When my grandmother transitioned from living in her own home to a long-term care facility, it was tough on all of us, but most of all on her. It was clearly the right next step, as living on her own was becoming too much, but the loss of independence and autonomy is never easy.
One of the silver linings during that time was the programming and recreational activities offered by the care home. They gave her opportunities to do things she hadn’t done in years, try new hobbies and, perhaps most importantly, experience some of the freedom and enjoyment she had become accustomed to before moving into care.
Recently, I caught word of a local program aimed at helping seniors in care homes and retirement communities get outside and stay connected to the community, and it struck me because of how simple, but how meaningful, the idea is.
“The Cycling Without Age Trio Bike is a Volunteer Program that gives elderly and individuals with limited mobility free outdoor bike rides,” shared Shawna Mehlhaff, Recreation Program Coordinator at Durand Manor.
The program works by having volunteers take seniors out on a bike that has a front compartment designed for carrying passengers. Here in town, they have trishaw bikes, electric bikes capable of carrying two passengers on bench-style seating in front of the volunteer rider. There are two bikes available, allowing up to four seniors to go for a ride at a time, accompanied by volunteers.
The Cycling Without Age program operates in over 40 countries and has provided over 5 million rides to older adults.
“This brings a lot of joy, excitement and pleasure to those who love to be outdoors, doing something physical and connecting with locals in their community,” Mehlhaff shared.
But the rides are about more than simply getting out for a bike ride. They also give seniors the opportunity to visit places they may not often get to, or can no longer easily access on their own.
“We take the bikes along the river path, to the bakery for coffee, down by the campground, and to the ice cream shop, which we have gift cards in place to use for volunteers and passengers to get a sweet treat on a hot sunny day.”
There are usually many opportunities for recreation in retirement and long-term care homes, but what I think is so special about this program is the novelty of it. It offers a new experience, a chance to spend time outdoors and an opportunity to make new connections, all while visiting familiar places around the community.
For volunteers, the experience is new as well. The rides offer a fun and physically active way to spend time with someone in the community, while also giving volunteers the opportunity to learn about and connect with people they may not otherwise meet.
In an active bike town like Golden, it seems like there should be an endless list of people capable and willing to volunteer for a program like this. However, the program has had difficulty finding enough volunteers to maintain consistent rides.
While Durand Manor has been getting some rides in every so often, other homes haven’t been as lucky.
“For Mountain View and Abbeyfield it has been a bit more of a slow process to get going. Having more volunteers and availability will help keep the program consistent, individuals interested and the service being utilized throughout the week.”
The process of becoming a volunteer is relatively simple. Those interested can email Shawna at Shawna.mehlhaff@interiorhealth.ca to express their interest. From there, volunteers complete an orientation, sign a confidentiality agreement and complete a criminal record check. Once those steps are complete, they can begin joining rides and helping bring the program to more seniors in the community.
For my grandmother, having opportunities to get outside, try something different and take part in activities she enjoyed made a real difference during a difficult transition. I think that is what makes a program like Cycling Without Age so meaningful. It isn’t just about the bike ride itself. It is about giving people the opportunity to experience a little bit of freedom, adventure and connection when those things can become harder to access.
Golden is a community that prides itself on being active and outdoorsy. A program like this gives us an opportunity to make sure that being part of that community doesn’t have to end when someone’s mobility changes.
If you are someone who loves being active, enjoys meeting people and wants a meaningful way to give back, consider volunteering with Cycling Without Age. A bike ride that might seem like a small outing to you could be a highlight of someone’s week.
