Stories and talk
Write a letter together
Write a short letter or postcard together, with the helper writing as the person says what to put.
Who might enjoy it: People who like writing letters, keeping in touch with family or telling stories to a grandchild. Good for someone with plenty to say who would rather talk than write.
- Setup
- About 5 minutes
- Activity
- 15–30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Mess
- No mess
- Where
- At a table, seated-friendly, bedside
- Help
- Someone nearby
Materials: 4 everyday things, listed below
What you need
- A sheet of notepaper or a plain postcard
- A pen or pencil that is easy to grip
- An envelope and stamp, if the letter will be posted
- Optional: a pressed flower and a little tape, or a pencil for a small drawing
No need to buy anything special
- No notepaper? Use the back of an old greeting card or a sheet of printer paper.
- No stamp? Keep the letter to read aloud on a call, or give it in person.
What to do
- Sit side by side at a table with the paper, the pen and the envelope in reach.
- Ask who the letter is for and what they would like to say. Any answer is the right one.
- Write the greeting at the top, in the words the person chooses.
- Ask one open question, such as what has been on their mind this week, and write down the answer.
- Read the sentences back aloud and ask if they want to change anything.
- Add a drawing, or tape a pressed flower to a corner.
- Sign the letter together, then fold it.
- Put the letter in the envelope, write the address and add a stamp, or set it aside to give in person.
It is okay to stop or change it
It is fine to stop after one sentence. Put the letter aside, and finish it another day, or simply talk about the person it is for.
Make it easier or different
- Make it easier
- Offer one or two ready-made openings to choose from, such as Thinking of you or Hope you are well.
- In bed or an armchair
- Use a clipboard on a lap tray, and keep the letter to one short paragraph.
- Without words
- Offer two options for each line and write the one the person nods at or points to.
- For low vision
- Use a dark felt-tip marker on large, plain paper, and read each line aloud as you write it.
- With children
- A child writes the greeting and adds a drawing while the older adult says what to put in the letter.
Safety
- Never write bank details, passwords or PINs in a letter. Check the address before sealing the envelope.
- Keep pens and stamps away from the mouth if the person may chew or taste things.
- Check before adding a flower; some plants can cause skin irritation or allergy.
These are practical suggestions, not medical advice. You know the person best.
A letter does not need good handwriting or a good memory. The helper holds the pen, and the person decides what to say, which is often more than they expected. The finished letter is something to send, read aloud or keep.