Pen Pals for the Elderly: Write Letters to Seniors in the UK

Writing a letter to an older adult will go a long way to brightening up their day while helping to ward off feelings of isolation. You might even make a new-found friend. Here, we’ve looked at pen pals for the elderly in the UK and worldwide, along with how you can become one.

You can write to an elderly person, regardless of how young or old you are. If you happen to be of a similar age, this will likely help with quickly finding shared interests. Before you know it, you’ll be regularly exchanging letters!

Finding an Elderly Pen Pal in the UK

If you’d like to join a UK pen pal scheme and make an older adult much happier in the process, there are several to choose from:

1. Home Instead

2. Only Connect Pen Pals

3. The Write Partnership - Tunbridge Wells

4. SCCCC Pen Pal Scheme - Sheffield

Home Instead's Pen Pal Scheme

One of the best ways to get an elderly pen pal is through Home Instead’s pen pal scheme. While this scheme is based in the United States, it's still open for anyone to use. Their pen-pal programme connects you with a senior to help prevent loneliness and social isolation. By following the link above, you can write a letter and submit it for approval - it’s that simple! By providing your email or mailing address, you can then keep in touch with your pen pal.

Home Instead provides sample letters that can be copied or downloaded. The programme is completely free to young people and seniors alike.

Getting Involved

If you’d like to become a pen pal for an elderly person then you can do so by submitting a letter (and optionally a photo) through Ready to Care. From there, each letter will be screened for safety and security, before being passed along to an older adult. All participants need to be aged 13 or above, unless the submission is coordinated by a parent or teacher.

With that being said, this particular scheme isn’t just aimed at the younger generation. The elderly are also encouraged to write and share their experiences with someone of an older age. As we’ll explain later, there are benefits all-round to having a pen pal, regardless of whether you’re 25 or 85.

What Should You Write About?

Honestly, pretty much anything! If you think it might be interesting, then there’s a good chance that other people will as well. You could write about the hobbies you enjoy, books you like reading, films and TV shows you love watching or any upcoming plans you might have. A little bit of positivity can go a long way, so be sure to mention anything good that’s recently happened involving you or someone else you know.

When it comes to writing for an elderly pen pal, the sky’s the limit, so don’t be afraid to get creative.

The only thing you should avoid mentioning is any personal or financial information, along with anything that might be deemed inappropriate.

Keeping the Conversation Going

When sending your letter off, don’t forget to request a letter in return. You can do this by sharing your email (or mailing address) online. Try and keep the conversation flowing by asking some questions in return, such as any interesting facts or stories that your new pen pal may have.

Other Places to Find a Pen Pal

Aside from where we’ve talked about, there are loads of other websites dedicated to bringing people together through the medium of writing. Some of these pen pal sites focus on improving language skills, whereas others are simply for opening up lines of communication between people who wouldn’t normally talk.

Two of the most popular online pen pal services are:

• Global Pen Friends

• PenPal World

What Are the Benefits of Having a Pen Pal?

Many older adults experience loneliness in later life. Pen pal schemes work wonders in reversing these feelings by allowing people of all ages to provide companionship through the simple art of writing letters. Through a pen pal scheme, older adults can express themselves in a way that feels comfortable.

Here are some more benefits of having a pen pal:

• It provides much-needed companionship for older adults. Having a pen pal gives older adults a great opportunity to socialise with others

• It spreads joy and happiness amongst older adults and throughout their communities

• They allow people to learn from the experiences of others while bringing different generations together. Hearing stories and understanding more of somebody else’s life helps to build empathy and broaden horizons, challenging any pre-existing stereotypes in the process

• It provides mental stimulation for older adults, as they’ll have to put some thought into the words and sentences they’re using

• If an older adult has limited hearing, writing letters is the perfect form of communication

We’re on a mission to support individuals and their loved ones throughout each stage of their later living journey. For more information, check out everything Lottie has to offer.