With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S., significant attention has been given to the impact on senior living facilities. In Minnesota, as of June 1, there...
Pen pals are people who regularly send each other letters, often through the mail. Pen pals may be of any age or write from any location, but the idea is to exchange letters regularly and build new connections.
Pen Pals can truly transform a senior's daily living experience. Continue reading to learn more about the benefits of having a pen pal!
Reasons Pen Pals are Great!
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Develop New Interests
Older adults can easily become bored when they don't have enough activities to occupy their free time. Having a pen pal provides the chance to learn about new ideas, opinions, and activities that others enjoy. Exposure to new concepts offers the chance to spark a new interest. Depending on where the pen pal lives, the correspondence may enable your older loved one to learn about new cultures, traditions, or hobbies. Since letters can be reread, a pen pal can give your loved one an instant mood lift when you're busy.
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Ward Off Loneliness
Seniors who live alone run an increased risk of experiencing the effects of social isolation. Although nothing can replace frequent visits from friends, family, and caregivers, receiving and writing letters and emails can fill in the gaps. When your loved one has a pen pal, he or she can look forward to the exciting surprise of hearing from someone at any time of the day. -
Discover a Different Perspective
Many adults thrive on learning more about the world around them. For this reason, many older adults prefer having pen pals who come from different backgrounds. Through emails and letters, your loved one can trade stories and information with someone who offers a wider view of the world and takes his or her mind off personal problems.
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Build Self-Confidence
Making new friends can be intimidating at any age, and older adults sometimes suffer from a lack of confidence after retiring. However, opening up to a pen pal can provide a renewed sense of purpose. When your loved one knows someone is looking forward to receiving his or her letters and will send positive responses, he or she can wake up excited to see what each new message will bring.
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Embrace Creativity
Writing a letter is a work of art, and it allows seniors to flex their creative muscles, exercise their brains, boost cognitive health, and enhance their sense of worth. As his or her writing skills get better over time, a senior's outlook on life might become more positive, and he or she may discover other hidden talents.
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Enhance Cognitive Health
Reading and writing letters stimulate brain function, and it's a wonderful way for older adults to exercise their minds. Pen pals often share daily or current events, which can keep your loved one's mind sharp. Seniors are often inspired to enhance their skills to accommodate their pen pals and make a good impression. To enhance his or her cognitive health, encourage your loved one to expand his or her vocabulary, grammar, spelling, and writing skills.
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Boost Memory
Forgetfulness is a normal part of aging, but brain exercises can help defend against memory loss. Writing letters often requires digging deep into memories. Pen pals can exchange letters on a wide variety of subjects, ranging from cherished childhood anecdotes to the first dances at their weddings. Discussing these memories can give seniors a feeling of emotional well-being. Recalling memories creates new pathways in the brain, which increases the ability to communicate and enhances overall mental function.
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Gain Social Benefits
Social media and new technologies help seniors keep in touch with their friends and loved ones. However, pen pals can provide different kinds of benefits than old friends and relatives. Instead of reminiscing about shared memories, older adults can start dialogues and exchange ideas, experiences, and cultures with pen pals who live across the world. By writing to pen pals, seniors can make new friends and broaden their horizons.
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Strengthen Communication Skills
Reading and writing are great for helping older adults retain their cognitive abilities. As your loved one writes letters, he or she can strengthen memory skills while recalling a story or searching for the perfect word to use. Seniors who have difficulty with oral language may also find the process of writing to pen pals much more comfortable because it makes communication easier. -
Boost Motor Functions
Seniors with arthritis are often advised to engage in moderate exercise to alleviate stiffness. Handwriting and typing require fine motor skills and joint movements, which increase dexterity while alleviating arthritis symptoms. Knowing a pen pal looks forward to hearing from them may create a sense of importance and make seniors more likely to take care of their health.
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Encourage Compassion and Understanding
Having pen pals of different ages or from different cultural backgrounds provides older adults with a wider view of the world. They have the chance to offer compassion to others who are going through difficult experiences. Perhaps the pen pal lives a less fortunate lifestyle than the senior, or the senior might have lived through an experience the pen pal is currently having difficulty with. The correspondence may offer a way out of the situation or a means of managing an unpleasant circumstance. Older adults also gain compassion and comfort from their pen pals.
Let us know in the comments below - Do you have a pen pal? What is your favorite part of having one?
