With the COVID-19 pandemic and shelter-in-place orders in effect, we can all testify we’re probably feeling a bit lonely and cooped up these days.  But imagine if you’re a senior citizen living in an assisted facility home — ALL BY YOURSELF. Not only can you not leave, but your loved ones cannot visit you. Because they are a more at-risk population for the virus, senior citizens are isolated both socially and physically.

Senior citizens are hurting and in desperate need of our emotional support.

Isolation creates feelings of loneliness, which can lead to poorer physical health and quality of life. One study even suggests being lonely can have the same negative effect on your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day! You can do your part today to embrace our elders during these scary, uncertain times. All it takes is 5 minutes to write a note, card, or letter of encouragement to bring a smile to their face.

https://www.facebook.com/HeartisCL/photos/a.1211331379032708/1581638108668698/?type=3&theater

The CDC, World Health Organization, and Surgeon General have indicated that there is currently no evidence that COVID-19 is being spread through the mail. If you’re still worried that thoughtful mail might pose a risk for vulnerable residents, take comfort knowing experts believe that risk is minimal. The upside (the dopamine rush of a lonely senior feeling loved and valued) far outweighs whatever minuscule risk there might be.

We might not all be Shakespeares or Hemmingways, but just a few thoughtful minutes are all it takes to create something meaningful for a stranger. Don’t ever underestimate the impact that you may have on someone else’s life.

“The only limit to your impact is your imagination and commitment” – Tony Robbins

Here are some tips to help you with the “imagination” part

There are no excuses for not knowing what to say, claiming you have no artistic abilities, or excuses for not having proper card stock. (For templates, scroll down to the bottom.)

• Help! What do I put in the card? Draw a picture, write a quote, relay a poem, or introduce yourself and have a one-way conversation. Be creative, as long as it’s encouraging and positive!
  • Tip: Exclude the date so it never feels “old,” and write large and legibly.
• Think outside the box when it comes to the medium for spreading cheer! Use a piece of notebook paper, spare greeting cards in your craft drawer, the back of a happy photograph, or whatever you have on hand that you can write on. Just try to make sure it can fit in an envelope. It’s always nicer to open cards that have been enveloped as if they’re just for you, right?
• Are you a teacher or have children of your own? Ask them to draw pictures and help write simple messages like “Thank you for being you” or “Have a happy day.” Children’s drawings always bring so much joy and are true gems!
• Only have birthday or holiday cards on hand? No problem. Just get out your dark markers and color a design over the non-relevant words. Or, you can cut construction paper, a pretty magazine photo, or fun scrapbook paper and tape/glue it over the top of the card. Problem solved!
• Can’t draw but want to include a visual element? Find a photo or graphic that speaks to you online and print it out. Tape and glue are your best friends!

My girls are being creative today! They made cards for the nursing home and senior apartments to let the elderly know we are thinking about them. Hope others do the same thing. Just put them in a plastic bag outside the building and they will deliver them for you. pic.twitter.com/FGGQZgicUV

— sarah Halbesma (@Halbese) March 18, 2020

*Pro tips for card writing if you’re aiming for quantity over quality:

• If you want to write less but take up more visual space, use a marker.
• No need to reinvent the wheel. Find inspiring quotes to share.
• If you can’t draw but want to doodle, just start with geometric shapes, then color them in… you can’t really go wrong, plus it’s stress-relieving for you!
• Go to Goodwill and purchase a box of unused blank cards. It doesn’t matter what’s on the front. Use the images on the front to dictate what you write.
  • For example, if there’s a flower, tell your senior they have a beautiful soul like this flower. If it’s a cat, tell them they’re “purr-fect” just the way they are. If it’s a piece of art, tell them they are as unique as a masterpiece. You get the point.

So you’ve got your pen and paper out, ready to start. But suddenly writing something to really touch someone’s heart feels overwhelming.

What should you say? Here are some templates for inspiration.

I’ve got templates for you. Please be kind and remember that I’m by no means an artist here. Feel free to adjust, take word for word, or let these samples inspire your own spin off!

Now that your cards are done, you have plenty of options for where to send them.

Send your cards to local nursing homes

If you want to send them locally, just Google search for “nursing homes near me” to find addresses. Make sure to put “Attention Activities Director” at the top, so your cards make it to the right person.

Here are a few local options (the first two reached out to us to request cards):

Brookview Healthcare Center
Attn: Shauna Cochrane
214 Hard Street
Defiance, OH 43512

The Gardens of Paulding
Attn: Judy Henderson
199 CR 103
Paulding, OH 45879

The Laurels of Defiance
Attn: Activities Director
1701 Jefferson Ave
Defiance, OH 43512

Glenn Park Senior Living Community
Attn: Activities Director
2429 William A. Diehl Ct
Defiance, OH 43512

Fountain Park
Attn: Activities Director
1391 N Main St
Bryan, OH 43506

Kingsbury Place Assisted Living Community
Attn: Activities Director
245 W Rosewood Ave
Defiance, OH 43512

Northcrest Rehab & Nursing Center
Attn: Activities Director
240 Northcrest Drive
Napoleon, OH 43545

Park View Nursing Center
Attn: Activities Director
328 West Vine Street
Edgerton, Ohio 43517

Hickory Creek Healthcare
Attn: Rick Harline
401 Fountain Street
Hicksville, OH 43526

Send your cards to living facilities around the country (or even world)

There are many charities that accept cards or letters for seniors and will handle distributing them to those most in need. One great organization doing this is Love for the Elderly, a nonprofit based in Cleveland, Ohio, whose mission is to bring joy to the elderly. Learn more about their Letters of Love program here, including tips. If you want to help get involved or know a senior citizen facility that would like to be included on their distribution list, click here.

READY TO MAIL? YAY! SEND TO:

Love For The Elderly
P. O. Box 24248
Cleveland, OH 44124
USA

For more facilities nationwide who have requested cards, check out this Today Show article and scroll to the bottom.

Care Not COVID – Record a video now!

The American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living teamed up to offer this website where anyone can record a video to send a message of support and hope to nursing home and assisted living residents across the country. They are hoping to spread the message by using the #CareNotCOVID hashtag and sharing the link on social media.

 

We want to hear about your cards!

Did you end up writing a card for a senior? Did one of these templates help you out? Please tell us about it below, or send a photo to so we can help share the word and share your act of kindness to inspire others. <3