French elderly care home residents surf in Channel
An elderly care home in Brittany is encouraging residents to remain active in old age, by offering 鈥渟urf therapy鈥� lessons in the waves of the English Channel.
The Ehpad (elderly care home) in Dol-de-Bretagne (Ille-et-Vilaine) the sport to its residents, many of whom have eagerly taken part.
鈥淪urf therapy鈥� requires participants to lie forward on their boards, rather than stand - and seeks to encourage confidence, agility, and wellbeing.
One participant, 83-year-old Marie-Anne, who has done three sessions,: 鈥淚 told my grand-children that I was going surfing. They asked: 鈥楢re you joking, grandma?鈥�.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 even know about it [before]. I had seen it on TV, but for me, it didn鈥檛 seem possible. I did not think I would be doing this at my age.鈥�
The sessions begin with a short and gentle jogging warm-up, and a quick demonstration, before taking to the waves.
(Photo: Papyhappy / @papyhappy_fr / / ActuFR)
Due to conditions on the northern coast, wetsuits must be worn - which, the surfers say, can be challenging enough in themselves, even before any surfing begins.
Christiane, one of the residents taking part, : 鈥淭he wetsuits are good, but difficult to put on.鈥�
Surf therapy leader H茅l猫ne Rouault that the surfing sessions allow the residents to feel more alive. Being in the water also helps them to forget their troubles, and aches and pains, she explained.
(Photo: Thibaud Deletraz / @ThibaultDeletraz / )
Ms Rouault : 鈥淚t is about proving to themselves that they are not 鈥榓t the end of their lives鈥�. It鈥檚 about saying: 鈥業 still have things to do. I鈥檓 going to be able to share this with my grand-children...They have done something a bit extraordinary. It is about going above and beyond yourself.
鈥淚 see their faces light up, and it is just magical. I see it, no matter who they are. Andr茅e is not very communicative [normally], but as soon as we start, she starts laughing, talking, saying 鈥楲et鈥檚 go back!鈥欌��
Resident Marie-Anne added: 鈥淚t鈥檚 super. I would happily do this everyday. I would stay here all afternoon.鈥�
Care home health manager Sonia Baudry, believes that the surfing therapy lessons 鈥渢ransform鈥� the elderly people. She : 鈥淲e really feel a sense of calm after these sessions. They feel good.鈥�
