Bill and Glad Forward have been in love since they were sixteen. When they first met, Bill would ride his bike to her house every Saturday afternoon, and the two would ride around town together.
They continued their cycling tradition after they were married, securing a baby seat onto the front of their bikes, allowing them to take their children with them on their outings.
In 2004, Glad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and their perfect world was thrown into a tailspin.
Glad’s mobility became more and more limited as her condition steadily worsened. Bill, who had taken on full responsibility for his wife and became her primary caregiver, did not want her to miss out on their favorite past time – cycling.
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Bill designed a unique bicycle just for Glad. He designed a tricycle hybrid with a special chair attached to the front where Glad could sit. He began peddling her all around their neighborhood on the sunshine coast. The sight of the two of them riding around on this unique contraption immediately gained the admiration of locals.
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Even though Bill’s primary motivation to build his special bike was so he could keep riding bikes with his wife, he was benefiting her in many ways. Because of his ingenious contraption, she still go out and feel the sunshine on her shoulders and the wind in her hair. This is the most valuable gift Bill could have possibly given her.
The mental and physical benefits of enjoying some fresh air are many. It can help to relieve stress, vitamin D from the sunshine can boost our mood increase bone strength, and of course, exercise can improve our physical health, help us to maintain a healthy weight, and even improve our self-esteem.
For someone with limited mobility due to a disability, getting outside is not always easy or achievable. Too often, these people end up with no way to safely enjoy the outdoors.
The reality is, even if someone isn’t able to do much outdoors, the simple act of being outside in nature can have a positive impact on their mental and physical health. Being in a natural setting with fresh air and sunshine can provide a significant mood boost, and studies have even shown that for people suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia, the effect of bright light alone can help to slow down cognitive decline.
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Sunshine, in effect, is good for your brain.
People with physical disabilities such as dementia and Alzheimer’s tend to have higher rates of depression. Researchers believe that the incidence of depression among people with either dementia or Alzheimer’s ranges from thirty to forty percent.
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Depression is also the most common secondary condition associated with a disability. People with disabilities often experience social isolation as well, causing negative self-esteem, low self-confidence, loneliness, and conflicts with friends and families. Because of this, the likelihood that a disabled person will attempt to take their own life is much higher.
Getting outside allows disabled people to get fresh air and to have social interactions. In fact, according to a study at Stanford University, getting outside could be the best thing anyone can do to improve their mental health.
According to wheelchairtravelling.com, approximately 560 thousand people with disabilities don’t leave their homes because of transportation issues. We now must look to urban planners, landscape designers, and public policymakers to ensure that our outdoor spaces are designed with accessibility at the top of mind.
