ANGLICAN Care is inviting children to send letters and cards or their colouring-in and pictures to residents living in its local residential aged care homes during this time of social distancing.
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It's a way of putting a smile on the faces of some elderly locals, and helping them to remain feeling connected to their communities while visitors aren't possible.
"People still need to make meaningful connections with one another but fulfilling that need may look a little different for a while," Anglican Care marketing manager Kylie Jacques said.
"National restrictions on visitors to Anglican Care means our residents won't be able to see anyone under 16 and for many of them this loss will be upsetting."
While social distancing remains a priority for everyone, staying socially connected is what will see us all through, she said.
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This COVID-19 crisis also presented an opportunity to teach younger people the importance of giving back to others, understanding how much we can learn from our elderly, and how the littlest of things can make someone's day, she said.
Due to infection control issues, all correspondence to residents in the Anglican Care facilities must be uploaded to the Anglican Care website.
From there, the correspondence will be downloaded and printed for residents.
Anglican Care's website has been quickly re-designed in recent days to enable social connection to remain.
"This is just a small way to get children involved in helping people feel better in their community," Ms Jacques said.
"And who knows, it may also help some of the parents out there undertaking home-schooling duties?"
Dee Skovgaard, 12, and her sister Olive, 8, have been home-schooled for the past week but found they were missing their friends.
"We thought that the Anglican Care residents might be feeling the same way," Dee said.
"So, we talked with Mum and decided to write letters to stay connected and we are super excited to hear their reply and to make some new friends."
The girls' mum, Laurie Skovgaard, of 3L Phootgraphy, has been the official photographer for Anglican Care for many years.
"I have spent so much time with the Anglican Care family, and I know it would be an extremely difficult time especially for the more 'social' residents," Ms Skovgaard said.
"When the girls asked if they could send letters to help them feel more connected, I jumped at it."
Arcadia Vale Primary School has already got involved with the project.
Some 11 students have sent beautiful letters via their teacher to several of Anglican Care's aged care homes including Jesmond Grove, Scenic Lodge, Toronto Nursing Home, Carey Bay Gardens, Kilpatrick Court, Greenmount Gardens and MacIntosh Nursing Home.
More schools and children are urged to get on board. Visit anglicancare.com.au and click on 'Connecting Generations' then follow the prompts.
It was "vitally important" physical distancing was maintained at Anglican Care's residential homes, but social contact remains an essential part of the mental health of residents, Ms Jacques said.
"Our Connecting Generations program is a core element of life at Anglican Care and it is more important than ever we continue it," she said.
