Cork nursing home's initiative to combat loneliness in the time of coronavirus 

A STAFF member at St Luke’s Home Nursing Home in Mahon has devised a way to cheer up elderly residents at the facility who are feeling anxious or lonely in these challenging times.

Lisa Howard issued an appeal on social media for the public to write in to some of the residents as a lovely surprise to lift the mood.

“At this challenging time, our residents would love to receive post!” she said. “If you or your children would like to send us a letter, poem, or drawing, our residents would be delighted to see them.

“This would benefit our residents and continue to lift their spirits, along with providing those of you with small children a little activity to do.”

Since the appeal was issued on Wednesday, St Luke’s has already received dozens of letters and is asking the public to keep them coming.

Anyone wishing to write in can address their letter to St Luke’s Nursing Home Activity Team, Castle Rd, Mahon, Cork. Alternatively, email letters or pictures to lisa.howard@stlukeshome.ie.

St Luke’s is asking the public to use sellotape or similar tape as an alternative way to seal envelopes. Letters and emails can be addressed as ‘Dear Friends’ to ensure equal distribution.

People could also use An Post postcards to contact the St Luke's residents.

An Post is giving every household free postcards to write personal messages for posting on, free-of-charge, to family and friends across the country to help them stay connected in the weeks ahead as more people socially isolate and become ‘cocooned’.

5,000,000 postage-paid postcards have been produced by An Post to enable people of all ages to post a message of love and support to special people in their lives.