The effect of letter writing on a long-term care resident with loneliness

Older adults living in long term care (LTC) facilities may experience increased isolation and loneliness. This was compounded with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Loneliness and isolation increase the risk for physical, psychological, and social decline. This case report discusses the effect of a letter writing initiative on feelings of loneliness and connection in a long-term care resident. Personalized care is the standard in the long-term care setting and letter writing between two people can contribute to personalized meaningful care as evidenced by the example provided. Further research is needed to explore social connection and loneliness and methods to combat these issues with a personalized approach for different populations within LTC facilities.