I need gift ideas for an invalid nursing home resident.
Kim from Oak Hill, WV
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My grandma was in a nursing home. Here's what she liked. Cookies, crackers, and candy(check with the staff first to see if there are any dietary restrictions). Most older people like to keep in touch through writing so some stationery, a box of greeting cards, stamps, and some pens would be nice. Older people often have problems with dry skin, they use lots of chapstick and heavy duty skin lotion. If your friend can leave the nursing home how about an outing? A movie or a drive around (maybe to look at Christmas lights?) would be appreciated.
1) SUPER-SOFT FLEECE LAP BLANKETS. My friend makes them & the folks (both male AND female) go crazy for them! These soft, warm blankets are perfect for those in wheel chairs. Lap blankets are smaller than "regular" blankets (about 24 x 30) so they can be washed easily (PLUS this way you can get 2 from one yard of fabric) and don't put fringe on them as it only gets tangled up & in the way. Fleece is "double sided" & won't fray, so no need to hem or finish the edges. But for fun: Why not embroider a flower, their name or crochet around the edge?... Write me on ThriftyFun for directions.... Fleece lap blankets are perfect to keep the wheel chair bound (& everyone else too) warm & cozy!
*** Berber or Fur fabric can also be used for the lap blankets, just be sure it can be washed & Dried easily because a lot of the super soft "Poodle Fabric" sheds & totally FILLS up the washer, plus it ruins EVERYTHING ELSE that's in the machine with it... (I learned by experience!) <*grin*>
2) BOOKS ON TAPE: you can either buy one OR better yet, go to the library monthly & pick up 5 or so, then exchange them every month...
3) HOME COOKED GOODIES: Home cooked food...Healthy Banana bread (or whatever) can be made with NO sugar, (for diabetics & others.) either by using "Splenda" brand sweetener OR better yet, by using fruit concentrates (like frozen concentrated canned apple juice) for sweeteners. Any fats or oils can be substituted with apple sauce instead...Extra sweetening & extra calcium can be added by adding powered milk to the dry mix. (not for those with "lactose intolerance") These healthy Banana type breads are as tasty as can be!... Food like this is a reminder of "home" & when they were younger...
Hi,
Can you send me the instructions for the blanket that you mentioned in your post about nursing home gift ideas?
Thanks!!
I have spent the past several years working in nursing homes, so here's my two cents:
*Anything soft and comfy (blankets, pajama pants, sweats, slippers or nonskid socks) is usually well appreciated.
Finally, please remember that what most people in facilites appreciate most is you time. Every year at Christmas, we see more family members and groups coming in to visit. Residents like to have visitors all year--not just during the Christmas season.
I worked in a nursing home for well over ten years and the most inexpensive gift you can give is your TIME AND LOVE.
No matter how disabled your relative is just be there.
I too love old folks, and worked taking care of them for most of my life. All your ideas are great. I was a bit surprised to not see one here, so here it is! You need two washcloths, pretty; lay one atop the other; roll the edges of the first to meet in the middle; then roll the outer edges of the second, to meet these edges; fold in half, putting a bar of soap (if using unscented try glycerin in pretty colors, then fold it up like a satchel; hot glue 2 handles, made of paper twist ribbon, then any pretty decoration;they are very pretty and liven up a bedside table, and get lots of admiration, which gives seniors a chat, too!
Have you tried A Hug From Blanche? They hand knit shrugs which could be the perfect gift for your elderly relative who is sitting up and may be in a draft, or who just needs to feel "hugged".
My husband is in a nursing home, and I now have friendships with many of the residents. Here are a few ideas that have proved popular in my experience:
- Personalized cards for birthdays, Christmas, or just Thing of You -- personally delivered.
- Pretty little doo-dads for ladies
- Snacks, as permitted. I know who likes what and try to carry a bag with a variety to give out.
- Hats. Ladies and men like them. I do fishing hats for the men.
- Handshakes. People like being greeted as if they're human beings rather than patients.
- Compliments. I tell all the ladies how pretty they look and try to compliment them on something specific -- a new haircut, a pretty shirt. You can tell the men how dashing or spiffy they're looking.
- Stuffed animals. You'd be surprised at the people who end up loving them.
- Videos on topics of specific interest to a resident.
The following ideas involve your time, which is more important than anything else to nursing home residents.
- Games. Play cards, hangman, tic-tac-toe, checkers, even charades... whatever games the person likes.
- Reading. My husband loves to be read to.
- 20 questions. Arm yourself with questions to ask and give the person lots of time to talk. Questions about his.her experiences are always winners.
- Grooming. ladies like to have their nails done. Light massages are nice. Just slowly brushing someone's hair is much-needed attention and physical contact.
- Music. If you play an instrument, try doing it room by room for those who are room-bound. There's a lady who does this at my husband's NH and the residents just love it.
- Silly games. This Little Piggy Went to Market with people's toes is popular with those whose minds have become more childlike.
- Playing ball. Men especailly love tossing a ball back and forth.
- In nice weather, rides outside in wheelchairs. In poor weather, do it inside. Stop to talk to others, look at and talk about bulletin boards and decorations, read menus, etc.
- Pet visits. Check the NH's policy, but residents just love, love, love visits from puppies, rabbits, even ferrets.
- Deliver and read mail. Talk to recreation directors.
- Art. Take a child-size easel on wheels and some water paints. Anyone who can hold a paint brush can create something.
- See what sort of games and equipment the rec department has. They often have stuff they've forgotten about that you can put to use.
