As Christmas nears and we are finishing up our shopping for the season, you may be struggling to find something for your elderly loved one in a Michigan nursing home. For one reason or another you may be struggling to find that right gift that will be allowed and/or meaningful to the individual. Here are some tips on good gifts that generally work well in Michigan nursing homes.
Lap Desk
If your loved one is a reader, this may be the perfect gift. A lap desk with large spacious pockets for books, snakes, papers or tissues could turn the potentially painful pastime of reading into a pleasurable one. Being out of bed or holding a book for long periods of time can be painful, making this gift perfect for the book lovers.
Favorite Magazines
Nothing adds enjoyment to a week like anticipating your favorite magazine showing up. You can add structure to your loved ones life by giving them something to look forward to other than your visits. Many magazines are available in large print, but if that doesn’t help you, e-readers like an Amazon Kindle offer a great way to view your favorite books as well as magazines at an optimal print size.
Digital Picture Frame
By preloading a digital picture frame with pictures you can give your loved one a gift of memories of their friends and family. A digital frame enables them to have all of the pictures they may want and not clutter the little area that they may have. You can even add in some music to some frames to fit the listener.
Board Games
Frequent visitors may find that conversation can lag at times in Michigan nursing homes and a good way to stay engaged together is with board games. They are a good way to relax with those around you and games like Scrabble can even help with an individual’s memory. Board games are also a great way to help your loved one interface with some other residents who may enjoy them as well. Many games offer large print versions for those with vision problems.
Fruit
This may sound a bit off, but many residents of Michigan nursing homes request fresh fruit when asked if they need anything. You can gift your loved one a basket of fresh seasonal fruit to provide vitamins, minerals and fiber rather than give them simple flowers or candy. There are services which offer fruit of the month subscriptions that will allow them to enjoy your gift all year long.
Getting just the right gift can be a difficult task, especially when you have to think about the restrictions of Michigan nursing homes. These ideas will hopefully assist you in finding the right gift or at least give you some ideas and get those gears turning.