Student-Senior Pen Pal Program Brings Smiles Across the Generations

Freshmen students at Wheeling High School were thrilled to receive responses to the cards they sent to residents at Radford Green on the Sedgebrook senior living campus in Lincolnshire a few weeks ago.

In a new "Pen Pals and Pizza" partnership with residents in assisted living memory care and skilled nursing, six bilingual girls in the school's English Language Learners group are reaching out to seniors through cards, letters and, eventually, face-to-face activities with one another.

"The students are leading the way and are really excited to volunteer their time. They are hoping to bring a smile to the faces of residents," said Shelly Wiegel, who teaches algebra during the regular school year at Wheeling High as well as the English Language Learners over the summer.

They have already accomplished their goal, according to Radford Green activities manager Wendy Zwiefelhofer, who reached out to Wiegel in order to integrate residents further into the community through a pen pal program. "Each resident received a card, and there were many warm smiles and verbal responses as we were reading them," she said, remarking that some residents were able to write back themselves, and others shared their thanks and thoughts with assistance from staff.

Said Wiegel, "We received cards yesterday in the mail from the residents, and the girls were so excited. They wrote out the second round of cards and picked a date to meet this summer to do it again. Some of our students have family spread out all over the country," she explained, "so they are hoping to establish a friendly relationship with someone in the area who understands the uniqueness of the Midwest and the Chicago suburbs."

The cards and letters will keep coming throughout the summer, with plans to bring students and residents together when the new school year begins. "The first thing the girls wanted to do was go meet the residents. They wanted to see what they needed; it was so sweet and genuine," said Wiegel.

Friends for 20 years, both Zwiefelhofer and Wiegel recognize the value and importance of intergenerational relationships and what learning about earlier times outside of a textbook can bring to young lives.

"Our residents our 80 and 90 years old; they've been through it all - the amazing, challenging and scary," said Zwiefelhofer. "It's the circle of life; both students and seniors appreciate the differences in societies and generations and want to learn from one another. It's a breath of fresh air for young and old."

According to Wiegel, "There is a lot that can be learned just by talking about the similarities and differences of the times. The discussion of music, sports, travel, fashion, history can also be a lot of fun. All of it can vary so much from person to person and generation to generation, and it can really be interesting to learn from each other rather than a book."

Variance in residents' interests will guide what the students will do with them once they meet in person, said Zwiefelhofer, who has invited several groups of youngsters to visit and engage in activities with residents of Radford Green since the start of her employment in November 2018.

"Residents have different levels of ability and preferences; we'll do whatever they want, whether it's crafts, games, small groups, listening to or participating in music, which is such effective therapy," she said. Zwiefelhofer's primary goal it is to get residents out into the community on bus tours, visits to local restaurants, bookstores, movies, etc. "For people with memory issues, a smile in the moment is an amazing thing."

With the new student pen pal program in place, there stands to be a lot of smiling moments.

SEDGEBROOK

Sedgebrook is a Life Plan Community offering a diverse lifestyle, maintenance-free living, and outstanding amenities. Five-star rated Radford Green Health Care and Rehabilitation is located on the 72-acre Sedgebrook campus in Lincolnshire, Illinois. Sedgebrook is a Senior Care Development, LLC affiliated community and managed by Life Care Services LLC®. For additional information visit www.WelcomeToSedgebrook.com or call (847) 901-3319.