If you have a loved one in a nursing home, you will understand the difficulty of finding them a good gift. They don’t have a lot of space or opportunities to go out, and you may have already exhausted pajamas and slippers.
In recent years we have seen a rise in reported cases of nursing home and elder abuse. Ensuring your loved one is cared for and happy is important and can be very difficult. But no matter how good the home, some people find it harder than others to adjust.
For Christmas or their Birthday, you want to make it as special and normal as you can. All the following ideas are dependent on their capabilities and preferences, but at the very least, it will give you some ideas which you can then adapt:
Your Time
The best thing you can give someone in a nursing home is your time. It is common for elderly people to feel lonely or excluded. This may be especially prevalent on special occasions. Visiting them on Christmas Day or their Birthday can be a fun experience and a good tradition to have.
If they are well enough, you may even be able to arrange for a taxi to bring them to your house.
Memorabilia
It is not always possible to take someone out of a nursing home. If this is the case, then you may want to consider something to get their memories going. This can also be therapeutic and is usually very enjoyable. Think of CDs or DVDs from their youth or look for a book with memorabilia pictures and information from when they were young. They will love to go through it with you and tell you about what they remember from that time.
It is amazing what people can remember when they have something to remind them! A more personal option could be a photo album or photo frame which they can keep in their room.
Outing
If they are well enough to go in a taxi or a wheelchair taxi, then the best present you can give them is a day out! Perhaps you could get them tickets to a show or the cinema. Or you could consider taking them somewhere with animals such as a farm or zoo. Animals are very therapeutic for elderly people.
Activities
Consider a puzzle book or a jigsaw puzzle. This will provide them with entertainment when you’re not there and will also exercise their minds. It is essential that elderly people keep their minds active as long as possible as this will help them to keep healthier, longer.
Another option could be a coloring book or craft activities such as wool and knitting needles.
Decorations
You could decorate their room or where they sit in the shared living space. Surprising them with decorations will make them feel special and included.
Self-Care
When someone moves into a home, they often feel that their dignity is being taken away. Nurses should help minimize this by ensuring that they do as much as they can for themselves. Another way that you can help is by making sure they always have what they need and want. Their favorite shampoo, moisturizer, face wash and makeup are all important.
Plus, it’ll make them feel good about themselves. Feeling good about yourself is crucial at all stages of life.
We hope this helps you with ideas for gifts to give the elderly people in your life. These gifts ideas for someone in a nursing home are great for a wide range of occasions, from birthday celebrations and Christmas, to Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.
