Pensioners find the write way to keep in touch at Hadleigh Nursing Home

The coronavirus pandemic has made it a lonely time for pensioners in care homes with visits by relatives and friends being necessarily restricted for long periods.

Video calls using Skype, Zoom and FaceTime have become a popular way to keep in touch but residents at Hadleigh Nursing Home are also enjoying more traditional means to keep up social contact – the good old-fashioned pen and paper.

The home’s wellbeing coordinator Tracey Alexander approached Sydney Brown Court, a supported housing scheme in the town, and received an enthusiastic response to setting up a pen pal scheme.

She said: “A number of our residents have contributed to our first letter, saying the things we like doing and how we all enjoy each other’s company.”

Tracey said the Porch Project, which supports young people in Hadleigh, had also signed up to a letter exchange with residents at the home.

“We hope this will be a fantastic way of bringing together the generations,” she said.

Youngsters at the town’s Parkside Play Group will be making Halloween pictures for the home and residents will be making their own pictures for them.

Tracey said: “Our residents love to maintain contact with local children. Last year, the children visited us for Halloween but that is sadly not possible this time because of the pandemic.”

Picture: Residents Yolande and Edith enjoying putting pen to paper.


Click here to learn more about Hadleigh nursing home near Ipswich