Think of Jackson Therapeutic Recreation as a day program that comes to you
Our professional recreational therapists provide 1:1 activity programs that help manage health challenges and protect physical, cognitive and social abilities.
You or your loved one will receive personal care, full attention and the best combination of skills and experience to make a meaningful difference in quality of living.
Customized activities and engagement
We are all individuals with special interests, unique strengths and personal goals.
Endless creativity, techniques and resources
Our team draws on countless resources to provide ongoing meaningful engagement
Measured results and detailed reporting
Yes we often have our clients smiling, but we are also very serious about achieving goals.
Quality, Trained Staff
The high-quality care that your loved one receives is a result of tough hiring standards, committed managers and an industry-leading staff development program.
Our recreational therapists stand out by engaging in continuous learning through an online library of accredited e-courses specifically designed for the Therapeutic Recreation profession.
The e-courses are written by experts from across the province with field-tested skill. With this resource at their fingertips, the Jackson Therapeutic Recreation team is at the leading edge among health-care agencies in our field.
All of our recreational therapists have completed college- or university-level education in the field of Therapeutic Recreation. These are the only people we hire.
Documentation + Accountability =
Positive Outcomes with RecTracker®
Everything we do is documented in our proprietary web-based system called RecTracker® and forms an Electronic Health Record (EHR). You can access your Client Summary page anytime to view assessment results, activity details, and data that tracks progress on goals.
Consultation
The first step is to get to know your, or your loved one’s strengths, interests and goals. Background information is gathered through interviews, conversations and observations. We learn about physical and mental health, what barriers exist, and previous life activities and interests. You can compare graphed assessment data over time to see longer-term trends.
SMART Goals
Our recreational therapist work is proactive and client-centred, and is meant to achieve measurable outcomes. We work with our clients, families and related health-care providers to set goals and objectives that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound.
Progress
As a JTR client, authorized family member or health professional, you will receive by email detailed reports for every therapeutic recreation session. Each session report accounts for how every minute was used and what benefits were realized. These reports can be copied to out-of-town family members, so everyone can be kept up to date. If your family member lives in a care facility, with your permission we send copies of the reports to the staff there, as well, so everyone involved with the care of your family member can do so in an informed way.
Insight
Taking data from the session reports, we present a simple way for you to see what types of activities are being used most often. Breaking down the time spent with your family member allows you to see where our efforts are being focused. This gives you and other health-care professionals a basis for suggesting changes or for confirming an approved course of action.
Scholarships
Professionalism
The following organizations represent and promote the profession provincially and nationally. Our team supports these organizations through memberships and conferences.
Testimonials about our Recreational Therapists
Testimonials refer to in-person service except where “Wellness Link™ remote service” is indicated.
Families say…
It was a good experience with Jackson Therapeutic Recreation and we would recommend it highly to anyone who asks. – Emily A.
(Wellness Link remote service) My family and I are using Wellness Link for a family member experiencing isolation and loneliness in his retirement home during COVID. He is so happy and looks forward to his weekly phone conversations that give him a chance to speak to someone other than the same family members who really struggle with new conversation. His therapist brings a newness and fresh topics and conversation to his weekly calls and this really takes the pressure off us. It has been a pleasure to work with Jackson Therapeutics and I would highly recommend them. – Cheryl F. (family of client Paul F below)
(Wellness Link remote service) I can honestly say (the recreation therapist) has been a big help getting back to myself, getting confidence in myself and feeling better. We have constructive talks that definitely have a positive effect for me. – Paul F.
I wanted to thank you and all your RTs that spent time with my mom – I truly believe that they made a difference in her quality of life. I found some pictures that you sent me from 2017 and it was great to see her engaged and smiling. Thank you again. Best wishes for 2021. – Judy P.
Thank you for providing such skilled and caring people to assist our family in making our Mom’s days engaged and interesting. Your staff invariably brought a personal touch that was greatly appreciated. – Murray L.
We have been dealing with Jackson Services for several years and are delighted with every aspect of their care and service. They are reliable, totally engaged with the client and responsive to every question we might raise. Jackson Services has given us a degree of peace about the care of our 100 year old mother that we otherwise would not have. Thanks to you all. – Dale C.
Once again, thank you and Katherine for the wonderful work you do. It is so needed in the community and I cannot think what people would do without your services. – Anne P.
Without doubt, your Recreational Therapists provided the best “quality” time during his stay in long-term care. They provided activities at a personal level that would be impossible for the institution to provide. – Joe W.
