“The challenge of our time is to build an environment that meets the needs of both the elderly and the young.”
Supporting our elders is a future challenge.
“How can we add a grain of meaning to our care for the elderly today?” Considering this reflection on how each of us could contribute to the well-being of our elders and those with reduced mobility to access social activities or medical appointments, an idea begins to germinate… that of “biclos for healthy aging.”
The idea, first and foremost, is to allow people to reconnect with each other through a simple object: the tricycle.
The benefits are multiple: we escape our isolation, we share, we recharge.
What may seem like a simple outing for some can be much more complex for others.
This project is a call to everyone to be aware of the need for intergenerational solidarity. The “Les Biclos du Bien-Vieillir” project, based in the heart of the Chalabrais region, is part of a vital initiative to address the challenges of an aging population, particularly in terms of mobility. Maintaining mobility autonomy is crucial, not only to promote social inclusion, but also to preserve the health and quality of life of older adults.
“Les Biclos du Bien-Vieillir” is a health and social project initiated by Biclorama, the Chalabrais Cycling Club, as part of our “Lever les Freins” action plan, which aims to facilitate mobility for older adults. This project represents an example of a local program focused on active aging, supporting both physical and mental health through the use of tricycles as a practical means of assisted transportation and positive social interactions.
Context and Issues
In France, a quarter of people aged 75 and over do not leave their homes all week. One in four seniors over 75 encounters several obstacles to their mobility. Chalabre currently has approximately 1,100 residents, including 298 over 65 and 96 over 80. In terms of mobility, an aging population presents specific challenges for older people: maintaining everyone’s autonomy in their travels is essential both for social integration and for preserving the health of our aging population. The reality of nursing homes is “painful”: on average, 85 years old, the people they care for most often suffer from multiple, chronic pathologies and behavioral disorders. These establishments, which should be “places of life in which we care,” are today “places of care in which we live.”
In Chalabre, car travel is the predominant mode of transportation, particularly for short journeys (less than 2 km).
It is therefore necessary to encourage users to thrive as they age, to use active modes of transportation in safe and secure conditions.
From retirement to entering old age, mobility needs and constraints vary greatly. As we age, our physical and cognitive abilities decline more or less rapidly.
The “Les Biclos du Bien-Vieillir” Project
The project is based on three main axes, or “pignons,” aimed at promoting soft mobility and the social inclusion of seniors. To address these challenges and instill a collective culture of access to soft mobility, Biclorama aims to launch the project on these three “pignons,” thus aiming to support the associative work of ECKCO (collaborative spaces of Kercorb) by promoting intergenerational exchange and enabling our seniors to leave their homes with support:
Pignon 1 – In its first phase, “Les Biclos du Bien-Vieillir” is aimed at residents of the Chalabre nursing home via adapted hiking trails along the greenway on a converted electric-assisted tricycle, driven by a trained and experienced ambassador. It is planned that these outings will be offered to family members of our nursing home residents and will include young ambassadors as companions, in collaboration with the Antoine Pons Middle School, to strengthen intergenerational bonds and provide warm support.
Pignon 2 – The other dimension of the project, with the support of the Christina Clinic and Dr. Bernatas, aims to partner with the Association of Care Professionals of Kercorb (APSK) as part of the Primary Care Team (ESP) project, and more specifically its “frailty screening and management” component. The aim is to provide an alternative transportation solution for our seniors who experience difficulties in their daily travel, whether to visit a healthcare professional or to access dependency prevention activities. They would thus benefit from a means of transportation thanks to a chauffeur-driven tricycle, thus offering a local service, strengthening ties and solidarity, and preventing health problems related to dependency.
Pignon 3: Support access to culture for all, particularly for socially isolated older adults. The project will enable us to shape and promote a future of sustainable, efficient, and inclusive travel.
Provide a supportive and innovative mobility solution that truly meets a growing need.
In close collaboration with the ECKCO third-place, we will enable our seniors and nursing home residents to access and participate in collective activities and cultural events on the Chalabrois community calendar (e.g., workshops, exhibitions, concerts, artists to watch, serenades, the Rose Festival, etc.).
This also aims to place our seniors at the heart of community concerns by taking into account the mobility difficulties of people with reduced autonomy.
As well as, we will promote intergenerational integration by strengthening our ties between local stakeholders, communities, and young citizens.
Collective Vision and Role of the Community
Here is a brief outline of the initial steps of the “Biclos du Bien-Ageillir” project to facilitate mobility for our seniors in the Chalabrais region.
This project’s ideas are not exhaustive; other initiatives remain to be developed. I hope this project will enrich us, fuel our curiosity, and mature our thinking about aging well.
