Gifts for the Person in a Hospital or Nursing Home

Sometimes it is hard to think of a gift to take to an elderly person in a nursing home or in the hospital. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.

An additional sweater, pajamas or nightgown are always welcome gifts for the bed-ridden person or someone who spends a lot of time lounging. Make sure the sweater opens down the front and is easy to put on and take off. An elderly person may have arthritic fingers so make sure the buttons and buttonholes are large enough to easily manipulate.

Some soft, comfortable slippers always make a great gift. Take a look at the soles and make sure that they will not slip easily.

A residence of a nursing home may have to take things to a meeting room or craft room so a tote bag may come in handy. Buy or make one that is sturdy enough to carry books, crafts or some personal items. If you can, sew some ties onto the bag so it can be tied to the arm of a wheelchair or to a walker.

Some homemade goodies are always a welcome change from hospital or nursing home food. Either make one of their favorite snacks for them or gather up an assortment of packaged cookies, crackers, snack cakes or potato chips. Of course, you need to check their diet restrictions before giving food items.

If the gift recipient is in a room of his or her own, a small bulletin board might be nice. They can hang up any cards they receive, favorite photos or some memento they want to keep.

There are caddies that are made to hang over the side of a bed which make a great gift for someone who is in bed most of the time. Part of the caddy slides under the mattress and the rest hangs down and holds their personal items they want to be able to reach easily.

If you know the person well enough to know their habits and likes and dislikes, it helps in deciding what to take them. Many elderly people like to be able to write notes to people or a thank you note to a favorite nurse. In this case, you may want to take them some pretty stationary and a few pens and stamps.

A woman may love to have a gift certificate to a beauty shop and a certificate for a free ride. A man may enjoy a trip to the barbershop as well.

With men and women, a basket of personal items like hand creams, shaving cream, combs, cologne and pretty soaps are always a welcome surprise.

For a reader, a magnifying glass may be a useful gift. Bookstores sell magnifying glasses that are the size of an average page that can be laid down on the page.

The most valuable thing you can give to a person in the hospital or nursing home is your time. Elderly people love children so take your family along and spend some time talking or just listening.