- What is the Mission of PenPaperPal?
- Many seniors feel very isolated while in senior homes and long-term healthcare facilities. This problem is exacerbated by the limitations on visitors posed by the COVID19 pandemic. According to the CDC, social isolation increases a person risk of premature death from all causes and is associated with a 50% increased risk of dementia, 29% increased risk of heart disease and a 32% increased risk of stroke.** Of course, COVID19 has significantly and negatively impacted the number of visitors that can provide companionship at many senior living facilities, however, this problem existed long before COVID19 and will surely be a significant problem long after the pandemic.
- PenPaperPal works to help alleviate this problem by providing engaging and meaningful new relationships with penpals without compromising the social distancing requirements of COVID19. If you’ve got a pen and paper then let PenPaperPal help find you a new friend!
- ** CDC Publication
- What is PenPaperPal?
- PanPaperPal is a new service that combines modern technology with old-school letter writing as a way to help seniors connect to new friends. PenPaperPal allows seniors to safely form new friendships with penpals by connecting them to community groups who are also looking to find penpals.
- On the other hand, PenPaperPal allows for community organizations to provide meaningful and engaging.
- Why Use PenPaperPal?
- If you already have an existing pen pal program within your organization or you’re looking to start one, PenPaperPal can simplify the process and save you time while also introducing you to a new pool of potential Pen Pals.
- PenPaperPal is a convenient way to find and manage penpal partnerships with others who are looking to establish penpal relationships.
- Who Can Use PenPaperPal?
- There are two types of organizations that can be registered on PenPaperPal: Senior Groups and Community Groups. In order to use PenPaperPal, all groups (of both types) must have a Group Administrator. This person (or persons) serves as the liaison between all of the penpals in their group and the penpals with whom they write letters. In order to ensure the safety and privacy of all penpals, PenPaperPal was designed such that all correspondence between penpals goes through the Group Administrators.
- Examples of Senior Groups are: Nursing homes, retirement homes, retirement communities, Assisted living facilities, Physical rehabilitation groups, etc. The Group Administrator of a Senior Group could be the Activity Coordinator on staff at the Retirement Home, for instance.
- Examples of Community Groups: Church groups, classrooms, 4H groups, community service organizations or just about any organization that has a group leader to serve as the primary contact person for the others in the group. The Group Administrator of a Community Group could be the Troop Leader for a local Boy Scouts Troop, for instance.
- How can PenPaperPal keep the Pen Pals safe?
- We wrap all penpals in big, fluffy bundles of extra durable and super tough bubblewrap…thats how we keep everyone safe! That, and also, pool noodles, yes, pool noodles….the green ones….the long, hollow, green ones that are abundantly floaty!
