Care home manager calls on schoolchildren to write letters to elderly to combat loneliness

A Stroud care home manager is campaigning for schools and community groups throughout the county to get involved in writing to the elderly in care homes and in ‘their own homes’ to combat loneliness and isolation.

The campaign Post cards of Kindness was initiated at Resthaven Care Home by activity coordinator Yvonne Kelly-Fox who sent letters to primary schools in Gloucestershire inviting children to write postcards or letters to residents.

Because of the success of this project, Resthaven Care Home manager Jo Goode would like to see this project being taken on by other Gloucestershire providers.

Ms Goode said: “I’ve seen such benefits here that I feel if other providers within Gloucestershire could take on this project and give the postcards of kindness out to people in their own homes it would make such a difference for them because it would reduce the social isolation that they must feel when your elderly and living on your own.

“It has evoked conversations and memories of childhood for them.”

’It sparks conversations about their school times and when they were young’

In December, year six students from Foxmoor primary school responded to a letter sent from Resthaven and very quickly wrote letters to the residents.

Ms Kelly-Fox said: “The benefits to our residents are huge and it brings them so much joy and lots of giggles. It sparks memories and conversation together about their school times and when they were young, which is great for those living with dementia.”

BBC Radio Gloucestershire made a video to show how writing a letter can combat loneliness in the elderly. The video includes Barbara, a resident from Resthaven at Pitchcombe reading letters sent from students from Rosary primary school.

Ms Kelly-Fox has also had letters delivered from Rodborough school and Rosary school. The residents are now spending their time writing letters back.

“The letters are all so heart-warming to read with beautiful thoughtful drawings added. It is also fantastic for the children's writing and connecting them with older generations that still enjoy the art of writing and reading letters,” added Ms Kelly-Fox.

Ms Kelly-Fox is currently working with her colleagues across the other five homes owned by Lilian Faithfull group to distribute postcards of kindness to all their residents.

Ms Goode said: “The postcards of kindness project has brought love and laughter spanning generations, from 4-year olds to 102-year olds. Friendships formed between our residents and school children we hope to see develop over the coming months and years.”

click here for more details or to contact Lilian Faithfull Care Charity