Nursing home residents are special people. They love the gifts, and the special attention they get during the holidays. They appreciate everything from special concerts to groups from churches or organizations bringing them small gifts or stuffed animals. The thing they love the most is a visit from you.
You can make your gift special for them by being creative and selective. Keep safety in mind when you make your choice.
Photo Collages
If your friend or relative is a parent or grandparent, take some photos of their children, grand children, or a favorite pet. The prints should be no smaller than four by six inches. Make sure the photos focus on the face of the person (or pet). Try to keep the background simple: remember that older eyes don't focus as well as younger eyes, so the image should be large and clear.
Arrange the pictures in a way that makes sense to you and will be attractive to your nursing home resident. Mount your pictures on a non-acidic paper with a double-sided, long-holding tape. Place them in a strong, lightweight frame to hang on the wall of their room. If you're the person hanging the picture, remember to put it a height where they can easily see it. A poster frame can hold several pictures and give them a lot pleasure, both for themselves and to share with others who stop by their room.
Gift Cards and Certificates
If your friend or relative is in a United States nursing home, and is on their state's version of Medicaid or Medical Assistance, that allows them to keep only $50 per month in spending money. Beauty and barbershop costs, manicures, a telephone in their room, a newspaper, and TV cable eat that up very quickly. You can give gift certificates for those services after you've deposited the money in the resident's “personal spending account.”
Newspaper subscription: call their newspaper and make the arrangements. Let the appropriate person at the nursing home know you're paying for a subscription for your friend or loved one.
For TV service, ask the Activities Director of the nursing home which cable company (or satellite service) provides service to the residents. Arrange with the cable company for their bill to come to you each month. NOTE: Be sure you tell the nursing home staff to notify you immediately if your resident moves to another room, and then notify the service provider of the new room and bed number.
Check with the nursing home administration to find out what type of phone service is available for residents. You could pre-pay their phone bill for a period, or give them pre-paid calling cards to use on a pay phone. If you choose to do that, remember that the print on those cards is very small and hard to read for many seniors. If you leave nearby, you could occasionally stop in to see them and give them change for a pay phone.
Gift cards and certificates for use outside the nursing home can be great gifts for those residents able to go shopping, either with a trip organized by the nursing home, or with you.
Stocking Stuffers
A hand exercise ball or egg makes a great little gift for someone with hands affected by arthritis, IF you remember to check with the physical or occupational therapist for their approval or permission.
Non-skid socks with higher tops for winter comfort are helpful, as are both light- and heavy-weight socks for everyday wear. If your friend or loved one has diabetes, or problems with their legs swelling, you can buy the socks with wider tops. Try to avoid heavily elasticized socks, because they don't hold up very well to commercial launderings.
Candy and food make good small gifts for some residents. Check with the nursing staff to see what your friend or loved one can have, if they're on a special diet. Small boxes are best. Remember to get kinds and sizes suitable to their swallowing ability, because you don't want them to choke! Remember that caramel or chewy candies or gums can be hard to enjoy if you have dentures.
Residents appreciate a small amount of cash - $5 in quarters and bills. Theft by other residents, or even staff can sometimes be a problem, so anything more than $5 should be put into their personal spending account.
Clothes
Washable, washable and washable should be your motto! Look for items that are easy for them or their caregivers to put on and take off. Large buttons or snaps can help if someone has arthritic hands. Sweatshirts are good for the men on your list, because they offer an extra bit of warmth and they are practical. Avoid beaded sweaters or blouses for the women, because the beads can fall off and cause someone to slip and fall. Appliqués and embroidery is great.
Consider lap robes or throws without fringe, grabber tools, walker bags or baskets and toiletries. Just remember to get liquid soap, rather than a bar, because bars of soap can hoard almost as many germs as they kill. Give light fragrances only, because many people are very sensitive to them.
Above all, spend time with your friend or loved one, and, don't be afraid to give them a hug or a kiss. Time spent with you is what they will really value.
