Assisted living facility residents all over the country are invited to sign up in the "Elders Without Walls" E-Mail Pen-Pal Directory.

If you or your organization are interested in implementing an e-mail program in a facility in your area, here are some suggestions on how to get started:

Talk to the administrator or Activity Director of an assisted living facility in your area about implementing this program as an activity for the residents. Offer to donate a computer and a printer for the facility. The small internet-access only units work very well as they are relatively inexpensive and are easier to use and less intimidating than computers, however some of them do not provide full internet access so be sure you understand what kind of access they offer.

Alternatively, a laptop computer with portable printer would work well and would allow a single volunteer to implement the program in several facilities. Lap top computers would also allow a volunteer to visit elderly friends and neighbors in their homes, similar to the Meals on Wheels programs, so that the home-bound elderly are not left out of the e-mail program.

You will also need to provide an e-mail account for the facility if they don’t already have an e-mail provider. If you are visiting the elderly in their homes you will need to provide an e-mail service for them also. Many e-mail services are offered at no charge (juno.com for example).

There are several activities that an Activity Director or volunteer could provide for the residents of an elder care facility:

Computer Class. Consider gathering several residents around a computer monitor (large monitors are best for the residents). Show them each of the pages in the "Elders Without Walls" web site and explain all of the features. Help the residents read and reply to postings on the "Elders Without Walls" message board.

E-Mail Pen-Pal Program. Help the residents read and reply to e-mail messages from friends and family. Help them browse through the "Elders Without Walls" E-Mail Pen-Pal  Directory to find a pen-pal living in another facility with a shared-interest or hometown.

Greeting Card Program. Instigate a program where volunteers are encouraged to e-mail the residents animated greeting cards with brief messages. Generally, this is a one-way communication program, as the residents are not expected to reply to these messages as they would in the pen-pal program. Handy links to greeting card web sites are available right on the "Elders Without Walls" web site.