Choosing the right gift for someone in the hospital can be a thoughtful way to show care and support during their recovery. Hospital stays, whether short or extended, can often feel lonely and uncomfortable. Thoughtful gifts not only brighten the patient's day but also provide comfort, entertainment, and convenience. Plan before you gift! You should definitely think through when is the best time to send the gift to ensure that your loved one will still be at the hospital and need the gift.
Here’s a list of 20 considerate gift ideas that can make a hospital stay more pleasant:
1. Hospital Gowns
A high-quality, comfortable hospital gown can make a patient feel more at ease and dignified. Look for gowns with pleasant designs and soft fabrics. There are modern hospital gowns that look more like stylish nightgowns, ensuring that the wearer will look and feel good.
2. Adaptive Clothes
Adaptive clothing designed for hospital patients offers ease of dressing, with features like zipper closures and accessible openings. These garments can help patients feel more independent and comfortable. For those who may be using incontinence products, catheters, or ostomy bags, seek out adaptive pants that provide easy access. For those recovering from an upper body procedure, adaptive shirts can help make dressing more comfortable and easier. Depending on their condition, you might want either a front-opening shirt, like this button-up with magnetic buttons or this back-opening shirt that you wear similar to a hospital gown.
3. Gripper Socks
Hospital floors can be slippery. Gripper socks provide traction, reducing the risk of falls, while keeping feet warm and cozy. While some hospitals do provide patients with hospital socks with grippers, these are far from the most comfortable or stylish option. They will be so happy to receive premium socks with grippers that actually feel great when worn. Socks with grippers are great for those who aren’t fully steady, especially when going to the bathroom at night.
4. Wheelchair-Friendly Pants
For patients using a wheelchair, pants designed for seated wear are both practical and comfortable, with features like higher backs and elastic waists. These features ensure that pants won’t ride up too high on the waist, and won’t bunch up too much in the lap. Wheelchair-friendly pants often include strategically placed pockets and zipper openings that make it easy to dress from a seated position.
5. Books
Books offer an escape from the hospital environment, provide entertainment, and can help pass time. Choose genres that match the patient's interests. They might not be in the mood for a 500-page read on the Roman Empire. Try something a bit lighter and not as lengthy.
6. Puzzles and Games
Puzzles, crossword books, or compact board games can help keep a patient mentally stimulated and offer a fun distraction from the hospital routine. If they have a smartphone, you can even download these games onto an app and you can play together, even when you’re not visiting at the hospital.
7. Headphones
Quality headphones allow patients to listen to music, audiobooks, or watch movies without disturbing their roommates, providing a sense of privacy. For older adults, we suggest over ear headphones instead of inner ear headphones. Headphones that go over the ear will not damage the eardrum as much.
8. Sleep Masks
A soft, comfortable sleep mask can help block out the hospital lights, making it easier for patients to rest and sleep at any time of the day. It can be difficult to achieve complete darkness in a hospital room, so for restless sleepers, a sleep mask can be a huge help.
9. Blankets
A cozy, soft blanket can provide comfort and warmth, making the hospital environment feel a bit more like home. Sleeping on a hospital bed with thin blankets isn’t fun, and a nice blanket can truly help someone get much-needed sleep and relaxation.
10. Ergonomic Pillows
An ergonomic pillow can offer better support than standard hospital pillows, improving comfort, especially for patients spending long hours in bed. You might want to find out if they sleep on their back, stomach or side, since there are different types of ergonomic pillows for each type of sleeper.
11. Arts & Craft Kits
Arts and craft kits can be therapeutic, offering a creative outlet and a sense of accomplishment when mobility is limited. Opt for the kits that are the least messy.
12. Indoor Plants
A small, low-maintenance indoor plant or bouquet of flowers can brighten up the hospital room and improve air quality, making the space feel more lively and homelike.
13. Skin Care
Hospitals can have dry air, which affects the skin. Gentle, hydrating skin care products can provide relief and comfort. Products with pleasant smells will also be very welcome, helping to dull the sterile smells of hospital rooms.
14. Personal-Care Items
Luxury or scented personal-care items, such as lip balm, hand cream, or body wash, can make the daily routine more enjoyable and less clinical. Think about what other small personal-care items they might like, from picture frames with family photos, to fidget spinners or even a deck of cards.
15. Tumblers
A durable, easy-to-open tumbler with a straw can encourage hydration and is easier to handle than standard hospital cups. Look for tumblers that are not too heavy.
16. Long Phone Chargers
A long phone charger ensures that the patient can comfortably reach their phone from the bed or chair, keeping them connected with loved ones.
17. Grabber Tool
A grabber tool can be an incredibly practical gift for hospital patients, especially those with limited mobility. It allows patients to pick up items from the floor or reach for things just out of their grasp without having to call for assistance. This tool promotes independence and can significantly enhance their sense of autonomy during their hospital stay.
18. Snacks
Healthy snacks are a thoughtful gift for hospital patients, offering a taste of home and a break from the hospital food. Choose options that are nutritious and easy on the stomach, like granola bars, dried fruits, or nuts, keeping in mind any dietary restrictions the patient may have. Snacks not only provide nourishment but also comfort and a sense of normalcy.
19. Humidifier
The air in hospitals can be dry, which may cause discomfort to patients. A portable humidifier can add moisture to the air, helping to relieve dryness in the nose, throat, and lips. It can also aid in better sleep by creating a more comfortable environment. Ensure the humidifier is easy to use and clean, considering the hospital's regulations on electronic devices.
20. Coloring Book
Coloring books for adults have become popular for their stress-relieving benefits. They can be a wonderful gift for hospital patients, providing a creative and therapeutic outlet that can help pass the time. Pair a coloring book with a set of colored pencils or markers. Choose themes that might interest the patient, whether it's nature, animals, or abstract patterns, to help them find joy and relaxation during their recovery. For those visiting their parents in the hospital, each of these items make great gifts for mom or dad.
Each of these gifts is designed to bring comfort, convenience, and a bit of joy to the hospital patient’s daily life. They're thoughtful ways to show care and support while also catering to the practical needs and well-being of your loved one during their hospital stay. You can also check our guide on gift ideas for nursing home patients.
Your design team knocked it out of the park! I never thought adaptive clothes could be so fashionable.
