It is said that once people learn how to ride a bicycle, they never forget it.
The same can be said for the feeling of exhilaration that comes the first moment the training wheels come off and balance and coordination set the rider in motion. When speed moves to momentum and riders feel the wind in their hair, it is like nothing else. For many that is a cherished childhood memory.
Rejuvenating that youthful feeling for the residents of Wellington Terrace, the county run long-term care facility at Wellington Place, is the goal of a fun, active volunteer program known as the Bike Buddy.
Colleen Cudney, life enrichment manager at the Terrace, explained the inspiration for the program occurred during a geriatric recreation workshop, where research was presented showing the “major benefits” of assisted bicycle rides for elderly persons with limited mobility or with some emotional issues.
Cudney said the initiative is particularly effective for residents dealing with issues of depression. “Just getting a person outside alleviates symptoms of depression,” she said.
Given the paved pathways around the Terrace at Wellington Place and the natural environment of the Elora Cataract Trail adjacent to the site, Cudney realized the program’s potential. “I thought this place was conducive to the bikes.”
She brought the research video to the staff at the Terrace to get their feedback, recalled Mary Black Gallagher, coordinator of volunteers. “When we saw the happiness of the riders on those bikes [in the film], it had the whole team in tears. It was so inspiring,” Black Gallagher said.
Setting the wheels in motion, the Terrace sought to purchase three specialized Duet Wheelchair bicycles, at a cost of $8,000 each.
Manufactured in Germany, the wheelchair bicycle tandem combines the latest in cycling technology with the safety standards of advanced wheelchair design. It features pneumatic-assisted steering, three braking systems for easy control, and a low centre of gravity for stability and weight distribution, making the bikes agile and easy to manoeuvre.
“We raised the funds to purchase the first bike from general donations,” said Cudney. “Our second bike came from proceeds of the former Second Time Around second-hand store in Elora.”
The Elora Legion, Branch 229, funded the third bike. It has operated a charitable wheelchair program for years by collecting soft drink tabs.
Those bikes created a unique volunteer opportunity, pairing riders and residents, allowing passengers and riders to get out and about in the fresh air. “It’s wonderful to see the faces on the residents, when they return from a bike ride … but the volunteers come back with a huge smile on their face too,” said Black Gallagher. “They feel like they’ve been helpful and done something good for our residents, and they have.”
Now in its sixth year, the success of the Bike Buddy program has grown and Black Gallagher is hoping new volunteers will climb on board.
“We currently have approximately 10 volunteers for this program,” Black Gallagher said. “To have all three bikes out two times a day, five days a week would be our goal.”
Ted Forrest, of Erin, is a semi-retired, yet seasoned Bike Buddy volunteer. “My retirement gig is activity. I am not a hobbyist,” he said. “This is good exercise but has a benefit both ways. It’s been very enlightening for me to learn about the residents and get to know them, and the one common factor in every passenger I meet is that there is always a smile on their face when they return home.”
Forrest enjoys getting to know his passengers, listening to them tell of their childhood memories about their own bicycles. For him, the importance of the simple leisure and health aspect of getting Terrace residents outdoors is rewarding because he sees the difference it makes in their lives.
“I have one lady that I stop and pick daisies and butter-cups for,” he said. “On the trail, I bring dog biscuits because there are all kinds of dog owners out walking … and the residents love to see the dogs … and people like to stop us on the trail and have a chat too.”
Black Gallagher enjoys seeing the Wellington Terrace’s Bike Buddies driving in the Elora Dominion Day parade every July 1. “The response our residents get from the crowd is amazing – and they love it.”
For Cudney, that is exactly what the program is all about. “For the rider, they get to engage with the driver of the bike, and for the volunteers, they get to share the rider’s experience on the bike,” she said.
Black Gallagher believes the program ends stigmas for older seniors and adds to the quality of life in a long-term care facility.
Cudney agreed. “It helps us keep connected to our community and that is important. Just because we’re not out in the community, in a long-term care home, doesn’t mean we aren’t part of the community. This program draws the public in and brings us out.”
Ninety-two year old Paul Mosher looks forward to his outings with Forrest, (or Forrest Gump as Mosher likes to call him). “I enjoy the fresh air. It feels good to have the wind in my hair,” Mosher said, “And I like being on the trail,
getting next to nature.”
But he chides his chauffeur, “He’s not fast enough,” he said, laughing.
Door to door service is another feature of the special bikes. Volunteers can pick up their passengers right in their own rooms, making the activity easily accessible to most residents.
“I always tell people who think about volunteering. “Where else can you ride your bike inside?” Forrest quipped.
The camaraderie between Forrest and Mosher is indicative of the experience Black Gallagher has worked to create between the residents and the volunteers.
She designed an orientation program for volunteers aged 18 and over and offers a 30 minute course to ensure volunteers understand the ease of using the bikes and the safety measures in place to ensure a safe ride for all.
“The recreation staff do some thorough assessments for resident eligibility,” Black Gallagher said, explaining the recreation team does that as part of its therapeutic recreation interventions, with many volunteering their own time to take part in Bike Buddies too.
“There are limitations to who can ride in these bikes,” Cudney said. “Passengers have to have a good static positioning [to sit upright], and there are weight restrictions.”
Forrest assured anyone considering becoming a Bike Buddy that the cycles are easy to use. “These bikes are so well designed and engineered,” he said, adding safety is the top priority. “Our volunteer training makes the volunteers ride in the passenger seat and practice with other volunteers.”
On the initial ride, a recreation staff member escorts the volunteer and resident.
Other safety implements are in place, such as procedures to sign residents in and out, safety belts for the passengers and helmets for everyone, and two-way radio communication devices for riders and Terrace staff, so there is contact at all times.
“We are privy to the information of the residents,” Forrest said, ensuring that volunteers understand the individual needs of their passengers.
The maximum time for a bike ride is one hour, but Forrest explains that it depends on the comfort of the passenger. “I generally take three or four people for rides about 25 to 35 minutes each.”
With a cycling season from May to October, volunteers are asked to make a commitment of one to two hours a week, flexible to their schedule. Forrest admitted he looks forward to spring every year. “The next cycling season comes and I have to get back to the Terrace to get my fix.”
That is exactly the kind of enthusiasm Black Gallagher hopes to foster. While she is happy to see two-thirds of the Terrace’s population is able to use the program, more volunteers are needed to ensure every resident interested in participating gets a turn.
To be a Bike Buddy volunteer, the requirements are simple. Applicants must enjoy riding bikes, have a friendly disposition and be patient and dependable.
For more information or to become a Bike Buddy, contact Mary Black Gallagher at 519-846-5359, extension 266 or email maryb@county.wellington.on.ca.
