Writing Letters to Loved Ones Can Help Share Memories: Senior Care Activities

Senior Care in Bridgehampton NY

Just a few decades ago the most common way people communicated with one another, especially if they lived in different countries or on opposite sides of the United States, was to write letters and send cards. Today, email and texting has almost completely eliminated the art of writing letters.  One particular senior care activity that can be beneficial for numerous reasons is sitting down and encouraging the elderly client to write a letter or two to a loved one or even somebody who has long since passed away.

The benefits of writing letters.

When a person sits down and types on the computer, the thought process changes, and not necessarily for the better.   Being able to think about what to say and then quickly typing it into the computer speeds up the thought process.  Writing letters helps to slow down the process. It forces somebody to think through carefully what he or she wants to say before putting the pen to paper. After all, when you can’t erase what you wrote manually as easily as you could on the computer, you’re going to be much more careful with what you say.

Writing letters also allows the brain to work through ideas and concepts in a much different manner. Grabbing a cell phone and sending a quick text message to somebody letting them know you’re thinking about them is fine.  However, sitting down to write a letter and expressing your emotions, sharing memories, or just connecting and letting somebody know what you’ve been up to can be extremely beneficial.

Recalling memories provides exercise and stimulation to the brain. This can help to increase neural activity which reduces the impact of memory loss that could be the result of aging, dementia, or some other condition.

April is National Card and Letter Writing Month, making it the perfect activity to do as a part of senior care. The caregiver and the elderly client can sit down together and write one letter a week to somebody they care about and whom they haven’t spoken to in quite some time.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring  professional senior care in Bridgehampton, NY, call the caring staff at Artful Home Care today at 631-685-5001.