A Heartwarming Activity Idea for Seniors
Handwriting is becoming a lost art. We once wrote letters to friends and family, sent handwritten postcards while on holidays, and received beautiful handwritten invitations to weddings, parties, baby showers, and engagements. Now it seems everything is sent through emails or text messages on computers and mobile phones. The personal touch of handwriting is slowly disappearing — and that’s exactly why celebrating National Handwriting Day feels so
special.
This day is a perfect opportunity to bring residents together, reminisce about handwritten communication, and enjoy a meaningful creative activity. Below are some simple and heartfelt ways to celebrate in aged care.
Host a Handwriting Morning or Afternoon Tea
Gather everyone for a relaxed catch-up with tea, coffee, and light snacks. Provide a selection of stationery — writing paper, envelopes, coloured pens, postcards, stickers — and let residents enjoy the act of writing again.
Arrange a Letter or Postcard Exchange
Contact another assisted living facility — maybe a local home, one across the country, or even a facility overseas — and organize a friendly mail exchange. Your Activity Coordinator can help source names and addresses of participants who are willing to exchange letters or postcards with your residents. It’s a simple idea that often leads to joy, connection, and wonderful surprises in the mail.
Use Colourful Local Postcards
Postcards are a fantastic option: they’re colourful, interesting, and often feature images from your local area. They also leave enough space on the back for residents to write a short, friendly message. If your group sends enough postcards, the receiving residents may each get one to read and keep — a lovely memento.
Have a Conversation First
Before the writing begins, sit together and chat about what to include in the letters or cards. Encourage residents to share stories, memorable moments, or something light and cheerful. You could even include photographs so the recipients can see the faces of the people writing to them, along with pictures of your home, gardens, or common
areas.
Handwritten Notes Inside Pretty Cards
Sometimes all you need is a simple blank card. There are many beautiful card designs available, and residents can fill them with handwritten notes or short greetings. These small messages can mean a lot to someone receiving them.
Give a Small Gift to Encourage More Writing
Consider giving each participant a small notebook and a nice pen as a thankyou for attending. It’s a thoughtful gift that encourages them to continue handwriting in their own time — journaling, note-taking, or writing to loved
ones.
Share the Joy When the Replies Arrive
When your group receives their parcel of letters and postcards from the exchange, gather everyone together again. Let residents read their letters aloud, pass around postcards, and enjoy looking through any photographs
included. Moments like these spark conversation, memories, and connection — everything National Handwriting Day is all about.
📬 Recommendations — More writing activities from Memory Lane Therapy
If your residents enjoyed the handwriting session, try these related activities from Memory Lane Therapy:
- Love Note Day: A Heartwarming Celebration for Seniors — A guided love-note exchange where residents create personalised notes and small keepsakes; perfect for short, heartfelt handwriting practice.
- Memory Boxes Activities for Seniors — Encourages collecting and sharing old postcards, letters and photos; use as a springboard to write new postcards or letters.
