Need ideas for nursing home residents

emg

I like the idea of notelets with stamps, might steal that one for a few elderly relatives of my own.

Torry_Quine

Bed-socks, word-search type books with pens and blankets always go down well

LEJC

My mum is in a nursing home and we are doing a hamper for her this year...the types of things she would like (and hopfully others in her position)

Hair grips with flowers on
scarf
soap
shampoo
small perfumes
nail varnish....its surprising since shes been in the home shes taken to the carers painting her nails and it gives them time to interact
a cushion
Picture/photo frame
seeds or bulbs to grow for the spring in an indoor pot
socks...not the short ones but slightly longer knee length
the cds with 40's & 50's music is a great idea and one I think i'll borrow
A small teddy bear

Another thing that the home might welcome is a collection of childrens percussion instruments...castenets,shakers,bells etc...the residents in my mums home love music afternoon and playing the instruments

what a LOVELY thing you are doing...Im sure everyone will be delighted with their gifts

loulou123

What a lovely person you are - i work with dementia patients in a care home, so know how much your presents would be appreciated, especially by those without any relatives.

Just an idea (as i can appreciate you want to get each person something of their own) but how about paying for some entertainment for the group - eg a xmas show to come into the home.

Individual present wise is harder, because you have already mentioned the obvious things - sweeties, smellies etc. Off the top of my head... Large print cards, larger sized dominoes, a pretty glasses case for any glasses wearers, something to brighten their bedrooms - curtain ties, pillow case, cushion cover, trinket box, inexpensive jewellery, head scarf, ties for the men, a pretty cover up for their bed....

Again, you sound like such a lovely person and im sure they will love whatever you get them.

magic57

What a lovely idea. I'm stealing some of the ideas for my elderly relatives.

My contributions:
Photo frames or photo albums so they don't forget loved ones.
Calenders with lovely pictures (puppies for me!)
Lavender bags and sprays. You can get some nice pillow sprays they are supposed to help you sleep.

I'm sure they appreciate all you do for them.:A

cookie54

i know you have said no to gloves but in the home i work in a lot of the people have fingerless gloves....

also a nice selection of easy bits ie clips / combs/ bands if they have long hair

hand cream

for the males

sporting books / local area books

small blanketd from asda/ primark to go over them when sitting in chair

trays

dory22

small scrap books, that they can put photos in or a memory jar/ box with maybe a photos which is personal to each of them copies of photos for singles anyway dont cost that much and they can add to them.

Valli

lika_86 wrote: »

For £4-5 a person for 26 people, why not buy them a communal Wii?

and get the staff a video camera and show them how to upload video to you tube :rotfl:

Seriously, that's a lovely thing to do. What about some DVDs of 'classic' films? Stuff like The Lavender Hill Mob or Ealing comedies?

xcarlyx

lika_86 wrote: »

For £4-5 a person for 26 people, why not buy them a communal Wii?

I used to work with a care group and they was on about getting them a wii

I think its a great idea at the same time would be funny trying to watch old people work technology.

C788

What an amazing and thoughtful person you are I would definatly second the nail varnish, at my grandads home all the ladies ask us to paint their nails, I think they like the close contact with people and it makes them feel good so everytime we visited we would take nail varnishes and hand creams.

Personalised cushions are always good, it makes the home feel more homely for them as well as blankets like other people have mentioned. As alot of older p[eople suffer with their sight they seem to find comfort in the touch of something so fluffy blanckets that they can cosy up with are nice.

If I think of anything that hasnt al;ready been suggested then i'll pop backas I think your doing such a lovely thing.