News

Smile Mail Shortens Social Distance for Seniors in Nursing Homes

By: Claudia Cisneros
Posted on: Tuesday, May 12, 2020

ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) —  COVID-19 related deaths in nursing homes accounts for 40% of all the COVID-19 related deaths in Ohio . Nationwide, COVID-19 related deaths in nursing homes account for one-third of all U.S. deaths, according to data collected by the New York Times.

Potential underlying health conditions of older populations, as well as living in confined spaces, makes nursing home residents more vulnerable to contagious diseases. Because social distancing and visiting bans have been strictly enforced in these facilities feelings of isolation have increased.

“It’s heartbreaking to me that they are not currently allowed to have visitors,” says Laura O’Neil, Outreach Services Manager for the Athens County Public Libraries (ACPL).

If seniors cannot get visits, they can at least get mail from people in the community showing them that they are not alone and not forgotten.

And so O’Neil started Smile Mail.  The program allows seniors to get encouraging mail from any member of the community who wants to write to them.  “It’s my hope that Smile Mail will serve as a bright spot for our seniors until visitors can return.”

She got the idea from a similar program in Billings Public Library in Montana, “I thought we could easily replicate the program here in Athens County by encouraging residents to send drawings and notes of encouragement to local seniors.”

And the ACPL program is making a difference.

“The residents love the fact that they are receiving such inspiring mail,” says Deena Webster, Activity Director at Kimes Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, one of the nursing homes receiving Smile Mail.

“It’s such a blessing to our residents who are enjoying mail that usually don’t receive any,” adds Webster.

Children and adults have been crafting cards and sending them to local nursing homes. The mail gets a few days quarantined before being delivered to the nursing home residents.