Pen pal program provides new friends for aged care residents

A generous Toowoomba family are putting their pens to paper in an effort to form new friendships with aged care residents stuck in lockdown.

BEST PALS: A Toowoomba family have struck up an unlikely friendship with several Salem aged care residents through the lost art of letter writing. Salem resident, Bev Palmer writing a letter to her pen pals, the Cameron family. Pictures: Contributed

Pen pals can come in many forms – just ask the Cameron family, who found some unlikely new friends with the residents at the Lutheran Services Salem Aged Care in Toowoomba.

Homeschooling mum Rachael Cameron said the idea was inspired by a sad sight she noticed outside the aged care facility.

“It goes without saying, that 2020 was a taxing year for many of us,” she said.

“It’s especially hard when you can’t see your family as often as you’d like to,” she said.

“One day during the 2021 Easter break, I was sitting on the front veranda at my parent’s place across the road from Salem nursing home with my mum and sister when I noticed a couple turn up at Salem for a visit, but of course they had to be turned away, because we were under restrictions at that point.”

Mrs Cameron quickly got in touch with the Salem team and the rest is history.

The Cameron’s drop envelopes to the residents in the mailbox every Friday before the Salem staff work with the residents to write a combined reply.

Salem resident, Bev Palmer writing a letter to her pen pals, the Cameron family.

Jo Rub, creative programs and volunteer co-ordinator at Lutheran Services Salem Aged Care, said the residents are thrilled to have found some new friends in the Cameron family across the past six months.

“Friday is now a highlight for many as our residents eagerly wait for the post to arrive,” she said.

“Through shared storytelling, our residents have created some special bonds with the Cameron family and found many commonalities, despite their age differences.”

Mrs Rub encouraged anyone in the community who would like to become a pen pal to our residents to get in touch with the team at Salem by emailing [e-mail].