ntcRcom
(J>ukc univcusity mcdicM ccnteR.
VOLUME 19; NUMBER 12
MARCH 31, 1972
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA
On Psychiatric Wards
Recreation Service Benefits Patients
i.
Basketball? In the Hospital?
Yu p.
For the patients?
Yup. Though it's hard for most of us
to picture, it happens all the time.
And basketball is only one of the
activities the patients on Duke's
psychiatric wards can take part in
through the department's Recreation
Service.
"For the most part, our patients are
ambulatory and interested in doing
things," Eileen Schafer, therapeutic
recreation director for the Psychiatric
Inpatient Service, said. "Unlike patients
on some wards who can't physically
participate in recreation, our patients
need this type of activity."
Because of the diversity of
backgrounds and interests of the patients
on the psychiatric wards, Mrs. Schafer
and her staff plan as wide a variety of
activities as they can dream up and carry
out.
It wouldn't be unusual for a week's
schedule to include a picnic in the Duke
Gardens, a card party, a sing-along, a
volleyball tournament, and assorted
indoor and outdoor games. The
Recreation Service averages more than 30
programs each week.
By now you're probably wondering
where one stages a basketball game or a
volleyball tournament in Duke Hospital.
On the patio, of course. The patio is
actually part of the roof of the Main
Entrance Building that was planned for
recreation activities. It's adjacent to all
three psychiatric wards.
Indoor projects are set up wherever
the staff can find room. Each ward has
what's called a "day room," or commons
area, for some activities. Others are held
in the department's large group therapy
room in the evenings.
The Recreation Service also has access
ir'"’
1
FINISHED PRODUCTS—Jean Crosby, arts and crafts instructor with the
Recreation Service, displays some of the handiwork done by Duke patients, (photo by
Lewis Parrish))
to one of the physical therapy areas so
that patients can participate in exercise
sessions if they wish.
Several times each week, the
Recreation Service plans special outings
like taking in a play on the Duke campus
or spending an evening at a local
miniature golf course.
"We like to include both social
activities and special interest projects
each week," Mrs. Sch'afer said.
In addition to sports, games, and trips,
the patients can work on an impressive
array of arts and crafts activities.
When Duke's Occupational Therapy
Department closed last summer, the OT
room near the psychiatric wards and its
equipment and supplies were transferred
to the Psychiatry Department.
Under the direction of Jean Crosby,
who has a degree in art from St. Andrews
College in Laurinburg, the arts and crafts
section offers patients instruction in more
than 40 different fields ranging from
macrame and decoupage to candle
making and leather tooling.
The recreation program is planned as
part of the patient's therapy and the staff
is confident that it is beneficial to the
patients. There are circumstances where a
physician might not permit a particular
patient to take part, but this is rare.
"Sometimes patients feel unproductive
(continued on page two)