Home Instead Ready to Care Pen Pal Program

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Aging can often feel like a roller coaster of emotions. Unfortunately for many seniors, that emotional ride has felt more socially isolated and lonely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many of us take our daily social interactions for granted. The calls and texts to loved ones and friends – the shared hellos with strangers passing on the street. But for the millions of isolated older adults in the world, these interactions come far too little – if at all. 36% of American seniors aged 75 and older report increased feelings of loneliness amid the pandemic.* It’s safe to assume those numbers have only increased after prolonged periods of social distancing.

The pen pal initiative forms meaningful connections between lonely and isolated seniors and a caring community of letter writers. It’s all part of our social purpose movement called Ready to CareTM by Home Instead®, which inspires simple, kind actions that help create today the world we want to grow older in tomorrow. This opportunity brings joy to seniors and volunteers.

Home Instead Senior Care Melrose distributed a total of 100 pen pal letters at the Wakefield Senior Center during a drive-thru event, and the long-term care unit at both Wakefield Nursing Care Center and Glen Ridge Nursing Care Center in Medford.

Home Instead’s Home Office recruits letter writers across North America, which means a senior may receive a letter from across town or across the country!

Ready to care is a movement by Home Instead that inspires people to give to senior causes, learn about aging challenges, and serve older adults in our communities to help end loneliness. As the world’s leader in personalized home care services, Enhancing the Lives of Aging Adults and their Families has been our mission since 1994.

Want to become a Pen Pal to a Senior? You can do so here: https://www.readytocare.com/take-action/become-pen-pal/

* “COVID-19’s Impact on America’s Seniors? Loneliness and Worry” ValuePenguin.com Survey, September 2020

Home Instead

Home Instead was founded in 1994 in Omaha, Nebraska. Today, the Home Instead network has grown to more than 1,100 independently owned and operated franchises that provide in-home senior care worldwide. The world’s leading provider of senior in-home care services, Home Instead CAREGiversSM provide more than 80 million hours of care annually throughout the United States and 13 other countries. Local Home Instead offices employ approximately 90,000 CAREGivers worldwide, providing basic support services and enabling seniors to live safely and comfortably in their own homes for as long as possible. To learn more about Home Instead’s history and services, visit www.homeinstead.com.

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