Leisure Activities in hospitalization contexts

Abstract

The acquisition of an illness creates a before and after in a person’s life history; in the case of this paper, the focus will be on so-called acquired physical disabilities. In some cases, this situation is accompanied by a process of hospitalisation, which creates a rupture in everyday life, in maintaining meaningful relationships and in participating in the usual spaces of circulation. In these types of institutions, the focus is usually on the sequelae and their rehabilitation, which often means that leisure takes a back seat. It is proposed to adopt a broader and more reconciliatory vision between therapeutic activities that are in line with the hegemonic medical model and those that are not, but that also improve the functionality, well-being and quality of life of the person. The aim of this paper is to make known and highlight the importance of participation in leisure activities for adults undergoing rehabilitation within a hospital setting, as well as to make an approach to some possible ways of accompanying them from an occupational therapy perspective.