Finally, one thing I see residents eat up is just being around other people having normal conversations. Invite a few people at once and just hang out in rooms gabbing. The resident may not participate but he'll still love it. it makes him feel connected to the real world and included among regular people.
Great ideas! TIME and gentle physical touch are two of the most important things that people in nursing homes need! Leave somethinga new stuffed animal, a homemade cardto remind them of your visits. Go as often as possible. Youd be amazed at the number of people who NEVER have visitors! Taking a few minutes out of your week can make a huge difference in peoples lives. Be careful that you ask about food or skin products before you go. Many people are on restricted diets and/or have fragile skin! Always take a smile and a kind word! Always ask at the desk and ask the resident first, but both ladies and men like to have their hair brushed (unless they have just been to the hairdressers,) and most people like to have their head, hands, or feet gently massaged. Ask at the desk for permission and ask who needs vour visit the most! When my children were young, but old enough to be quiet and respectful, I took them with me. I also took my classes when I was teaching to do a short program in the open area, then let them visit with residents. Clean hands before and after always, and never take a sick child. I always called the nursing home first to set up a convenient time and day (and checked with parents to get written permission.)
I volunteer at our local nursing home and I know first hand how difficult it can be when people bring in food. A little advice from me would be...(don't bring in food unless you know for sure that the resident(s)can have it) do something else such as bring in a pet, but make sure that you talk to the administrator or bring in games to play. Residents love to here people sing so you could make a binder with familar songs such as hymns that they remember. You can always just pop your head in and say hi. They LOVE to see people.
Just give them love! God bless you and I know the resident will love the visits.
The majority of nursing home residents can no longer see well enough to read, but I found one gift that delights them all. Visiting an antique store during a trip once, I found old magazines from the 40's and 50's and even as early as the 1920's. I bought a stack of them for my Mom, who is also a resident, and she was completely delighted. She can't see well enough to read, but looking at all the old ads took her back to a time of great happiness in her life. She enjoyed many hours of happiness looking through those old magazines.
I have just begun a nursing home visitation program near my home doing room to room visits. I am hoping to find craft instructions to make silk flower corsages for the ladies with pins they cannot harm themselves with. I think that will be a big hit as well.
Visiting with the elderly is highly rewarding and though you go in thinking you will bless them, often is it you who leaves feeling blessed.
for the ladies what about a soft cuddly stuffed bear with a couple of dresses for them and maybe a bonnet too, soft to hold and cuddle. maybe it will help them with feeling alone. and when the little children come to visit them with there familes it will give them something to play with as well.
my local quilt shop has patterns for pillow cases. Maybe that would help her feelings. Something cheerful to put her head on or take in a wheelchair up the hallway. Bibs for meals if it is necessary. Crochet booties, socks,
Suncatchers, portable cd player with headphones, gift certificate for hair services, snap down the back pj's, large print bible, magnifying glass, grabber to reach items.
I'm from Texas and my best friend's husband used to love to play the guitar and sing the old timey country and western songs. That is before he went down so badly. Anyway, a few years back he and another friend that picked his guitar once a week would go to a nursing home and play and sing for the residents. Of course their wives went also and sang with them. And quite a few of the residents would all gang up in the dining room where they would be and would join in singing, clapping their hands and even tried a bit of dancing at times. This was right up their alley! And they loved it. To listen to my friend and her husband talk of those days, you really have to wonder who enjoyed it the most!
I once purchased a small bird feeder and attached it to a pole outside my Dad's nursing home window(he lives on the first floor). Every time I go to visit him I fill it with birdseed and he's able to watch the birds from his window.
My mother (91) has lived in a nursing home for 3yrs. She is unable to talk, walk or feed herself. At Christmas my little grandchildren carried a large decorated basket to the patients filled with little snow globes from Walgreens. We waited until we could buy them 3/$1. It was amazing how many of the patients remembered them from their childhood. They just seemed to enjoy "shaking" them.
My sister was recently in a nursing home for hip replacement recovery. She really appreciated the "gift" I gave her. When she first arrived at the nursing home, I went to her room and organized her area and made it feel like home to her; I folded her pajamas in a manner in that the top and bottom were folded together; instead of stacking them, I stood them upright in the drawer, therefore whoever was assisting her, she could tell them, "the blue pair" of pajamas and it was accessible to them to find them. The other garments that were placed in the chest of drawers were folded in the same fashion. The toilet articles such as adult diapers, bed pads, and other toiletries of this nature were placed in the bottom drawer. There were only three drawers available in the chest of drawers in her home, so compacting everything small was the key to keeping items neat and arranged so people helping her during the course of the day could locate the item she needed. Her bedside table was equipped with a cloth divided box that held her lip balm, small tubes of hand lotion and personal items that suited her needs. The second drawer of her bedside table held her Bible, devotion books, journals, a plastic unit for pens, pencils, highlighters, etc. Any paperwork that was essential to her care was placed in a folder in the second drawer of the bedside table for convenience. The top of the bedside table held a plastic basket that held small snacks, fruit that was handy for her to obtain from bedside or wheelchair; the telephone was placed in the middle of the bedside table plus her cell phone was put nearby her bedside and wheelchair; other bedside necessities were put in a small plastic basket; there was space for greeting cards she received that were placed on the chest of drawers along with small flower vases. It gave her a sense of home to have it feel comfortable and to be able to find any one item that she needed without looking around the room for it. If she had been in the nursing home for any period of time, I would have placed labels on the areas for people to locate anything she needed, but she was released.
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