Buying Gifts for Shut Ins and Friends in Health Facilities

When we visit friends and relatives in health care facilities and shut ins we need to remember they don't shop for themselves often and small gifts are much appreciated when we visit even if it is not near a holiday. Our next holiday to buy gifts for is Valentine's day.

When we rethink of Valentine's Day gifts we think of gifts for our partners. But, lately I was thinking of special Valentine's Day gifts for our aging parents, grandparents, or favorite aunt who might be in the hospital, physical rehabilitation, or nursing home. Valentine's Day can be more than a card made by your eight year old. Not that they don't love those cards , but you can package them a little differently to make the day more special for our laid up and shut in love ones.

What got me thinking about this was my mother is in physical rehab recovering from a small stroke. She is highly bored and looks forward to all excuses for visits including the lesser celebrated holiday of Valentine's Day. So here are some last minute Valentine day ideas for this often over looked group of folks in our lives.

First rule find out what they can and cannot have in the facility they are in. Alzheimer's units may have very specific rules about what can and cannot be brought in. Check before you put together a gift basket. The same applies to allergies and food stuffs. Many older folks our on sugar restricted diets. Good news the last time I was in a major dollar store they had a ¼ of an aisle of sugar free cookies and candies. The dollar store also has a nice selection of powder and bath supplies. Be sure there are no significant skin allergies before you buy the cheaper products.
For men, I would go for the numerous supplies of puzzle books the dollar store has and even some nice smelling generic type Axe product. Spend more on hypoallergenic products at the regular drug store if they are an allergy issue.

If your loved one is in for a short stay at the health care faculty consider getting them an inexpensive Am/FM portable radio and head phones. Yep, the dollar store has them in a variety of colors. This way they can walk the halls or listen to tunes without disturbing their roommate. Another idea is stationary and pens. Most of our older relatives actually still write letters. They will appreciate these supplies.

Card collections for folks in health care facilitiesfor longer periods; are a good idea. Your great aunt probably wants to remember birthdays. Give her a collection of birthday card for adult and children and stamps and envelops. This way she can remember birthdays and other important events. A package of generic thank you notes and stamps is a good idea as well.

My mom found when she entered rehab she did not have enough sweats. Robes, lounge wear, and slippers are good gifts for those who are in health facilities or shut ins. Do you wear the same shoes every day? Of course you wear different shoes every day. Most of these folks can use more than one pair of slippers.

Now if you do a gift basket from the dollar store; consider the container. I used a long oval metal planter my mom could use to put her cards in. Try to get a container your loved one can store mail in or hair pins, or their Sudoku books.