SearchRecently, Curtis White, CTRS, our Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, and several of our other mental health professionals worked directly with our residents, by going on an afternoon outing of fun in the sun at Ridge Island Groves in Haines City, Florida. Residents had the opportunity to try some really freshly squeezed orange and tangerine juice and to check out a variety of citrus related gift items in the Ridge Island Grove gift store. There were several locally supplied honey brands, sauces, fresh farm eggs and homemade candies, just to name a few. Additionally, our group was shown the machinery they use for the processing, moving and washing of Florida oranges. These outings and other recreational activities are a regular part of our therapeutic process at Pasadena Villa. Our licensed staff members are right there, beside our residents, providing guidance while out in the surrounding community and later on while back inside our premier facilities.
Residents and staff also got to tour some working orange groves. Each resident got an entire bag full of Page Oranges to take with them. Page Oranges are a cross between a Clementine Tangerine and a Honeybell Tangelo. It was a wonderful treat and said to be one of Florida’s best kept secrets. Although relatively smaller in size, they are very sweet, juicy and delicious!
During our outing we also got to tour the hydroponic area and were amazed to learn about the set up. Everyone clearly enjoyed eating fresh, sweet, ripe strawberries right off the vine. There were many different fruits and vegetables being grown in this specific area, including green beans, onions, cabbage and lettuce, The fruits and vegetables almost seemed to glow in the lovely green pathway in the tropical sunlight.
Another special part of the visit was a visit to the baby chick area, to view the adorable baby hens. The hen house, hens and all the fencing actually moves each week in the grove area, so that the hens always have delicious fresh grass.
However, the best treat from the outing had to be the ice-cream we had at the end of our visit. It tasted just like an orange creamsicle! The following day Marnita Patton, MA, ATR, CCBT, CGT, CDP, Art Therapist at Pasadena Villa Orlando, posted a sign for residents that read: “Bring your orange to the 9:00am Open Art Early Bird Class” where everyone was able to work with pastels, oil pastels, and tempera paint to create a still life picture of their orange.
Our recreational therapy incorporates resident interests, their family and the surrounding community. It is extremely individualized to each person’s interests, abilities and lifestyle. It also provides a unique perspective regarding the social, cognitive, physical, and leisure needs of the resident. Recreational therapists merge the concepts of healthy living into real time treatment to develop improved functioning and to enhance independence and successful involvement in all aspects of life.
Pasadena Villa programs set out to create a comforting and therapeutic environment while promoting mental health and a socially fulfilling future. We do things that a normal family would do. Our staff and residents learn and model appropriate social and communication skills including daily mealtimes, as well as many relaxing arts, crafts and recreational activities.
Our mental health professionals work directly with residents. They observe them in actual social situations and incorporate these observations directly into the resident’s ongoing treatment plan. This individual real life personalized attention makes the Pasadena Villa treatment experience more appropriate, relevant and beneficial for each of our residents, especially when compared to any other available adult residential treatment mental health services.
The Villa Orlando and Pasadena Villa’s Smoky Mountain Lodge are adult intensive psychiatric residential treatment centers for clients with serious mental illnesses. Our outpatient center is located in Raleigh, North Carolina. We also provide other individualized therapy programs, step-down residential programs, and less intensive mental health services, such as Community Residential Homes, Supportive Housing, Day Treatment Programs and Life Skills training. If you or someone you know may need counseling on mental health services, please fill out our contact form or call us at 407-574-5190 for more information.
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