Elderly woman sitting in chair at home happily reads written letter

Become a Pen Pal 

Write a letter to a senior to brighten their day. You’ll create a meaningful connection that can put a stop to loneliness, and you may even make a friend for life.

Write a Letter Now

How it Works

Our pen pal program connects you with a senior to spread joy and help prevent senior social isolation and loneliness. Read our FAQs for more details.

  1. Write a Letter

    Enter your letter in the form below. You can even add a photo to help put a face to your kind words.

  2. We Handle Delivery

    Skip the stamps! After you click the submit button below, we’ll deliver your letter to our review team. Each letter is screened for safety and security before sending to a senior.

  3. Stay Connected

    Enter your email or mailing address below to keep in touch with your pen pal.

Ready, Set, Write!

Write Your Letter

Fill out the form to send a digital letter. Not sure what to write? Check out our sample letter.

View sample letter (PDF)

Pick a letter border:

Please Enter your text.

Upload an Image (Optional)

JPEG or PNG. Maximum size 2MB. Horizontal photos recommended.

Please upload your image.
Enter your first name only.

By entering your email address, you acknowledge and agree that your email address my be shared with a senior and the senior has the option to respond and write you back. We will not keep your email address for longer than is necessary. For further information, read the Privacy Policy.

Please select Send letter response by:

Response letters are optional for seniors and cannot be guaranteed. We recommend requesting a response by mail to increase the likelihood a senior will send a return letter.

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Home Instead® partners with seniors and organizations who support seniors to distribute letters to older adults. The identity of the senior you are writing to will be revealed only if you request a response letter and the senior chooses to respond with his or her name.

It’s not a guarantee, but if you provide your mailing or email address in the submission form below, the senior recipient has the option to respond.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

  • Hobbies you enjoy
  • Favorite movies, books or interests
  • A positive story
  • Upcoming plans for the weekend
  • Ask the senior to share a story, fact or opinion with you

Sharing safely is important. Examples of what not to share or solicit include, but are not limited to:

  • Personal information, like your full name or social security number
  • Financial information, like bank account or credit card numbers
  • When you will be out of town, especially if you shared your address to request a response letter
  • Passwords to your Internet accounts

Absolutely. The submission form only requires your first name, e-mail address and message. Any additional information you share is at your discretion. For more information about how we use the data you provide, please review our Privacy Policy and our site’s Terms of Use.

We recommend keeping your relationship on paper or online for the safety of you and the senior.

Of course! You may complete the “Write Your Letter” form up to five times. Each letter you submit will be sent to a different senior. You can also invite others to join in on the fun! If you’re submitting letters in bulk on behalf of a group, you can also submit by mail or email.

Email to: info@readytocare.com

Mail to:
Home Instead
c/o Erin Albers
13323 California Street
Omaha, NE 68154

Yes. If you prefer to mail a physical letter, please send it to the address noted above.

You can fill out our “Write Your Letter” form up to five times. If you’re submitting letters on behalf of a large group, you can email or mail letters to the contact information listed above.

You must be 13-years-old or older to submit a letter. However, we do encourage parents and guardians to involve children in the letter writing experience. Your child can help you write a letter or create a drawing that can be uploaded along with a parent or guardian’s letter.

Your letter will most likely be delivered within 1-4 weeks after it has been submitted. Delivery time varies based on the review team’s availability to screen letters and the quantity of letters received within a certain timeframe.

Yes, this program is 100% free to you and to seniors! We also do not allow any solicitation for care or money through this program.

Sure thing! If you are 65+ years old, please send an email to info@readytocare.com to request a letter. You can also get involved by submitting your own letter in the form above and requesting a response.

Yes, organizations that serve seniors are welcome to submit a letter request form. For other partnership inquiries, please email info@readytocare.com.

Yes! Reach out to info@readytocare.com to learn more about how to nominate a senior to receive a letter.