People of Perley - Rachel Dobson

At Perley Health, recreation therapy is where people find their rhythm again, whether through music, movement, or shared moments with friends. It's the heart of Recreation Therapist Rachel Dobson's work as she helps residents stay connected to themselves and to the community around them. 

Rachel's path to her career started early in life. Growing up, her parents enrolled her in a wide variety of activities, from baseball and singing to skating and baton. She didn't know it then but those experiences were already shaping her future. 

Her mother encouraged her to study therapeutic recreation at Brock University. A placement in a long-term care home became the turning point. “That's when I fell in love with seniors.”

It's a connection that has deepened over the years. “You get to meet so many different people, hear so many different stories,” says Rachel. “We're seeing people at the end stage of their life, but we really try to make them have the best quality of life while they're here.”

Recreation therapy plays a vital role in long-term care. It supports physical and cognitive health and helps residents stay socially engaged. Many people find comfort and structure in recreation programs that bring them joy and purpose into their daily lives. 

Recreation programming, part of the Ozerdinc Grimes Family Therapeutic Recreation and Creative Arts Program, at Perley Health is wide-ranging, from bingo and trivia to century celebrations. 

“Perley Health has one of the largest recreation teams that I've worked with,” says Rachel. “It's a lot of fun working with artists, musicians, music therapists. We do a lot of collaborative programs. Some of my favorite events are our big concerts and themed parties, where we all dress up and sing together.”

Working with Veterans has been especially meaningful. For Remembrance Day, she accompanied a group of Veterans to the National War Memorial. “We were piped in and got a standing ovation,” she recalls. “That was very special to see.”

For Rachel, participation in recreational activities is never an all or nothing proposition. If a resident can't join in, she and her team look for other ways to bring that interest into their day, such as arranging an outing, or simply reminiscing. It's part of Perley's mission to treat every resident as a whole person, not just as a bystander.

Recreation therapy is baked into Rachel's career in other ways too. “I cook an average of 12 turkeys a year,” jokes Rachel. “Lots of stuffing, lots of potatoes.” (She readily shares the secret to a moist turkey: “Low and slow.”)

Rachel first started at Perley as a recreation programmer. Today, she plans large-scale events and contributes to the organization in other ways, including serving as co-lead of the Cultural Awareness and Inclusion Committee. The committee's work helps ensure residents from diverse backgrounds feel respected and supported, right through to end-of-life care. 

Through every role she has taken on, she remains inspired by the sense of community at Perley, both for the residents and the staff. “We all are working here knowing that we're making people's lives better and we're here for that one common goal,” says Rachel. “It's a very meaningful, impactful job that doesn't feel like a job when you do come to work.”

“We all are working here knowing that we're making people's lives better and we're here for that one common goal,” says Rachel. “It's a very meaningful, impactful job that doesn't feel like a job when you do come to work.” Rachel Dobson, CTRS, Recreation Therapist