The kids are all-write!
Age-Friendly Intergenerational Pen Pal initiative sees students help nursing home residents cope with lockdown
Thirty-eight residents from six nursing homes across County Cavan have been kept busy corresponding with local students during the Coronavirus lockdown, thanks to a new Age Friendly Pen Pal initiative.
Six local nursing homes have signed up to the Age Friendly Intergenerational Pen Pal Initiative, which sees them linking in with students from four secondary schools across the county, in a move which will help build new intergenerational community connections.
It is hoped that when the Coronavirus threat has passed, the students will be able to meet the residents in person and communication will continue either on paper or, if possible, with occasional visits.
The nursing homes involved in the initiative include Castlemanor Nursing Home, Fairlawns Nursing Home, Sheelin Nursing Home, Sullivan Centre, College View Nursing Home and Esker Lodge Nursing Home. The participating schools include St Mogue’s College, Bawnboy; St Patrick’s College, Cavan; Bailieborough Community College and The Royal School, Cavan.
Vanessa Eakins, activities co-ordinator in Sheelin Nursing Home, said: “The residents are delighted, absolutely thrilled. The joy of receiving a letter for an elderly person always brings good feelings,” she said.
“They love it, hearing about other people’s lives, what they’re into, what they might be doing.”
Maura Donohoe, TY co-ordinator with St Mogue’s College, Bawnboy, said: “The Pen Pal Initiative is a great idea to help reduce loneliness and isolation at this time. In fact, after the first letters were sent from the school, it was realised that one of our teacher's grandmother was writing to one of our students and said she was delighted to receive a letter. She also went on to say that it is something that she looks forward to in the week."
This is an initiative of the Cavan Age Friendly Programme, Cavan County Council.
For further information please contact: agefriendly@cavancoco.ie