New initiatives that get our residents talking

According to research by AgeUK, more than a million older people in the UK say they go for over a month without speaking to a friend, neighbour or family member.  

To mark Loneliness Awareness Week, we want to highlight a few new and existing initiatives we have introduced to combat loneliness among our residents. While we appreciate that some residents enjoy being alone and do not experience feelings of loneliness, others can find a lack of social interaction very isolating. 

We’re constantly looking at new ways to ensure our residents lead happy and fulfilled lives, whether alone or with other people. 

To support our residents who want a little extra social time, we have launched two new initiatives: Chatty Benches and Pen Pals. 

Let’s chat about loneliness 

A Chatty Bench is a simple concept that is becoming more popular across the country. Existing or newly installed benches are labelled accordingly, signalling that the people using them are open to new conversations. 

We’re trialling the Chatty Bench initiative in 20 of our locations, offering another way for our residents to interact with each other. 

Benches can be installed inside or outside. This means that residents can choose to socialise in an environment that’s comfortable for them, whether it be out in the fresh air or over a cup of tea in a communal lounge.  

You can find out about our residents’ experiences of using Chatty Benches by searching the hashtag #AnchorChattyBenches on social media. 

Using one of our benches but struggling to think of things to say? Try one of our ice breaker questions to spark your conversation. 

Letter writing – a form of socialisation and a great creative outlet 

On National Pen Pal Day, we launched our new Pen Pal initiative. The campaign was open exclusively to our residents and has proven very popular so far, with over 50 residents being paired up. Having a pen pal is a great alternative for our residents who may prefer to communicate through letters rather than digitally. Writing letters allows residents to express creativity and build lasting friendships that help to combat feelings of isolation.  

Our residents are already finding having a pen pal hugely beneficial. Val, 83, from Albion Court says: 

 It is a good feeling to share all my news with someone and hopefully spread some cheer. I would really like to have a second pen pal as I love writing and being in touch with others.

Our coffee mornings go virtual 

For our residents who have embraced the digital world, we also host virtual coffee mornings every Tuesday. These allow our residents to chat with others across the country, without having to leave the comfort of their own home. 

Although we have guest speakers who can guide the conversation or lead on a topic, the coffee mornings are largely informal and allow residents to get to know each other in a relaxed setting.  

The happiness and wellbeing of our residents is at the centre of everything we do. That’s why we’re constantly introducing new ways for residents to engage with each other. Our virtual, face-to-face, and written initiatives ensure each resident has a way to socialise depending on their preference and level of comfort.  

Nobody needs to feel lonely.