Reimagining rehabilitation

At the heart of the Ralph H. Johnson VA’s innovative approach to rehabilitation is Vinny Costagliola, a dedicated certified therapeutic recreation specialist and certified personal trainer.

His unique background and commitment to enhancing Veterans’ quality of life through recreation therapy are making significant strides in its rehabilitation and overall well-being.

Costagliola brings over eight years of experience to his role and has worked with a diverse range of clients—from pre-adolescents to geriatrics. 

His journey into recreation therapy was driven by a passion for helping people reintegrate into the community, enhancing their leisure education skills and solving the unique challenges posed by their varying access to resources. 

“I enjoy finding ways to adapt certain activities to meet their needs,” he shared.

His work involves a meticulous process of assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation to tailor recreational activities that foster physical health, recovery and well-being. “This helps the trainer and Veteran to create realistic goals to ensure we set up the Veteran for the best chance of success,” he said, of his process.

“We create a treatment plan to help them achieve their goals.” 

A typical day for Costagliola is conducting initial assessments to planning individualized treatment sessions. He ensures each Veteran’s needs and goals are met with the utmost care and professionalism. 

“During the assessment, we talk about what they want to accomplish from treatment. We create a treatment plan for short and long-term goals to help them achieve their goals,” he said.

The significance of recreation therapy in Veterans’ rehabilitation cannot be overstated. It offers a path to restore, remediate and rehabilitate their level of functioning, promoting health and wellness while reducing the activity limitations caused by illnesses or disabling conditions.

“Even on my worst pain days, he somehow motivates me to keep moving,” said Army Sergeant Major Gareth Hilton. “His activities are tailored to what I can handle but still make me feel like I’m actively improving.”

Costagliola’s work alongside his colleagues spans various settings within the healthcare system, ensuring even homebound Veterans or those with limited access to transportation can benefit from these services.

Teaches Whole Health class

Veterans have felt the impact of Costagliola’s work firsthand. 

His dedication extends beyond individual sessions. He also teaches a Whole Health intro class, emphasizing the importance of empowering Veterans to take charge of their health and well-being.

On Whole Health, he said that “It will give the Veterans the proper knowledge and understanding for them to take the best course of action for their treatment. I’ve seen a difference in the Veterans that I am currently working with. Quality of life for Veterans has improved because they trust the process and have realized that adapting their leisure activities brings them more enjoyment to their lives.”

Through Costagliola and his colleague’s expertise and compassion, recreation therapy at Ralph H. Johnson VA is not just an intervention—but a transformation, enabling Veterans to reclaim their independence, engage with their communities and achieve a higher quality of life.