David Tuck (pictured in the pilot’s seat of the trishaw) is a CMRT member who is concerned about the limited mobility and social isolation experienced by many people living in Aged Care. He takes up the story.
“Here’s a troublesome thought, with some redress. Sooner or later, each one of us will lose the capacity to experience the great outdoors under our own steam. What then? Well, even though it’s not as good as the real thing, walkers can get a mobility scooter, or ask a friend to propel them. And some cyclists, if they are lucky enough to live in Castlemaine or Maldon, can tap into the Cycling Without Age program being run at the aged care facilities at Dhelkaya Health (formerly Castlemaine and Maldon hospitals).
Most days of the week, volunteers take residents out on purpose-built trishaws — you may have noticed us riding around the Castlemaine Botanic Gardens or window shopping in Maldon or perhaps along the rail trail. We are certainly eye-catching: people smile to see us coming, typically with a pair of senior cits beaming from the front seat. We often pause to chat with passers-by, and getting permission to pat friendly dogs is always a highlight. We reminisce, we watch kids playing, we inhale the smell of crushed gum leaves from favourite trees and just generally enjoy the day. Almost everyone loves the experience and returns home in better spirits, having rejoined the ‘real’ world, felt the wind in their face, escaping a sterile air-conditioned environment to admire the natural and built environment. Staff sometimes comment on the apparent transformation of passengers after a trishaw excursion. Residents dealing with dementia, for example, may be better able to communicate on their return and appear to be happier in themselves.
Ever wondered if you have what it takes to be a pilot? Don’t die wondering — speak to Dhelkaya’s Volunteer Coordinator, Edwina Coller, (5471 3565 M. 0488 395 500) about volunteering as a trishaw ‘pilot’. You don’t need to be an athlete as the bikes are battery powered. After training, volunteers take two passengers out for an hour once a week. There is a quite moving 15 minute Youtube available that profiles how the program got started in Denmark more than a decade ago, and the effect it has had on participants (google Ted Talk, Cycling Without Age)”