QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
Programming Designed for a Healthy Mind and Body
By Cynthia Helzel A
n innovative new product for stimulating the mind and body has made its first appearance in
American senior living communities. Named BikeAround™, the system com-
bines the elements of an exercise bike with a large domed screen displaying images from Google Street View. Users pedal and steer through the interactive images to “visit” their childhood homes, check in on past workplaces, and look around their favorite vacation spots. BikeAround was designed to combine
reminiscence therapy with safe, customized physical exercise for people with dementia. Riders are encouraged to talk about what they see and remember, which adds a social dimension to the experience. Senior Star is the first senior living oper-
ator in the U.S. to use the system, which is made in Sweden by Camanio Care. Senior Star received its first six bikes at the end of 2017 and added five more at the beginning of 2018. The company now has BikeAr- ound in all of its communities. Although BikeAround was originally cre-
ated for people with cognitive impairment, it has benefits for everyone from memory care residents to those in independent living. “All residents are able to engage with it and it’s easy for all associates to learn how to use it,” said Taylor Hernandez, director of innovation for Senior Star. Staff and family members are encouraged to use the bikes as well.
How it works Using BikeAround is simple. A staff mem- ber or other helper gets the resident seat- ed comfortably on the bike and types the desired address into the computer. When a familiar location is displayed on the screen,
Program director Sonya Pratt sets the course for resident Kathryn to bike to favorite destinations she’s visited in the past. Photo courtesy of Senior Star.
the staff member encourages the resident to engage with the images and talk about what he or she sees. The jDome screen, which was originally
invented for gamers, was incorporated to make the biking experience feel more life- like. The rider sits very close to the dome, filling his field of vision with the images, and the view changes as he navigates through the scenery. “We can see the residents turning their
heads to look around to see what’s on the street or what’s to the left or right of them,” Hernandez said. “It’s almost like virtual reality, but without having to wear the goggles.” The bike can also be used with a flat screen monitor or television, which is
46 SENIOR LIVING EXECUTIVE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
sufficient for those without cognitive im- pairment. However, it doesn’t provide the optimal BikeAround experience. “The immersive jDome makes you feel like you are really there,” said Jasmine Dahlberg, head of operations at Camanio Care. “That makes it easier to trigger the memories of someone living with dementia.”
Reminiscence therapy BikeAround is very effective in helping res- idents connect with their pasts. People with dementia have become much more alert and talkative as they recall vivid memories of places, people, and events inspired by something they see on the screen. “For that moment in time, during that experience, they are back to reality as if they didn’t have de-
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