By arhospice on April 10th, 2020

Program keeps nursing home residents connected

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Arkansas Hospice, the state’s largest provider of hospice services, has launched “Cards of Kindness,” a program that invites members of the community to send messages of kindness and companionship to isolated nursing home patients through cards, poems, paintings, drawings and art. The program has been developed in response to the restricted visitation policies enacted by most area nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and assisted living facilities due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus.

The program is a matter of “Arkansans helping Arkansans.”  A “thinking of you” style card, letters, drawings, poems, finger paintings, anything with a positive message of greeting, hope and care can be used. Arkansas Hospice Vice President of Business Development, Franz Lorenz, said “We saw an opportunity to help our seniors who are isolated due to COVID-19 feel connected to the outside world.” With kids out of the classroom and many parents working from home, this is a great opportunity for families to work together on a project that allows them to be creative while helping others. “Our purpose is simple – we just want our seniors to know they are remembered and appreciated,” Lorenz said.

Cards of Kindness can be dropped off outside specified Arkansas Hospice locations in special collection bins. As a precaution, the cards and greetings will be held for 48 hours to make sure they are virus-free. The hospice’s provider relations team will then distribute the cards to our partner nursing homes and facilities throughout its 43-county service area. Participants can find drop off locations and other details by visiting https://arkansashospice.org/cardsofkindness. Cards can also be mailed to:

            Cards of Kindness

            C/O Arkansas Hospice

            14 Parkstone Circle

            North Little Rock, AR 72116

To build an added sense of community, participants can email pictures of their cards or art to arhospicefoundation@gmail.com.  A special carousel has been set up to display the pictures on the website.

Arkansas Hospice provides award-winning, quality care to patients and their families from 10 area offices and 3 inpatient centers, covering a 43-county service area across the state.