Your service is a blessing and needed in the community. The quality of your RTs is amazing. You must have an outstanding screening process and have very high standards. I have peace of mind knowing Elizabeth is visiting and engaging mom in activities that she knows mom will enjoy. Thank you for improving my mother’s quality of life with your service. With great thanks! – Katherine S.
I just wanted to say that my mother has gained a lot more confidence in herself and is taking on small tasks again at home that she was not able to do for a very long time. I attribute this to Lorraine. She has helped my mom a lot and my mother really enjoys talking and spending time with her. My sister and I are very pleased with her progress … we just wanted to let you know and please pass on a big Thank You to Lorraine. It means a lot to our family. – Lisa C.
Just read (the therapist’s) session notes from her last visit. Wonderful to read! We are so thankful for the superb input of (the therapist) and her approach with our mom. Please pass on to her thanks from the whole family. – Mary F.
Thanks again for all you have done thus far. It is wonderful to see Dad hopeful again!! – Marie J.
Please pass my compliments to my mother’s therapist. I’ve been reading her reports over the past few months and am really pleased with how she is engaging my mother. She seems to have set up a very good rapport with her and seems to know exactly how to engage her, even on days when my mother does not want to initially engage. I wanted to let you know how pleased I am. – Gabriele T.
Thank you so much and to all who spent time with our brother for the creative interaction and the support that was given to him. I certainly would highly recommend the services of Jackson Therapeutic Recreation to people who would have this kind of a need. Thank you once again for all your help. – Betty F.
The help, support and kindness you provided to my mother was very appreciated. Even though my mother was in a long-term care facility where “everything” was provided, she (we) needed the service your company provides. The Recreation Therapists were wonderful to my mother; I can recommend your agency wholeheartedly. Thank you. – Colleen W.
Good morning Matt! I am very pleased with our therapist. She is doing a wonderful job, please thank her for me! I have seen a dramatic difference with my mom this month and it is all thanks to her. I can’t wait to see how she progresses with increasing cognitive stimulation. Amazing service your company provides. – Rose D.
The therapist was wonderful to my dad. Your services and her Thursday visits provided relief to us one day a week and we felt he was in good hands. Thank you. – Sera M.
We have been using their services for four years for a family member in a nursing home. The quality of service in any such organization is the responsibility of the president. Matt Jackson is available and approachable. He has dealt with any issues we have had immediately and to our satisfaction. Our family member thrived on his weekly outings to the mall, the park or the pet store. Each session was followed by a written report describing in detail where they had been and what they had done. Our family would not hesitate to recommend this service and its president, Matt Jackson, to anyone. – Liz D.
We all wish to thank you for your continuing care of our mother (and mother-in-law). We are so pleased with all the reports and the way our mother is relating to the therapist’s visits. Please extend our sincere appreciation to the therapist. We are very well aware that dealing with our mother can pose some serious challenges and we are delighted with the attention and concern which the therapist is obviously providing. With all of us so far away and our visits to the nursing home so few and far between, your services give us confidence that our mother is receiving regular visits from a caring person. Thank you all!! – Carol, Gord and Dale C.
Matt, we would like to thank you for the excellent services that your company has provided to our parents over the years. Your staff provided excellent stimulation for both of our parents. The positive effect on both of them was noticeable and very much appreciated. The long-term care staff also commented on the positive impact of your staff visits on Mom and Dad. Their professional work was sensitive and conscientious and it provided us great peace of mind. Thank you so much. – M.G.
I travel overseas for extended periods of time. Although my dad was in an excellent long-term care facility, I worried about his having one-on-one time. The young woman sent to us from Jackson Therapeutic Recreation was amazing. She engaged my father in current events, read to him, found interest in his interests. He looked forward to her visits immensely. I was more than pleased. I was very grateful. – Sharon M.
Hi Matt. I am pleased with what I read in the RTs notes especially the cognitive stimulation parts. This is one bill I don’t mind paying. – Gail P.
(Wellness Link remote service) The COVID lockdown lasted a lot longer than I think most of us had thought. During this time, it was great that you contacted Wendy via phone, which was the only way at the time of staying in touch with her. She always told me that she looked forward to your calls during this time, so I think it was a very worthwhile endeavour on your part, and in fact it was an enormous help overall. Thank you once again for all that you have done for Wendy! – Kerry J. (family of client Wendy J below)
(Wellness Link remote service) I was always glad to hear from you, we had fun activities to do or fun things to talk about. Our time together went by quickly. When we couldn’t do much, I looked forward to the calls because we talked about interesting things. They made me feel good because the calls gave me something to look forward to, fun and interesting topics to talk about. I was always happy to hear from you. – Wendy J.
