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muriel shackelford shares ideas for gifts for loved ones in nursing care

Editor’s note: The Messenger has asked Muriel Shackelford to answer questions related to long-term care. She is a retired regional long-term care ombudsman.

Dear Muriel,
Please help me with gift ideas for elderly friends and loved ones living in nursing homes.
Thank you. Puzzled!

Dear Puzzled,
Thank you for thinking of your friends and loved ones at this very special time of the year.

The Illinois Council on Long Term Care, an association of nursing home professionals, offers the following list of holiday gift ideas for nursing home residents.

Holiday Gift Ideas:
• Stationery, note cards, greeting cards, pens, and stamps;

• Lap writing desk calendar for 2010 with dates marked on it for upcoming birthdays, anniversaries, etc. For birthdays, mark down how old the person will be on that day; for anniversaries, the number of years together;

• Address book with addresses written in for family and friends;

• Jitterbug cell phone with large buttons;

• Cardigan sweaters with large buttons, sweat suits, pajamas, and ladies’ housecoats and dusters;

• Firm shoes with rubber soles; enclosed slippers;

• Clocks with large numbers or verbal announcement capabilities;

• CDs of loved one’s favorite music, such as songs from the 20s, 30s, and 40s, (maybe updated for later generation);

• Televisions, radios, DVD/CD players;

• DVDs of favorite TV shows from years past; also, favorite movies;

• Magazine subscriptions, (large print);

• Subscription to local newspaper;

• Books in large print editions;

• Checker game, chess game, and decks of cards;

• Large print crossword puzzle, word find;

• Age appropriate exercise videos;

• Wii entertainment system and games;

• For the men: boxer shorts, V-neck t-shirts, and socks;

• Digital photo frame with family photographs;

• Gift certificates to the facility’s on-site beautician, barber, or gift shop;

• Transfer old family videos and slides to a DVD;

• Tape recorder to log family memories and holiday traditions;

• Warm robe and/or twin-sized soft blanket;

• Dry erase boards for communicating with persons who have serious hearing loss.

Some types of gifts are not appropriate for nursing home residents. These elderly individuals usually have arthritis and need items that are easy to put on and take off.

Also, due to swallowing difficulties and restrictive diets, readers are advised not to send food items such as candy, cookies and fruit.

If a nursing home resident has Alzheimer’s or a related dementia, do not send liquid items such as perfume, cologne, after shave or lotion, as these may end up being swallowed.

Unfortunately, some nursing home residents have no family or friends. The Illinois Council encourages readers to consider “adopting” a resident at a local nursing home, purchasing this person a special gift for the holiday. Check your yellow pages for the phone numbers of local facilities. Call and ask to speak to the home’s activity director. He or she can assist in “adopting” a resident and choosing the perfect holiday gift, so that this individual will not be forgotten.
The best gift to give a nursing home resident is the gift of your time. These residents greatly appreciate visits from family and friends. Plan visits to the nursing home during the holidays, and bring along the grandchildren and great grandchildren to add to the experience to help an elderly family member or friend feel recognized, valued and loved.

The Council represents more than 26,000 nursing home professionals serving more than 37,000 residents.
Remember, don’t stress out over gift buying for your loved ones; your presence and time spent with them means more than any gift you could purchase. Today and everyday you are the best gift!

Remember staff: They are the primary caregivers of your loved ones. You may remember them collectively with maybe a fruit basket, pizza delivery, etc. (remember there are three shifts of workers and sometimes the evening/night shift workers are forgotten).

Think about asking other family members to share their ideas in this effort of staff appreciation.
All gifts and other items should be clearly marked with the resident’s name and added to their Inventory Sheet. This sheet remains in the resident’s chart and provides a record of his/her personal belongings. Always ask for a copy for your records.

Blessings to you and your loved ones as we once again share in the joyful celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

(If you have questions for Muriel, send them to cathnews@bellevillemessenger.org.)