Hello Moms! I need a little bit of help here. There is an older adult (80's) who is celebrating her birthday next week and need some creative ideas for a gift. She has been hospitalized for quite a while and has had brief stays at a nursing home but it has been a few months since she has had a place she can call home. I would love to do something special for her to make her feel like the queen she is but need some help. Thank you in advance :)
Pay to have someone come in to do her hair. The hospital often has someone on site that you can hire.
If she's been ill, maybe a nice robe with matching slippers
or possibly a fruit bouquet?
This is a challenge, but an idea that worked for my mom when she was in the hospital were recorded books. She loved to read, but with old eyes it was difficult. Recorded books (iPod) worked very well. Another was to buy the tabloid newspapers (world weekly news was great). Mom was embarrassed with these at first, but they are so ridiculous that the nurses stayed longer to laugh with her and to flip through the newspaper. It was a good hook to give them something to chat about, and Mom could tell the nurses and therapist about her kids who gave it to her.
At that age I think a nice plant or bouquet of flowers would be plenty. They don't really want for anything but just something to let them know your thinking or them is nice.
I love Shirley's idea. Give her something that will make others stick around to ask her about it. I don't know if tabloids will work for someone in their 80s as they may not recognize the Kardasians, Teen Moms and Justin Bieber. Do you have access to old pictures? Maybe a scrapbook of her life and her kids? Try taking them to CVS or somewhere where you can enlarge the pictures so she will have a easier time seeing them.
How about a crystal to hang in the window. Through out the day, the rainbows that will appear around her room will be amazing.
Books on tape or CD are awesome. Here in Texas they can be checked out and mailed at no charge for the elderly, through the Texas State library system..see if your state offers this.
Offer to check out large print books fr her.
Really good quality non scented and cream.
Before you bring in food ask her nurse if it's okay. She may be on a special diet and is to avoid certain foods.
If okay then bring her favorite dinner or dessert. Maybe made from her receipe.
Pictures from home, her pet (if okay with hospital staff), stationary, envelops, stamps and a couple of good pens, her address book, Holiday cards she can address and send out. Holiday decorations example a jack o lantern for her room, then a decoration for Thanksgiving and something for Christmas. Halloween candy to give out to visitors. Does she do crafts, crochet, knit, ect? Bring her a project to work on.
The best gift you can give someone in the hospital is lots of visits.
Frame a photo of her when she was younger, doing something useful, typical or unusual. Or a photo of her surrounded by her children. Older people like to reminisce, and it will be a good conversation starter when nurses and staff come in. It will also remind visitors of the busy, active and vital person she was, so they can see her as more than just a patient but as a mom, teacher, hiker, or whatever she is doing in the picture.
How about a personal puzzle made from a favorite photo or a photo of her family? You can order them online. Get one that doesn't have too many pieces so she can do it on the little table that is bedside in the hospital, and with bigger pieces.
I think it would be awesome if she could have a "spa day" in her room... manicure, pedicure, have someone come and do her hair, and maybe even get her a tiara to wear.
Maybe a cookie bouquet or something like a beauticontrol hand spa -and finish with painting her nails. Most people I know that age, just like to have the company- and take her a warm muffin or something.
Can you put together an activity basket for her of things she can do? Time in the hospital is SLOOOOW time.
Does she like to work word puzzles or Sudoku? Some crosswords or other puzzle books in there might be nice (don't forget a pen!)
A portable DVD player (on loan, maybe) and some of her favorite movies. Hospital TV is awful. They never get any good channels.
A deck of cards. She can play some games with her visitors, or solitaire when she's by herself.
A small digital picture frame with picutres of her friends & family already put on it would be nice for her to look at.
Things like that?
