Making Spirits Bright - A Holiday Gift Guide for Skilled Care Residents

with healthy seniors and families in mind, this article is sponsored by Parkview Nursing & Rehabilitation

During the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, preparing gifts for loved ones is usually at the top of the to-do list. The kids have probably been working on their wish lists all year. The office or relative gift exchanges might have specific suggestions. Your spouse or significant other could be the first you shop for. But what about your loved one in a skilled care facility?

Beloved seniors, usually our parents or grandparents, don’t always jump at the chance to ask for gifts during the holidays. But shopping for the senior in your life doesn’t have to be as daunting as it seems.

Start with their favorites

Make a note of their favorite things. Compile a CD or playlist of their favorite songs and genres. Do they have a favorite food? If it fits their dietary needs, remake their recipes, childhood snacks, or holiday desserts. Gift their favorite books, movies, or art for fun activities to do together. Decorate their room with preferred colors, patterns, or memorabilia. Bring their favorite flowers, games, or crafts to enjoy. Consider digitizing and reprinting old films and photographs to preserve their stories and memories for easy access.

What are their hobbies?

Does your loved one have an interest in certain hobbies or activities? Perhaps they were part of a car club, a tennis league, or a gardening group. Have they taken up scrapbooking, sewing, bird watching, or collecting? Find a meaningful gift that can continue to spark those interests - such as a picture book or documentary about hot rods, a handheld tennis game, a seed sprouting kit, or a window herb garden.

Make a gift basket with a variety of supplies from your local craft store. Set up a bird feeder by their window and give them binoculars or a camera so that they can see and document their feathered friends. Visit your local antique store and find some novelty collectibles that your loved one might appreciate.

Keep them active & healthy

Aging loved ones need extra support for body and mind. Stock up on a variety of fun and challenging brain games, including puzzles, coloring books, word searches, crosswords, and card games. Invest in fitness items such as resistance bands, stationary pedals, supportive walking shoes, or light hand weights for mobility and strength. Provide a journal or devotional book for their mental and spiritual well-being.

What they may want most is you!

Many senior residents in skilled care facilities just want time with the ones they love most. Check your loved one’s facility visitation policy Even though it isn’t as quick or convenient, send heartfelt cards and letters in the mail to brighten their day when you are unable to stop by. The tangible notes are something they can treasure and put on display as a reminder that you care.

During the holidays, the greatest gift you can give your senior relative is love and quality time. Any gift that promotes health, happiness, love, and bonding is what they will appreciate the most. Ensuring quality of life and care is a gift that will keep on giving during their stay in a skilled care facility.