Care home resident and staff gifts

Hillbilly1

Hi all,

OH's beloved Godfather is in a care home this year. His health is deteriorating and he spends alot of the day in bed. He doesn't have a TV or DVD in his own room, and is diabetic.

We are struggling with what to buy him- he usually gets sport DVDs.

Also want to get something nice for the staff.

Any ideas gratefully received.

cherie63

So why not a tv/dvd player for his room or is this more than you want to spend?

I used to work in a care home a couple of years ago and just a tin of chocs goes a long way-as they can be left in the nurses office or staff room for all the staff to share.

mumps

The home might have a policy on gifts for staff, it is worth check to avoid any problems.

davenport151

Have you done a forum search? I'm sure there was a similar thread last year?
I second the sweets/biscuits for the staff. Much appreciated. I work in a care home and we keep them all in the run up to Xmas and divide them up amongst the staff.

shirlgirl2004

If his health is deteriorating I can understand not wanting to buy a new TV but could you borrow one from somewhere for him? Most people have a spare in their kitchen, bedroom or whatever. If he has a cd player then how about an audiobook?

With regard to the staff then I have bought a huge box of Thorntons for them to share.

Torry_Quine

Is there a reason why he doesn't have a TV in his room. If not then that would be a good thing and if too much money then maybe a joint present with others.When my relative went into a care home there was a TV in the room and when we went digital she bought a box to keep watching. When the TV broke the home put a new one in her room.

As for the staff, they usually aren't allowed personal gifts over a certain amount so a joint gift may be better. How about a selection of nice teas, coffees and biscuits for the staff room?

Hillbilly1

As he is high risk of falling he isn't allowed a TV in his room in case he falls into it! He is 6'5'' and although knows he can't stand unaided still tries too...

Thanks fro the quick replies, and the heads up on gift rules. We're visiting soon and nwill ask.

Lilyplonk

Have you thought about checking out online for one of those portable dvd players - the kind that people put into their cars to keep kids occupied on long journeys. If a brand new one is too expensive, how about having a look in somewhere like Cash Generator/Converter.

If that's totally out of the question, how about a couple of books on his favourite sport or a 'Nostalgia Book' about where he grew up?

I've worked in a Care Home, and boxes of Choccies / Biscuits / Shortbread are always welcome for sharing among the Staff. Alcohol would be a definite 'no-no'.

Don't forget that your Godfather may want to get some Christmas Cards to send to Staff and any other residents that he's managed to make friends with.

Does he ever get to go out? He may appreciate a short-trip to a shopping centre to choose some cards, perhaps a calendar for his room and maybe lunch / coffee / or something a bit stronger . Some of our residents used to love the opportunity to 'escape for a couple of hours' for a change of scenery .

Hillbilly1

He's really too sick for all of that. The care home is a special one to stop him being a bed blocker.

We are looking at getting him some of our wedding photos from 2 yeats ago where there are nice ones of him and OHs family. Only just looking at the CD of photos for the first time in 2.5 years!

annie_d

We are not allowed to accept gifts from relatives but still get given tins of chocolates which we eat and then feel fat about!

I would definitely get him a TV for his room. It can be fixed to the wall so there wouldn't be a danger of him falling into it.

loulou123

I work in a care home and we are not allowed to accept individual gifts from families - but cakes/biscuits/sweets etc are fine and we all share them.

As for a gift for your OHs godfather, I'd second a personal dvd player, if his eyesight is good enough (as the screens are fairly small.) Or a wall mountable tv (this is what we use in my home if the patient is at risk of falls etc.) Or a mp3 player with headphones and small speakers, that you could preload with his favourite music or talking books - I work with dementia patients and a number of them have mp3 players with their favourite music on, seems to help them.

Other then that what about his favourite aftershave or smellies - as the smell may be familiar and comforting, or a nice throw or blanket he can have over his bed etc.