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What are some things that don't take up a lot of space or cost a lot of money that I can give my mom for the holidays? I've recently bought her plenty of new clothes, as quite a few items disappeared at her old facility. I already keep her stocked in things like lotion and candy. She's not allowed to have any kind of small appliances. I am out of ideas.

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Bras, Socks, Stockings, Maybe a Nice Bring in Meal from Home or from her Favorite Rest.xx
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1. If you like cooking, perhaps some home made biscuits - for those correspondents in America that would be cookies. Pack them up in air tight bags, just 3 or 4 to a bag, so they keep fresh. Depending on a person's personal taste and eating issues, it might be wise to steer clear of nuts and coconut, both can be choking dangers.
2. My mother had a number of long-stitch projects nearing completion before she went into care. I have finished them both and, while they were originally meant to be framed for the wall, I have turned them into cushions for her recliner lounge or to make her wheelchair more comfortable.
3. My mother was bored looking at her plain cupboard doors when in bed. My school-teacher sister made up some 3-D pictures of a garden and stuck them up with velcro tape. They get changed periodically to keep up mother's interest. When she is no longer occupying the room the velcro can be removed without any damage - we have already checked.
4. Taking (3) further more as a general hint, my mother never knows when we are due to visit. We visit 5 days out of 7 between the 3 of us. My sister has put up individually laminated days of the week on a cupboard door in clear sight of my mother. She has laminated each of our names, then stuck them against the days with velcro tape. If there is a change in the roster we change it on the door so the staff have a diversionary tactic - we need to shower/change/dress/clean your teeth etc now because so-and-so is due soon. We don't want to get into trouble for not looking after you.
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Individual ice cream treats. The staff can put in freezer and give as requested. Individually wrapped snacks.

Gripper socks. Amazon has lots. Get extra large for big feet and swelling.

Hand lotions and face moisturizer. My mom loves Oil of Olay.
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A small box of citrus fruits.
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Socks with grippers. They’re very important for fall prevention and disappear quickly in commercial dryers.
pretty blankets, not fleece or anything else that melts with high heat, again commercial dryers. and make sure to add a good size label with name.
pictures for the walls, shadow box with small momentos. (Box allows for display and keeps them contained so they don’t disappear or get scattered about.
if there are privacy curtains you may be able to hang a prettier one if the facility allows.
books, magnifying lights for reading, hard candies (if she can have them) for her and to share with friends.
Good slippers/shoes.
if she uses a walker or wheelchair you can get a basket or hanging bag so she can carry things with her instead of holding it.
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NeedHelpWithMom Dec 2019
Yes to the gripper socks! Just want to add to pay attention to size. My mom has huge feet! Size 11 shoes! She also has swelling! Amazon sells extra large sizes. The size large will not fit anyone with large feet and swelling.
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Pay for hair salon if they have one on-sight or find a beautician that goes to the person. To hand her an actual gift, print some coupons for the number of hairdos you paid for and let the beautician know about the coupons when you pay in advance. (They may even have their own coupon to use as the gift). -- If mom likes to get manicures or pedicures, handle it the same way. Be very careful about this since some people can easily get infections...and do your due diligence to ensure tools come out of sterilized packaging. (Discuss before paying for the service and be present for the first one to ensure items are sterile), This is something that any member of the family could do.

In regard to clothes, tell others not to buy them for this simple reason: They buy something, it doesn't fit or is a style mom doesn't like. You, then, will spend a lot of time returning things. If other family members prefer, tell them to send you the money for clothing - you buy it, it fits, and you can send them a picture of the item when mom wears it.

If she likes to read - some books. If vision a problem, audio books. Does she knit or crochet? Supplies and patterns. Crossword or word search books (good for exercising the brain).
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Softly scented skin softeners. Avon has a nice array of these. Older people have dry skin and would welcome the softness they bring. Or perhaps the pump lotions, if they are adverse to scent, by Gold Bond that I use and love for my dry feet and hands.
If the person is a woman, then girly things might be enjoyed. I'm 82, and I still like soft socks and feminine underwear and nighties.
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My mil loved the set of stretchy pearls I got her. She wore them every day. It was only 20$ for a set of three at Kohl’s.
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You could make or buy their favorite snacks and sweets and put them in a small container they can put things in.
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NeedHelpWithMom Dec 2019
I purchased individual sized treats. Good idea!
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A small box of 'gifts to give away. Since it is very difficult for seniors to shop, one can buy small items which their loved one can give away to special people in their facility.
Travel size lotions, shampoo, dollar store holiday/seasonal decorations, individual kleenex packs, wrapped candy/always makes someone leave with something sweet... allow your loved one to give what they received. It is a joy for them to be able to do so.
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emanes Dec 2019
Great idea - thank you!
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Most residents in a nursing home have a personal needs account. If they are on Medicaid, Medicaid allows some money from their monthly social security check to go into this account. I live in Missouri and here the amount Medicaid allows each month for Medicaid resident is $50. This money in the personal needs account can be used by the resident to buy anything they want. Some residents buy snacks, some use the money for the beauty shop, some go on out trips that the facility has and use the money as spending money while on the outings. I think a good gift for the holidays for any resident is to put money in this account. Then they will have money to spend when something comes up that they want.

