Therapeutic Recreation Month Highlight: Kiara Lynch

This February, we are celebrating National Therapeutic Recreation Month. At Shannex, we are lucky to be surrounded by talented and committed Great People who work every day to improve the quality of life for residents. Recreation is a huge part of what keeps residents happy and healthy, and it’s something they look forward to daily.

A typical day for Kiara Lynch, Manager of Recreation and Volunteer Services at Losier Hall, Miramichi, N.B., includes assessments, planning, leading activities, one-to-one visits, and adapting programs and activities to meet the individual needs of residents. Kiara sees it as meeting residents where they are and helping them feel engaged, valued, and supported.

Kiara consistently works to make a lasting difference, increasing social connection, supporting physical and cognitive health, and giving residents a sense of accomplishment and belonging, while also allowing them to express themselves and continue doing things that bring meaning to their lives. Kiara says, “It is so rewarding to find ways that someone can do something again that they previously loved.” She strives to reconnect older adults with their past through activities by creatively adapting the programs for each resident’s needs. She says, “What always stands out most is seeing residents find themselves again through participation and social connection and watching someone light up during an activity that connects to their past interests or maybe even a new interest, whether it’s music, exercising, or a simple shared conversation.”

Kiara is focused on making programs accessible for all residents.  “I think it is so important to take the time to learn about each resident’s interests, abilities, and life experiences to help support their diverse needs and abilities,” she says. Collaboration with residents, families, and the care team helps ensure programming supports both individual goals and overall wellbeing.

Since she was young, Kiara knew she wanted to work in therapeutic recreation. When she was in high school, one of her classes visited a local long term care home each week to volunteer. Kiara formed meaningful connections with residents and recognized how powerful activities and socialization are in enhancing the quality of life for older adults. Through the classwork, Kiara was inspired to pursue a career that would make a difference for older adults. She now hosts the same high school class at Losier Hall to continue inspiring students and supporting older adults.

Kiara praises, “Therapeutic recreation is an extremely rewarding field where small moments can have a big impact. If you enjoy building relationships and making a difference in people’s lives, this career offers endless opportunities to do just that.” She believes that if you lead with empathy, creativity, and patience, you can make a lasting difference in the lives of older adults.

We appreciate Kiara and all our therapeutic recreation team members for their commitment to enhancing the lives of residents.