Nursing homes launch a request for pen pals to keep their residents connected during the Covid-19 pandemic

For elderly people living in nursing homes and assisted care facilities, the Covid-19 pandemic had a very negative side-effect. Visits were not allowed during this period, to prevent the spread of the pandemic, so these senior were feeling very lonely and isolated without the presence of their loved-ones.

To keep their residents connected, the administrators of the Victorian Senior Care network of facilities came up with a solution and took to the internet to ask for pen pals for their residents. Through their Facebook and Instagram pages they shared messages that read, for example “Residents at Phoenix Assisted Care are wanting to hear from you! Find a new friend and send them a letter to the address listed below with their name as the recipiant. We can’t wait to hear from you!”

Along with this message, they shared pictures of the residents holding up handwritten signs with their names and their interest. Like John, who was “looking for New York Yankees pen pals” ou Dorothea, who loves “to walk, watch TV and receive postcards from all over the world”.

The initiative was very well received and they have already received more than 6000 letters addressed to 14 care facilites in the network. "It's like Christmas. You know, there's really no way to explain the joy of giving them letters, packages, flowers, cookies, candy, coloring books. It's phenomenal” shares Donna Horton, an administrator at Phoenix Assisted Care.
Meredith Seals, the chief operating officer for Victorian Senior Care, shares the feeling of success “It has been mentally strenuous on them to not be able to see their families or go out into the community. We never imagined it would get this big. We are overwhelmed with the love that we have received from all around the world. It has increased their mental well-being in this challenging time.”

Adapted from: https://indyweek.com/culture/etc/phoenix-assisted-care-seniors-pen-pals-...
https://www.southernliving.com/news/victorian-senior-care-pen-pal-program

More information: http://www.victorianseniorcare.com/vscpenpals
https://www.facebook.com/VictorianSeniorCare/