I wish all privately hired companions who have supported my mom gave reports like yours. It’s unsettling paying people to spend hours with my mom and hearing nothing of the experience. – Lisa S.
Our interaction with Jackson Therapeutic was excellent. Our Mother absolutely adored the assigned therapist (as did our entire family). They are a first class and effective organization. – Larry K.
I wish to acknowledge the excellent care my husband received from Jackson Therapeutic Recreation. When he was no longer able to go to a day program and as his frontal dementia advanced a LHIN case manager suggested I look into Jackson’s. The flexibility they showed and the individualized program that was developed and revised as needed played an important role in his quality of life. I believe it kept him brighter and more social over the fifteen months we used the services before he was moved to LTC. He often needed coaxing but always enjoyed the sessions. The timely reports kept me well informed about how the session had gone and when new or different programming was tried and how he responded. I would feel very comfortable recommending Jackson Therapeutic to families needing this type of support for their loved ones. – Linda J.
Matt, the RTs have enhanced my mother’s life dramatically. My mother always looks forward to seeing the RT every week. For me, I am so impressed by those you employ and your qualified high standards. I would highly recommend your company to anyone in need of such services. I am so thankful that Kelly (nursing home social worker) mentioned your service! – Katherine M.
I want to tell you again that I was so happy with your service, because it provided a much greater benefit to a person in my mother’s situation than just companionship. From my own point of view, it was a great comfort to be able to rely on your professionalism and expertise. Many thanks. – Peter T.
Thank you and (the TR) for your great effort. The staff at the facility report that your work is excellent and my father responds well. – Holly A.
Please pass on a great big thank you to (the recreational therapist) as my Dad seems to be developing a very important relationship with her and seems very much to enjoy her visits. It takes a lot of stress off me knowing he is enjoying her company and visits. I only wish I could be there as often. Again, thanks for great and much-needed service to all of us, including Dad. Take care and God Bless. – Diane M.
Your services were so important to my mother (as well as to me). Once again she started to believe that she was a capable person, and not just a patient in a long-term care facility. The recreational therapist was able to draw out the creative and humorous person that had been hidden inside. Best of all, her laughter and enjoyment of life will be with me for years to come. – Marie A.
It was a good day when I got in touch with you to arrange for your services (for my father) and I am very pleased with them. – Hilary M.
Your service has given me the best Christmas gift of all…. you’ve given me the gift of time with my mother. In my opinion, your staff person has been instrumental in slowing down the effects of dementia. Her approach with facility staff, the skill sets and the ongoing follow-up have all contributed to a successful match. Please ensure she receives the recognition she deserves for a job well done. I can’t thank you enough for bringing this into our lives. – Jon J.
I want to thank you for finding someone like (the RT) to visit my dad. I believe she made the days more interesting for him and helped him to enjoy the activities more. You provide a very special service and I thank you for all the help you have given us. – Diane W.
I just wanted to tell you again that I’ve had a very positive experience with your Recreation Therapy service and with the therapist in particular. Not only did we find the visits to my mom beneficial but I had many positive comments about our therapist from the doctor, members of the nursing staff and PSWs at the long-term care facility. I have already mentioned my experience with Jackson Services to other members of the Family Council at the facility and I would not hesitate to recommend you to others. Thank you again for providing this worthwhile service to residents in long-term care. – Liz G.
Dad spoke to us of visits by the therapist, providing highlights of their time together, which he enjoyed. I also received detailed reports on every session, indicating what the goals were for that session and upcoming sessions; and what had transpired during each visit. Dad’s progress was apparent in each report. We were able to correlate his progress with his mental, physical and spiritual health when we visited him. I’m so pleased that we hired Jackson Services. It made a tremendous difference. – Wendy M.
What your recreational therapist has been doing is priceless; we are blessed to have her. Prior to hiring Jackson Services, I was forever concerned my mother-in-law was not getting enough personal one-on-one attention, especially on those weeks we could not be there often. Now, we rest easy, as we know she is receiving not only great nursing care, but truly fabulous care with her recreation therapist. When we visit, she speaks of the girl who comes to visit and looks forward to these visits with joy. She shows off her projects, and I really believe this has helped her with her depression. She is more positive than before, as the therapist is showing her she still can do some of the things she loves to do. I only regret not knowing about this service earlier!!! I truly love what is happening to my mom-in-law, and will happily recommend this service to everyone I know. – Margaret R.
