About
Katelyn is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) and dementia care specialist who is a proud alumnus of the University of Lethbridge—Bachelor of Therapeutic Recreation program. She began working in seniors’ health and therapeutic recreation in 2011. Katelyn worked closely with Dr. Sienna Caspar to launch the Relational Care Knowledge Hub and the Therapeutic Recreation Centre of Excellence. She regularly volunteers with Resilient Rec YQL, AdaptABLE Outdoors, Alberta Therapeutic Recreation Association, Canadian Therapeutic Recreation Association, and other community partners. As part of her master’s thesis, Katelyn completed a mixed-methods case study to explore the organizational contexts which enable or impede the translation of evidence-based practice into direct client care.
Clinical Experience:
Long-term care, supportive living, acute care, and community.
Dementia care specialist: private consultant implementing home care services and respite for persons with dementia who are aging-in-place within their home. Experienced in cultivating strong relationships with families and caregivers.
Focus: Dementia Practice Guidelines for the non-pharmacological treatment of the psychological symptoms of dementia, community re-integration, social connection, role fulfillment, activities of daily living, leisure education for caregiver burnout, wheelchair biking, Montessori-based therapies, horticulture and gardening, failure-free expressive art, cognitive stimulation, aquatic therapy, and music care.
Teaching Experience
Katelyn began instructing in 2020 and has taught in the therapeutic recreation programs at both Lethbridge College and the University of Lethbridge. She focuses on facilitating interactive and experiential classroom lectures that target field-based application. She is passionate about therapeutic recreation and student success.