The sight of elderly Edinburgh residents enjoying a spin on three wheels could soon become commonplace – thanks to the delivery of a new form of transport to Inch View Care Home in Gilmerton.
Decorated with streamers and balloons, Edinburgh’s first care home ‘trishaw’ arrived in style yesterday at the assisted living facility, where the vehicle was greeted by excited staff, volunteers and residents.
The rickshaw-style device can comfortably seat two residents at a time and will be driven by volunteer cyclists, who plan to pedal willing residents through Inch Park. The initiative has been generously funded by donations, Cycle Without Age and National Lottery Funding following a campaign by the Inch View Care Home itself.
Care Home Manager Jane Brown said: “The staff and residents are thrilled with their new set of wheels and with our successful funding bid! The trishaw has arrived in perfect time for Spring which means our residents can get that bit more active and closer to nature as the weather gets milder and the local park starts to bloom.
“It can be difficult for some of our residents to socialise or to get outside and enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits a visit to the park can bring. But, thanks to our amazing volunteers who will donate their time to make these journeys possible, the trishaw is going to change that. We can’t wait to get out into the park and surrounding area. I can’t thank the staff and our sponsors enough for making this a reality.”
Councillor Ricky Henderson, Chair of the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board, added: “This is a fantastic way for residents to get out and about and enjoy a spot of fresh air. As many of us get older, we start to lose our mobility and our independence but the enjoyment of a spin through the park never gets old. These trishaw rides will make the park accessible again for many people. Well done to everyone at Inch View who has raised the funds to make this happen.”
The arrival of the new mode of transport was met with enthusiasm from residents and volunteers, who participated in a try-out of the trishaw last summer.
Stuart McKenzie, a volunteer at Inch View Care Home, said: “We arranged a trishaw try-out last summer which was a great success. I recall smiling faces and excited voices as everyone took their turn for a spin around Inch Park.
“I, along with our other volunteers, look forward to being able to offer daily outings and build new friendships with the residents of Inch View.”
Inch View resident Joan, aged 96, said: “Getting out on the bike felt magical, it was wonderful, I felt so alive.”
Fellow resident Rab, aged 69, told us: “Our trial afternoon last summer was great, really enjoyable, I’m looking forward to getting out on the trishaw again – maybe go to the drive through Costa for a coffee with the staff.”
While Robin, aged 79, added: “I really enjoyed it, it was great fun the staff were brilliant getting me on the trishaw!”
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