Benson House Residents Take To The Open Roads On A Trishaw Ride
When George King, Customer Relationship Manager at Benson House, read a Facebook post from a group in nearby Wallingford, he saw a wonderful opportunity for the care home’s residents.
At Caring Homes, our programme of activities for residents is designed to be varied, accessible and adaptable for all. As part of this, we encourage interaction with the great outdoors - in whichever way suits each individual – because of the positive effect it can have on our residents’ wellbeing. With opportunities to get outside more limited in winter, George was excited to read about a local group called Cycling Without Age.
Cycling Without Age
Cycling Without Age was founded in Copenhagen in 2012 and it is now a global non-profit movement with chapters across England & Wales. Thes groups are run by volunteers, including Mick Heath, who heads up the Wallingford branch, near to Benson House. The volunteer ‘pilots' take passengers on trishaw cycle rides - three-wheeled electric cycles with a passenger cab at the front – the objective being to give elderly and frail members of the local community the chance to feel the wind in their hair, share stories, and reconnect with the wider world.
When George introduced the possibility of a trishaw ride at a recent residents’ meeting, Grace, Janet and Margaret immediately volunteered to take part in the first outing from Benson House. Wellbeing Coordinator, Rajaa offered to accompany them and the date was set.
Fresh Air, Music and Laughter
With the UK seeing the wettest start to a year anyone can remember, so it was a relief to wake up to a dry morning. The day of the ride was typical of February - fresh, with patches of blue sky visible from behind moody clouds and a brisk breeze - so our Benson pioneers were wrapped up in multiple layers before being settled comfortably into two trishaws, ridden by Mick and co-volunteer, Tim. The group enjoyed a ride that lasted around 30 minutes, up towards the village centre and around on a circuit that included testing out the newly constructed bike lane. There was laughter all the way and the music - chosen by Rajaa who’s from Morocco and shared a playlist of the country’s hits - added to the spirit of adventure!
Making a Difference – One Ride at a Time
On their return to Benson House, the ladies were brought back into the home, rosy cheeked and exhilarated. Janet remarked that it was so much fun; she’d had a great time and it reminded her of when she was younger. Tea and cake were served – the perfect ending to a thoroughly enjoyable outing and, we are sure, the first of many. Janet’s husband said that it was great for her to get out in the fresh air and have some fun which is exactly what Cycling Without Age aims to achieve; they see the rides as helping people experience their surroundings in a different way and importantly, promoting mental health and boosting social and emotional wellbeing by reducing loneliness and fostering joy.
Benson House is keen to support this wonderful community resource, which is free for participants and run by volunteers, so it’s dependent on grants, fundraising and donations. Having seen the positive effect of the ride on our residents Janet, Grace and Margaret, we can confirm that Cycling Without Age is undoubtedly making a difference, one ride at a time.
Discover Comfort, Compassion and Community at Benson House Care Home
Our purpose-built luxury care home, Benson House in Wallingford, provides residents with high-quality nursing, residential and dementia care on both permanent and short-stay basis. Benson House is centred around our residents, their needs and their wishes.
With various social lounges, a cinema room, bistro area and hairdressing salon, there’s plenty to keep residents engaged.
For more details about the care we offer, visit our Nursing Care and Residential Care pages. Learn more about our specialised Dementia Care. Call us today to arrange a tour or for more information on 01491 523 703
