic elements necessary for involvement and modifying those elements to promote full participation and maximization of functional independence.
(3) Using recreational modalities in designed intervention strategies to maximize physical, cognitive, social, or emotional abilities.
(4) Incorporating the individual's interests and the individual's family and community to maximize relevance to the individual's goals.
(5) Promoting the concept of healthy living into treatment strategies to decrease the potential for secondary conditions.
(6) Developing community support and encouraging attitudinal changes to reflect dignity, self respect, and involvement within one's community.
(7) Fostering peer and intergenerational relationships.
(b) Recreational therapy services include, but are not limited to:
(1) Conducting an individualized assessment for the purpose of collecting systematic, comprehensive, and accurate data necessary to determine the course of action and subsequent individualized treatment plan.
(2) Planning and developing the individualized treatment plan that identifies an individual's goals, objectives, and treatment intervention strategies.
(3) Implementing the individualized treatment plan that is consistent with the overall treatment program.
(4) Systematically evaluating and comparing the individual's response to the individualized treatment plan and suggesting modifications as appropriate.
(5) Developing a discharge plan in collaboration with the individual, the individual's family, and other treatment team members.
(6) Identifying, designing, fabricating, applying, or training in the use of, adaptive recreational equipment.
(7) Identifying, applying, and evaluating the use of non-invasive and non-pharmacological approaches to reduce or alleviate pain or manage pain to minimize its impact upon participation.
(8) Identifying, providing, and educating individuals to use resources that support a healthy, active, and engaged life.
(9) Minimizing the impact of environmental constraints as a barrier to participation.
(10) Collaborating with and educating the individual, family, caregiver, and others to foster an environment that is responsive to the needs of the individual.
(11) Consulting with groups, programs, organizations, or communities to improve physical, social, and programmatic accessibility.
Source. 2006, 220:1, eff. July 1, 2007. 2022, 72:4, eff. July 19, 2022.