Christmas Gift for someone who has 4 weeks to live?

pinkfluffybabe

What about making a charity donation in their name? Is there a charity that they support or that they would like to help?

Bettie

I bought my Dad a thermal sheepskin type ( artificial) underblanket as he was in bed nearly all the time. He found it comfortable and cosy and helped stop sores. occasionally he would sit up in a chair and have it underneath him folded for comfort. They are easily washed.
Another thing he loved was to have his head gently massaged so maybe some massage oil would be nice.
When he couldn't eat he still liked an ice lolly to wet his mouth which isn't much of a gift but maybe useful to have in the freezer.

pinkshoes

A game that you can play with him, like Guess Who?

Tish_P

A train ticket given to someone he loves, so they can visit him.

nzmegs

I spent Mother's day with my Motehr who at that time had three weeks to live. My bering there was the best present she could have had. But for mothers day i bought her a plant in flower. In was something nice to look at and I knew she loved plants. I also got her some nice smelling handcream When you are ill the smell can be a downer. My mum hated being unwashed, and bedbaths really don't do the trick.

For a man I might suggest some handsoap or that stuff you rub into your hands to keep them clean. Some moist face wipes perhaps. At this stage of an illness a loss of diginty it the worst thing. So something to keep him feeling clean and reasonably normal.

Does he know he only has three weeks to live? My mum didn't know and didn't want to know, so i tried to just be as normal as possible.

Tulip09

I dont know how close etc you are to the person or how they are coming to terms with their situation but when my mums sister was dying she insisted on being allowed home to die with her family around her and had excepted her situation totally. She got out of hospitial the day before Christmas eve and died the day before her 40th birthday, the first few days in January, so not the best Christmas for a household with 4 young teens in it. My mum had us make a 'memory' book of all the fun times, photographs and poems that reminded us and her of the impact she had on us, we gave this to her on Christmas day along with some winnie the pooh pjs. She loved this book and insisted that it was to be buried with her. As kids that for some reason gave us alot of comfort imagining her sitting in her pjs, reading the memory book.

Sagz_2

How about something to make his bed more comfy?
Big pillows, memory foam matress topper or pillow?

shellsuit

Tulip09 wrote: »

I dont know how close etc you are to the person or how they are coming to terms with their situation but when my mums sister was dying she insisted on being allowed home to die with her family around her and had excepted her situation totally. She got out of hospitial the day before Christmas eve and died the day before her 40th birthday, the first few days in January, so not the best Christmas for a household with 4 young teens in it. My mum had us make a 'memory' book of all the fun times, photographs and poems that reminded us and her of the impact she had on us, we gave this to her on Christmas day along with some winnie the pooh pjs. She loved this book and insisted that it was to be buried with her. As kids that for some reason gave us alot of comfort imagining her sitting in her pjs, reading the memory book.

Ahh that's beautiful, brought a tear to my eye that did.




I was going to suggest something to do with memories, do they have a favoutite song or artist, or what about pictures from where they grew up as a child which you could stick into a book?

Counting_Pennies_2

I also would say audio book.

When my husbands granny was frail and didn't have the energy to do anything, we bought her a subscription to audio books (she actually went on virtually bedbound for 10 years).

She said the audio books were what kept her going for so long.

I understand the subscription is out of the question. But audio books help fill the time, and at least are soothing to rest your head and listen to and doze in and out.

I wouldn't suggest a biography probably couldn't give a toss about someone elses problems at this stage. Having said that the latest Michael McIntyre is rather funny, and might be worth a listen to.
http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/michael+mcintyre/michael+mcintyre/life+and+laughing/7774213/

Not sure on fiction for men, but my husband reads the following authors
Tom Clancy
John Grisham
Clive Cussler

The kite runner is an all time classic.

Failing that, how about something light, children's all time classics.

Harry Potter
Roald Dahl collection

hth

RazWaz

Maybe give them a day. Sit and read with them, or play simple games. Would it be possible to take them for a day out somewhere?