On March 16, long-term care homes in Saskatchewan closed their doors to visitors. The extreme measure was deemed necessary to protect residents from contracting COVID-19, since seniors are more vulnerable to the virus.
Margaret Phillips, the manager at Aspen Grove Care Home in Grenfell, was concerned that the prolonged isolation could have a negative impact on the residents’ mental health. Phillips noticed residents were sad or confused because they could not go outside or enjoy visits from their children. “It’s just a very scary time for everyone,” she told Grasslands News. “I understand the precautions that they’re taking, but at the same time I don’t think people realize the effect it’s having on everybody mentally.”
After she shared the struggle on the care home’s Facebook page, Dave Wicks, pastor of the Grenfell Apostolic Church, contacted her. Together they created a pen pal program to connect seniors with people outside the home.
“The residents all love getting mail,” Phillips stated. “Not only is getting mail nice for them, but it gives them a job to do, to write back, and it’s really good to keep their brains active.”
Wicks put out a call on social media asking for volunteers to help implement the program. “The response was overwhelming,” he told Grasslands News. “We have an amazing community here.” There are currently nine pen pal pairs, but more could be added if other long-term care homes express an interest in the program.
In order to protect residents from germs that could be transferred through traditional letters, the pen pals communicate through e-mail. “One person (myself to start) will collect the emails, format them into one pdf file and send it off,” Wicks explained. “It’s easier for the staff just to print one document, and one less risk for the residents.”
Phillips is hopeful that the pen pal program would continue even after the COVID-19 pandemic has passed and visitor restrictions are removed.
