Recreational Therapy at Niagara Health

Niagara Health values the important role recreation therapists play in supporting patient well-being and quality of life. Their professionalism, experience and dedication to patients and families are recognized and appreciated.

In Ontario, recreation therapy is not a regulated health profession and hospitals are not legislated or required to employ recreational therapists. The profession is voluntarily self-regulated through a professional association with established standards of practice. Like all hospitals, Niagara Health determines its staffing models based on patient needs, quality standards, clinical evidence and available resources.

Recently, a small number of recreational therapy roles were affected as part of broader organization-wide staffing changes announced in November. These decisions followed extensive efforts to manage financial pressures and were made carefully and in accordance with collective agreement obligations. Recreational therapy services have not been eliminated across Niagara Health, and recreational therapists continue to work in our hospitals.

Recreational therapists continue to play an important role within our mental health services as part of interprofessional care teams. In complex continuing care and low-intensity rehabilitation settings, care is delivered by interdisciplinary teams that may include a range of health professionals working together to support patient goals. In alignment with clinical standards, regulated rehabilitation professionals such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists provide essential assessment, treatment and support to help patients transition back into the community.

Across all complex continuing care settings, the shared focus is on engaging patients in meaningful, goal-directed activities that support functional ability, promote independence, and help prepare them for transition back into the community. Care planning remains individualized and coordinated with patients, families and community partners.

As Niagara Health moves toward a three-site hospital model, we are working to consolidate and standardize complex continuing care programs to improve consistency, sustainability and quality of care across Niagara.

Patients remain at the centre of everything we do. We recognize that change can be difficult, and we are committed to communicating openly, engaging respectfully and supporting employees through this transition while continuing to provide safe, compassionate, high-quality care.