Wheelchair Biking
Many elderly people suffer from undiagnosed depression. Dr. Lin Buettner conducted research focusing on residents of nursing homes, and found that they exhibited fewer symptoms of depression after a two-week wheelchair biking program. The patients in the study communicated more and came out of their rooms more, and their family members and staff members of the nursing home enjoyed getting out and riding with them.
In April 2008, ctr Therapeutic Recreation students, under the direction of Dr. Buettner, conducted a wheelchair biking program at Whitestone-A Masonic and Eastern Star Community. The oldest resident to participate in the program was over 103 years old.
[WFMY-2 Coverage of the Biking Program at Whitestone ]
[COMING SOON: pictures of the Wheelchair Biking Program at Whitestone]
Buettner also has researched other programs to help elderly people with depression or dementia, including therapy using pets, and a program called "Simple Pleasures" in which items such as a sensory vest, sewing-quilting cards, "look inside" purses and fishing boxes, wave machines, home decorator books and activity aprons are made and used to interact with nursing home residents.
