Bupa Aged Care Tamworth running pen pal-style program for residents and community, visitors restricted during COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 crisis has caused many nursing homes to restrict visitor access for health and safety reasons.

But Bupa has come up with a better idea.

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"We're inviting kids, family members, even strangers to pop something in the mail to us so we can pass it on to residents," Bupa Aged Care Tamworth general manager Tim Whyte said.

"With everything that's happening, for residents to stay connected to the community is really important."

And the best part is, it isn't a one way street.

"We're encouraging people to put an address on so we can get residents to write back ... and include some messages thanking them for that connection," Mr Whyte said.

The correspondence can be emailed to Tamworth Bupa, dropped into the facility, or posted and can be addressed to someone specifically in the home or simply given to someone in need of a pick-me-up.

Mr Whyte said it's an opportunity for younger people to engage with people wise with age.

"They [the residents] have been through a different era ... they have so much wonderful history they can share," he said.

Mr Whyte said many of the older people had lived through wars and other world events and could help settle anxiety in the community over the coronavirus pandemic.

"It could give people that haven't experienced something like this some hope," he said.

The Tamworth centre has been lucky enough to receive a drawing from a local six-year-old girl, Tiffany, but are hanging out for more to share around.

Mr Whyte said the pen pal-style program will run nationally throughout the COVID-19 outbreak and may even continue into the future.

For more information, email tamworth@bupacare.com.au or pop into the Bligh Street location.

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