It’s worth every penny. Our aunt/sister is more enthused now when we are there, especially just after the recreational therapist has been there. She is attached to the recreation therapist and lights up when we mention that the recreation therapist will be back to see her. She takes more interest in her appearance like her hair, nails and clothing, and notices those things on other residents. She hurries up and finishes eating when the recreation therapist arrives. Through pictures, favourite books and old family stories our aunt/sister is able to talk about her life and recall memories, which is very useful for mental stimulation and helping slow the progress of her dementia. We feel so much better knowing that our aunt is not sitting there alone all the time with little stimulation. The caregivers at the facility do a great job on the basic needs, but can’t spend hours with each resident one-on-one. – Heather K.
Your recreation therapist has been visiting my mother in a care facility for four months now. My mother’s mental and physical well-being has improved dramatically in this time, due to more social interaction and having something to look forward to. You have taken a great burden off of me in my mother’s ongoing care – everything to gain and nothing to lose. – Frank M.
Health Professionals say…
Courtney is an inspiration and breath of fresh air. She has a true passion for Therapeutic Recreation, but most importantly the well-being of her clients. She is innovative, eager, and ambitious in everything that she does. Our residents have an increased quality of life as a result of the service that she provides. We have used Jackson Therapeutic Recreation multiple times for various clients with various needs and have never had a concern. We highly recommend!!!. – Katie H., Director of Resident & Family Services, King Nursing Home
For the past 3 years Jackson Therapeutic employees have demonstrated excellent customer service, compassionate care, and engaging interactions with our residents. Jackson Therapeutic Services is a service that should be considered for your loved one. – Felix Neira, Recreation and Rehab Progams Manager, Thorntonview LTC
The man that you are working with at our home has had some great successes even with the huge changes in his health status. – Julie Streit, Revera Living
I witness your TR practitioners implementing meaningful and measurable 1:1 programs. – Angela Everson, Manager of Recreation & Volunteer Coordinator, Revera Living
Knowing there is a resident benefiting from a one-to-one visit from Jackson Services makes it feel like we have another staff member. The Jackson Services staff becomes part of the interdisciplinary team by meshing their goals for the resident with ours, and the open communication and documentation from Jackson Services make achieving a goal much easier. Having JSI at our facility has been a positive experience for the resident, family members and the recreation department staff. We would recommend that all long term care facilities utilize this beneficial service. – Recreation Department staff member
Jackson Services continues to be a proven, effective service that has improved the quality of life for our residents here at our facility. The benefits experienced by those who use the service include an increase in social interaction and a decrease in feelings of isolation and loneliness. Keep up the good work! – Family Support Services Co-ordinator
Resident has improved in his ability to communicate his wishes with staff because of increased therapy on a 1:1 basis. – Recreation therapist
Our Recreation therapist from Jackson Therapeutic Recreation is phenomenal. She started working with a client who was in late stages of dementia. It is very meaningful for our residents to have this personal one on one time at that stage of the disease. Another client that she works with did not come out into the common areas before. Now with Amanda’s help she does and she stays and participates in conversation with others. Jackson Therapeutic helps us fulfill our goals as a facility which is to make clients and families happy. – Lisa Meyers, Health & Wellness Manager, Retirement Community
We at the Clarion have had your services several times and the families and staff have been pleased with the results. Having a TR that can meet the residents cultural needs is very important in our multi-cultural home. – Raz Skuja, Activities Coordinator, The Clarion Nursing Home
Your service has been a great asset to our facility and residents. With the ever-changing and challenging needs of residents in long-term care, it is nice to know that there is a recreation therapy service such as yours to help enrich their lives. Your staff have given some of our most independent, active and lonely residents something else to look forward to besides our regular programming and they have proven to work harmoniously with our own programs and recreation staff. Thank you. – Activity Director/Volunteer Co-ordinator
We are proud to say that we work with Jackson Services, providing one-to-one Therapeutic Recreation interventions to enhance the lives of our residents. We have seen first-hand that Jackson Services has impacted the life of a resident who has blossomed under the specialized attention given by their therapeutic recreation professional. We feel confident that Jackson Services adds to the 1:1 attention given to our residents, rounding out the services that we already provide. We feel that, working as a team, we will be able to provide quality Therapeutic Recreation interventions for all our residents. – The Recreation Department
There has been a marked improvement in this resident’s behaviour since we started on the TR visits. Our goal when originally requesting these visits was to manage her difficult behaviours. She is calmer and enjoys the company when JTR comes in “to visit”. As you know this resident is quite memory-impaired, which unfortunately causes a lot of undesirable behaviour, particularly suspiciousness and verbal aggression. Your staff is very patient and professional with her and it has been a great benefit to her. She sees your staff person as a friendly visitor and enjoys her company, as well. – Acting Director of Care