Special bike takes dementia patients down memory lane

The Glebe Centre long-term care facility is using a special bike to help residents explore their hometowns andcountries they've travelledwithout leaving the building.

The jDome BikeAroundis a tool developed in Sweden that uses Google Street View to takeusers abike tour.

People sit in front of a domed screenwhile a projector shows the street from a computer. A set of bike pedals and handles in front of the screen allow peopleto move the image around and control what they're seeing.

But it doesn't just help residents get exercise, according toBecky Helmer, a program facilitator at The Glebe Centre.

"It has alot of emotional benefits from the reminiscingand bringing the resident back to places they've been or places that they've lived," she said.

BikeAroundis designed specificallyfor patients with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, and it's use in Ottawa isa Canadian first, according to The Glebe Centre.

Nursing home residents tour the world with technology

8 years ago

Duration 1:41

Susan Gillmor and Arnold Hagglund are two Glebe Centre residents who use the jDome BikeAround. Google Street View images on the screen ahead shift as the user pedals a stationary bike and steers with the handlebars.

Memories tied to locations

Biking through areas that hold significance to people helps evoke memories from their past, memories they sometimes share with centre staff.

"People will tell you things and you're like, 'Oh I never knew that about you,'" Helmer said.

"[One resident] who hasn't been to P.E.I. in about 30yearswent back to his family home, and got to travel on the streets where he used to see his friends."

And for residents who immigrated to Canada, it's a way to revisit their home countries.

'People are blown away'

"People are blown away because they sometimes think they could never go back," Helmer said.

For ArnoldHagglund, 89, who was born to Swedish immigrants, it is a way for him to continue to explore his roots."My cousin lived right there, and his name was Rolf what a character," he said, reflecting on one of his rides.

Helmer said bikingthrough parts of Sweden even helped Hagglundregain some of hislanguage skills.

"He's been singing in Swedish, which is really great."

Potential research opportunities

The Glebe Centre said the bike cost about $16,300 US, andan additional$200US permonthfor upgrades and maintenance.

But they seeit not only as an investmentin the wellbeing of residents, but a way to potentially unlock new ways ofthinking about dementia.

Local researchers have begun to express interest in working with the centre to study the effects this tool has on people with dementia, according to Susan Zorz, the centre's director of resident services.

"There are those possibilities. We'd love to be involved in research in some capacity with someone who's interested in partnering with us," she said.

The centre is also encouraging anyoneinterested in volunteering with the new program to contact them.