When you decide to visit a loved one in a nursing home, one difficult thing to decide is a useful and thoughtful gift to bring that person who is living in the nursing home.
Here are some ideas that may help get some great ideas for excellent gifts to bring to a family or friend living in a nursing home:
Sentimental items
Items that you can incorporate your family or friends are so important. Things like photo albums, framed pictures or photo collages add some personality to your loved ones nursing home room and can help to keep them recognize family and friends.
Useful items
Things like soaps and lotions can seem like a boring gift, but these are essential items that your loved one or friend in the nursing home can use. Other useful items like tissues, holiday decorations, phone cards and games can be a practical way to bring a gift.
Other useful gifts for a nursing home resident:
- Bathrobe or housecoat, slippers (make sure the slippers don’t slip).
- Nice blankets or warm shawls
- Preferred toiletries
- A nice new set of sheets
Creative items
Bringing your loved one a creative item such as a divided box filled with greeting cards for different occasions can be a fun way for them to stay in touch with people inside or outside the nursing home. Add in stamps as well as a calendar with holidays and birthdays of family and friends, pens and an address book, and the nursing home resident can take time each day to send out greetings and stay in touch.
Anything homemade, especially from grandchildren or great grandchildren like pictures, poems, crafts, will be very well received.
Time
This is the most valuable gift you can bring to a nursing home resident: your time.
There are a lot of different ways to come in and spend time with friends and loved ones.
- Bring in a nice meal and eat with them (ask beforehand to make sure the nursing home doesn’t have any stipulations)
- Bring in one of their favorite family treats.
- Plan a time to go in and do a special activity with them like a craft with their grandchildren or great grandchildren, etc.
- Consider a special visit or outing, especially with the grandchildren. Does your loved one enjoy ice cream or special shows? Make special arrangements and reconnect them with a favorite pastime.
Whatever you decide to bring in to your loved ones in the nursing home, know that spending some quality time with them is oftentimes worth more than any gift.
If you have any questions about a gift or outing you would like to bring, please contact us.
