Caring and Connecting with Good Old Fashion Way - Penpal

Recently, the Covid19Recovery team had the opportunity to sit down and talk to Charmaine Holland, founder and president of the Caring and Connecting Penpal Initiative. The Caring and Connected Penpal Initiative (C&C) is an organization that provides the opportunity for volunteers to connect with seniors in long-term care homes through one-way letters of kindness. 

As a preventive measure against spreading Covid-19, many long-term homes have banned visitors and cancelled group-based and social activities. Thus, residents are often socially isolated and confined to their rooms most of the day, which may seriously impact their health and well-being. Moreover, seeing staff members with PPE protective equipment that decreases familiarity with them or hearing distressing news of the pandemic may be particularly frightening (Agronin) and contribute to making the pandemic an anxious time for seniors in long term care homes.

Growing up close with her grandmother and having a sense of compassion for older adults, Charmaine felt a sense of urgency to take action when she knew about how hard they were hit with social isolation during the pandemic. She also wanted to reconnect with members of volunteer communities who were isolated.

Starting up a virtual initiative wasn’t easy; in addition to handling logistical work, Charmaine reached out to seniors, schools, and volunteer communities such as the Volunteer MBC network from Mississauga to get the word out about the C&C. She also contacted other virtual initiatives for mentorship and advice on starting up and growing the C&C initiative. Her biggest takeaway? To remember to “be open to receive help and reach out to others” who might be more knowledgeable and experienced.

As a result of her work with the C&C, Charmaine has received tremendous feedback from volunteers of different age groups who are grateful for the opportunity to personally reflect on and have a sense of purpose when creating pen pal letters for seniors. She explains that volunteer feedback also plays a part in motivating her work at the C&C initiative: “When I’m seeing that this initiative is making a difference and it is impacting not only the volunteers’ lives but the seniors and even long term care home staff [who’ve] given a lot of feedback just saying how great the program is... that gives me a sense of motivation to continue.”

For the future direction of the C&C even after full recovery from the pandemic, Charmaine would love to set up a website and continue bridging volunteers and isolated older adults together through letter writing. To support the Caring and Connecting Penpal Initiative or to send a letter to a senior in a long-term home, you can find them on Facebook @Caring and Connecting Pen Pal Initiative, Instagram @caringandconnectinginitiative, and Twitter @CandCInitiative.

Sources

Agronin, Marc E. “The Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health in Long-Term Care Settings.” Psychiatric Times, MJH Life Sciences, 10 Nov. 2020, www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/the-impact-of-covid-19-on-mental-health-in-long-term-care-settings. 

Verbeek, Hilde, et al. “Allowing Visitors Back in the Nursing Home During the COVID-19 Crisis: A Dutch National Study Into First Experiences and Impact on Well-Being.” JAMDA, Elsevier Inc., 15 June 2020, doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2020.06.020.