Christmas items were available in stores even before Halloween could bring out the trick-or treaters. Personally I like to savor each holiday before moving on to the next, but this year I am as premature as those I am critical of. Thanksgiving is over two weeks away; yet because of my schedule, I just finished two holiday gift baskets for people in a nearby nursing home. Delivery date: Dec. 2nd.
Since the baskets are for the purpose of helping older people age at least a bit happier (if not well), gifts for seniors in nursing and care facilities are today’s feature. You will find inexpensive gift ideas that older people, whether in care facilities or not, will appreciate. The following suggestions are within the guidelines of the nursing home near us. Guidelines may differ so check them out.
(Click photos to enlarge and see details)
- chap sticks
- soaps, lotions or creams– no scent
- comb and brush
- small stuffed animals
- pens, pads, stationery
- sunglasses
- neckties
- slippers, socks
- mittens, gloves, scarves, shawls
- decorative boxes or containers
- scrapbooks, photo albums, picture frames
- candy canes (no other food but this)
- holiday decorations
- games (checkers, playing cards, jig saw puzzles)
- small, light-weight blanket
- decorative pillow
In the top photo, the left basket uses three of the above suggested items (blanket–$6.99 at Amazing Savings; game–$1.00; the tree was made by me from Michaels after-Christmas-sale “stuff”–under $4; basket–pennies at yard sale). Basket at the right: has a game theme– using 4 of the above items (candy-cane striped pen, stuffed animal, Sudoku book, playing cards), magnifying glass, and a vase to hold some seasonal greenery (each $1 at a dollar-type store). As December 2 nears, the greenery– plus two lottery tickets to bring a little excitement–will be added. Total cost: under $12.
The eye appeal of our Garden Club’s nursing home gifts–be they packages or baskets– is important. Each must have fresh and/or dried flowers, leaves, pine cones etc. as part of the decoration…nothing artificial. They will be displayed on a long table as part of the Woman’s Club annual holiday Open House.
And people at the Open House never fail to ask if they can purchase these baskets. Probably because they look great. We shop all the $ stores, some drug stores, TJMaxx, the Christmas Tree store etc. in search of great finds. By the time the game-theme basket has the greenery and lottery tickets within, and is wrapped in cellophane, it will look ready to lift someone’s spirits.
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Related: Halloween Gift Ideas: Roundup for Aging, Elderly and Hospitalized Adults
Additional pictures of baskets on my Dec. 1st post
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