If there is one thing we can all learn from quarantine, it’s how dependent we all are on social interaction. Even with state-mandated quarantine laws, humans will persist to connect with their friends and loved ones one way or another. Whether it be phone calls, video calls, or emails, we all need to work together for both business and personal reasons. In light of the need for interaction, an age old method of communication is resurfacing: handwritten letters.
Pandemic or not, studies show that the act of letter writing has tremendous benefits for both the writer and the recipient. A paper published by Northern Illinois University’s Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Language and Literacy states that, “Although extended letter writing is less common today, given the ease of text messaging and email for instant communication … letter writing can be seen as significant and consequential in people’s lives, serving to maintain familial ties, communicate news and personal information, or resolve disputes.” The simple act of writing itself has many positive benefits, the paper says, including “improve[d] memory function, decreased symptomatology, and greater feelings of happiness.” Because of these many benefits to writing, it’s no wonder the concept of “pen pals” was a particularly popular concept last decade. Who better to resurface this age old trend than the experts themselves: our grandparents! More and more seniors are especially taking advantage of the quarantine letter-writing movement, and resurrecting the trend!
Seniors are especially at risk of experiencing isolation during COVID-19. As older patients are generally more susceptible to prolonged illness from COVID-19, many friends or family members are taking extra precautions to socially distance themselves from seniors to keep them safe. Physically distancing away from elders should not prevent us from continuing to connect with them emotionally and socially! Both old and new forms of communication are essential tools for keeping our elders connected!
A few senior living facilities are asking outsiders to submit pen pal requests to their local nursing home residents. Receiving a letter from a random pen pal has been proven to brighten the day of elderly residents experiencing isolation. Want to help connect with local seniors? Contact WellPath Partners today for resourceful connections to all California-local senior care communities.
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