If you have a loved one who is receiving care in a hospital, hospice, long-term care facility or at home you may be in need of some ideas for gifts you can give for holidays and other special occasions. Gifts are a thoughtful way to express your love and caring but it’s important that they be appropriate for your special person’s situation. Here are some ideas that may be perfect for them!
Cozy Pajamas
People who are ill in the hospital or at home spend most of their time in bed. Give your special person some fun and comfortable pajamas to wear, making sure they can accommodate any tubing or cables that are part of the care.
Add in some slipper socks or non-skid slippers and a plush bathrobe or bed jacket for a complete package.
Carhartt Beanie
Great for keeping warm both indoors and out, a Carhartt Beanie will be appreciated by both men and women, and they come in many different colors.
A headscarf or wrap would also be a thoughtful gift for a woman who is undergoing chemotherapy.
Fuzzy Blanket
A nice cozy blanket to curl up under would be a welcome gift for anyone but people who are ill will find it especially comforting and relaxing.
Tumbler
Hydration is important during a time of illness and a cool tumbler with a lid and straw for drinking in bed would be a great gift. This one comes in lots of fun colors and designs.
Also consider an adaptive cup with handles for adults who may have difficulty holding a tumbler. Or check out this special dysphagia cup that regulates the volume of each sip for those who have difficulty swallowing.
There are many great adaptive devices that might meet the needs of your special person.
Insulated Coffee Mug
This stainless steel insulated coffee mug from Yeti will keep their coffee or tea warm for hours and makes spills less likely. This is a great gift for people who enjoy hot beverages and could be paired with specialty tea or coffee brands in a gift basket.
Digital Picture Frame
This is an expensive but very thoughtful gift for someone close to you. With a digital picture frame you can help your person load photos of their loved ones that have special memories. Family and friends will be able to send photos digitally to store in the frame, even if they are at a distance, so they can stay in touch.
Ear Plugs
One of the frustrating issues for people being cared for in any type of facility is difficulty sleeping due to the noisy environment. These ear plugs come in different sizes and are soft and comfortable to wear in bed. Better quality sleep would be a great gift for anyone dealing with illness!
Sleep Eye Mask
Another helpful gift for sleep that you could pair with ear plugs is a sleep eye mask to block the excess light from equipment and machinery. Again, sleep is essential for people who are ill.
Spotify Music Player
This is a pricey gift but if your person is a music-lover it might be the perfect thing. This Spotify Music Player downloads podcasts and music to play anywhere, without wifi or an internet connection. It’s compatible with Bluetooth, has an 8-hour battery life and holds 1,000 songs. Your special person can listen to their favorite soothing music anywhere, at any time!
Sleep Headphones
To go with the music player above consider these sleep headphones that can be comfortably worn in bed.
They are rechargeable, operate using Bluetooth technology, and will allow your special person to listen to their favorite music or podcasts without disturbing anyone else in the vicinity.
White Noise Machine
For those who prefer not to wear ear plugs or headphones, a white noise machine can be a great way to block out all the sleep-disrupting sounds that occur in a facility.
Extra-long Phone Charger
An extra-long charging cord for a cell phone is a thoughtful and inexpensive gift for a person being cared for at home or in a facility. Help them stay in touch by being able to keep their device charged and ready to use!
Support Pillows
This set of support pillows can help a person at bedrest stay more comfortable and get better sleep. They are made of memory foam, are adjustable and help relieve muscle spasms, back pain, and even reflux symptoms.
Hand Cream
Soothing hand cream for dry skin is another thoughtful gift for a person dealing with illness. This also comes in an unscented version if they have any sensitivities to scents.
Audible Gift Card
Give your special person a gift subscription to Audible so they can listen to audiobooks whenever they need a brief escape. There are times when listening is easier than reading and this is a perfect gift for a book-loving person receiving care.
Fidget Quilt
For people with dementia a fidget quilt can help relieve anxiety and soothe restlessness by providing different textures to feel and activities to occupy the hands. This particular quilt is handmade in the U.S. but there are many brands and varieties to choose from.
Adult Coloring Book
Coloring has been shown to be an excellent stress and anxiety relieving activity for people of all ages. An adult coloring book plus a set of colored pencils makes a great and inexpensive gift for your special person.
There are also coloring books for mindfulness, people with cancer, and people with dementia.
Check out the rest of our gift guides! Need ideas for people who are grieving? Click here.
Note: Some of the items in this guide include Amazon Affiliate and other links which earn a small commission.