Recreation therapist, Kelsey MacNeil, supports seniors to stay healthy and live well

For recreation therapist Kelsey MacNeil, helping seniors stay active, emotionally well and socially connected isn’t just a job—it’s a passion.

Recreation therapy uses activities people enjoy to support a person’s overall well-being. It can help reduce isolation, manage stress, improve physical and thinking skills and support people to live well at home. 

Recreation therapy can be especially helpful when someone experiences changes in mobility, memory, motivation, mood or social connection.

“My role is about learning what brings someone fulfilment and helping them build confidence and skills to get them back to those activities,” says Kelsey. “It’s incredibly rewarding.”

Since September 2025, Kelsey has worked as part of the Seniors’ Care Team in the emergency department at Cape Breton Regional Hospital in Sydney. This team is part of a pilot program launched at four emergency departments across Nova Scotia.

The goal is simple: help seniors get the right support at the right time so they can return to the place they call home. Research shows people recover faster and more fully at home. Avoiding unnecessary hospital stays lowers the risk of complications, such as exposure to other illnesses that can lead to longer hospital stays.

Along with recreation therapists, Seniors’ Care Teams may include a care co-ordinator, nurse, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, pharmacist, exercise physiologist and social worker. At Cape Breton Regional Hospital, the team works closely with emergency department staff, patients and care partners to ensure each person receives personalized support that reflects their unique needs. 

Frailty can increase health risks for older adults. Understanding a person’s level of frailty, using the Clinical Frailty Scale, helps the team plan an older adult’s care needs more effectively. When someone over the age of 65 arrives at the emergency department, the team assesses their level of frailty using that tool. 

Kelsey works closely with the exercise physiologist to support patients in transitioning home. The team helps connect patients to community programs and other supports. When needed, they also offer follow-up visits in people’s homes or community settings to encourage ongoing activity, confidence and independence.

Kelsey brings strong experience to her role. She holds a bachelor of recreation with a focus on recreation therapy and a minor in psychology from Memorial University of Newfoundland. She earned her certified therapeutic recreation specialist (CTRS) designation in 2012 and has worked with Nova Scotia Health ever since, including roles in long-term care and Mental Health and Addictions.

“Our team helps seniors age well, stay independent and continue living meaningful lives in their communities,” says Kelsey.

Photo of Kelsey MacNeil, B.Rec Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist.