It may not be a career you've considered, perhaps you did not even know such a field existed, but there's a growing need for recreational therapists in Bermuda.

At present there are only eight. And although it might sound like it, these are not part-time psychologists listening to people's problems as a hobby. In fact they are not psychologists at all.

The field is a broad one with opportunities to work in hotels and cruise ships, schools, health clubs or anywhere physical activities need to be coordinated.

Recreational therapists in the healthcare industry undergo additional training and can be found in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and palliative care facilities.

As Government have undertaken a review of nursing homes it is anticipated that use of recreational therapists will be strongly encouraged and perhaps even made compulsory.

So what do they do? Capri Smith is the recreational therapist at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and her day is filled with providing functional activities for patients in the Continuing Care Unit, the Alzheimer's and Related Disorders Unit and for clients brought in for day care.

At the moment, that numbers about 168 people and by the end of August she expects and additional 20.

The majority of her clients are seniors and it's her responsibility to try and get them up and about, moving around doing real things.

In addition to getting patients to physically move, the work of the recreational therapist is to have patients mentally engaged also.

In her overall plan, Ms Smith tries to ensure that activities that stimulate each of the senses have been employed.

"A recreational therapist is someone who does functional activities to give clients a better quality of life," said Ms Smith.

At KEMH she assess the functional capability of each of her clients to determine the types of activities suitable for them.

"We focus a lot on community events and in-house have exercise, massage therapy, bingo and even cooking."

She and staff also teach daily living skills like washing dishes and setting a table.

The idea is to encourage and provide opportunities for patients to function as normally and as fully as possible, instead of simply allowing them to lie in their beds or putter about their rooms pointlessly.

In this way it also caters to the mental well-being of the patient.

Knowing that they have something to do will give them a sense of purpose and can even help in distracting them from worries that may otherwise completely occupy their minds.

Actually carrying out a particular activity also helps to sharpen the mind.

Many of our learned behaviours if not practiced, can be forgotten. So that it is possible to forget something as simple as how to brush your teeth.

While another goal of recreational therapy is to make the individual as independent as possible, Ms Smith said a new feature of her programming includes linking with other facilities.

For example, this week the Matilda Smith Williams Seniors Residence will host a tea party for Ms Smith's Continuing Care clients and on Friday a picnic at Clearwater Beach will include those groups as well residents of Lorraine Rest Home, Lefroy House, the Silvia Richardson Care Facility and the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute.

Bed ridden patients are the most challenging for Ms Smith.

Devoted to her clients she finds it heart wrenching that their participation in many of the organised activities is limited. "I wish that I could do more for my in-house clients," she said.

In order to keep their minds alert and stimulated she has put together a sensory cart.

The cart can be easily wheeled from room to room and holds a variety of items that engage the senses.

There are furry items, items that light up, items that are bumpy, items that may spark a memory or simple interest like a toy dinosaur.

At KEMH, Ms Smith has five aides that carry out the activities she has organised.

She has provided each of them with information on upgrading and becoming a certified recreational therapist.

"The programmes are available online but it is up to each of them how they want to proceed," she said. But she is concerned of the lack of Bermudians studying in the field. "I think there is only one," she said.

Ms Smith said the absence of requests for summer students to intern with her at KEMH, is a reliable indication of the lack of Bermudians pursuing recreational therapy training.

Recognising the ageing population is increasing, Ms Smith sees the need for recreational therapists increasing.

This in a climate where she feels she is already understaffed and could use two additional therapists.

Yesterday marked the start of Recreational Therapy Week in Bermuda and an open house in the lobby of KEMH gets underway today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today.

Demonstrations of activities and information on training opportunities will be provided.