Recreation Therapy Puts the “Fun” in Functional
In observance of National Therapeutic Recreation Month, we would like to thank our Recreation Therapists by acknowledging all of their recently developed programs.
“We can help many Veterans Depending on what their goals are. From physical and psychological, to spiritual and emotional, depending on what is important to the Veteran. We find out what their goals are and what matters most in their lives, and that is where we start’ shares Recreation Therapist, Ethan Blumhorst.
In just a few short years, the Marion VA Recreation Therapists, Ethan Blumhorst and Jasmine Cave, have been able to build up a comprehensive outpatient recreation therapy program, along with supporting national VA competitions.
National Therapeutic Recreation Month is observed in February to appreciate the works of recreation therapists. It also focuses on raising awareness of the importance of participating in activities that help people with disabilities recover and maintain their overall health and well-being.
Jasmine Cave says that she “Came to the Marion VA because I wanted to share my experiences in facilitating different activity interventions like fitness, archery, yoga, mind-body activities, and animal-assisted services.”
VA Recreation Therapists support the VA’s Mission by providing services throughout the VA healthcare system. These services are provided in acute, outpatient, and home-based services. Several delivery methods of therapy are available which include in person and tele health options. The VA continues to be the largest employer of Recreation Therapists in the nation.
Ethan Blumhorst is our Recreation Therapist housed in the Residential Rehab Treatment Program. “I was a medic in the Army and wanted to continue to work in the medical field, and with Veterans. When I was in college I learned about recreational therapy and saw that as an opportunity to continue helping others. It’s so multifaceted where I can work in any department as a team member to help Veterans increase their overall health in so many different domains.”
Programs supported by our Recreational Therapists include:
Tai Chi
Yoga
Meditation
Archery (seasonal)
Kayaking (seasonal)
Hiking
Pickleball
Disc Golf
Drum class
Guitar class
Harmonica class
Qi Gong
Painting
Creative Writing
Our Recreation Therapists have also collaborated with the VA National Creative Arts Festival, the Sports for Vets Throwdown, as well as with Team River Runner, in providing Kayaking experiences in the nearby lakes. This year will also be the first year of participation in the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, Summer Sports Clinic and the National Disabled Veterans Golf Clinic.
For more information or to make an appointment, Veterans and providers can reach out to ethan.blumhorst@va.gov, or jasmine.cave@va.gov
About our outpatient Recreation Therapists:
Meet Ethan Blumhorst, Recreation Therapist and Army Veteran: "Working for the Marion VA is a way for me to continue to serve and work with fellow Veterans. I volunteered here and planned to move on but seeing the amazing staff and programs such as the RRTP with their dedication to serving our countries Veterans, I was lucky enough to be offered a job and seized the opportunity."
Jasmine Cave MPA, MSEd, CTRS is our newest Recreation Therapist for Whole Health. She came to Whole Health in December 2021 from SIU where she was faculty in the School of Human Sciences. She has facilitation experience in a variety of activity interventions like fitness, archery, yoga, mind-body activities, and animal-assisted services and has done an excellent job in building those offerings for our Veterans.