Note: Even if they are not on Medicaid, residents can have a personal needs account.
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emanes Dec 2019
My mom can keep $62 per month for personal use. She has let it build up to a few hundred dollars, and now she wants to give each of her four grandkids, plus myself and my husband, $50 cash for Christmas. Last year when she asked me to get the cash from her account, I used my husband's and my portion to buy her some new clothes. We didn't need the money, and she needed the clothes.
I think your idea is great for someone who regularly spends their monthly "allowance" and needs it!
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My mother found tiny nativities at a dollar store and when I saw them, I asked her to let me have one please. They were on a card and contained the full nativity in pieces, Mary, Joseph, Jesus, the Wise Men and even animals. It is on my windowsill where it's been for about 10 years now. (she bought them to give away as "happies" to seniors at the monthly luncheon). You can find all kinds of holiday pretties without spending a fortune. You can buy a small stuffed animal and a santa hat - I have a teddy bear sporting a hand-crocheted santa hat that Mom made for me and again, I love it. I have it on my bookshelf where it too has been for over 10 years.

I'm now 68 and it's truly the little things that bring me the most joy and comfort.
And I leave them out all year long and when my eyes fall on them, they bring me so much joy and pleasure.
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Photos, flowers, fun experiences with you.
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A little photo book; print pics off your phone and cut to fit the little 4x6 or 5x7 little books sold a rly drug stores or dollar stores. I just made one for my Dad with pics of family members, places he likes and it was a big hit. Helps as a memory aid, plus you LO can show it to other residents.
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montanacmm Dec 2019
This is a great idea. I am making one for my brother. I got a scrap book and glued the pictures on. Now I am writing a few sentences on each page about the photos - like names, places, activity that was taking place. I have bought him gifts for dementia patients and they always disappear. This year I decided to keep it very low financially. I am also making a fidget lap pad.
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Battery operated flameless candles with remote control. Was actually a request from a resident.
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How about one of those photo frames that you & other friends/family can add pictures, remotely, to entertain her?
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You might check to see if any local groups like churches will be coming to provide cheer to the residents this year. My mom's class from school would often go and sing carols and take gifts to the residents in a local nursing home. The residents really seemed to love it. The flu has likely discouraged that from happening lately, but, you might check into some sort of visitor, like a Santa visit, pet visit, etc. While it comes with risks, visitors seem to really be the highlight of their day.
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Your time.

If it's possible, with her mobility and sight problems, take her out, such as to her favorite local place, or to have her hair and nails done, or anything else she may have mentioned in passing that she misses seeing or being around.

It doesn't have to cost much other than your time and energy (yeah, I know it can "cost" you a lot in energy to take out a person with issues). Perhaps a favorite haunt from years past with friends already here to greet her and reminisce.

If she can't or shouldn't leave the facility, perhaps a gathering of friends just to say, "I love you".
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A wheelchair blanket might be nice too. It ties to the frame of the wheelchair with tabs and either just wraps around the lower legs or has a band that can be used to keep the blanket completely around the legs and away from the chair's wheels. I have a light one for indoors and a heavier one for when my mother attends day care and is picked up by a wheelchair lift van.
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msfits Dec 2019
The photo blankets are nice. We got my Dad one last year with pictures of each kid and grandkid. Everybody at the rehab loved it (and they all knew who it belonged to). He uses it daily.
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Plants are always nice. A warm afghan or quilt would be good because I have noticed that elderly get very cold very easily. Maybe some quarters for the vending machines or for the coffee shop. The veterans home-near where I live-They love to have some pocket change for the vending machines. They also love stuffed animals. A collage of family pictures can also be hung on their wall to give the room a warm feeling.
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My father loved the soft center Godiva chocolates.
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Those giant super juicy Royal Riviera pears from Harry & David ---https://www.harryanddavid.com/h/fruit-gift/pears
or
A small fruit arrangement from Edible Arrangements
https://www.ediblearrangements.com/christmas-gifts

I know from personal experience that people FLIP OUT when they lay eyes on the Edible Arrangements......they are remarkable. The H&D pears are so large you have to eat them with a spoon. Both of these gifts my parents love(d) to receive.
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It's tough to come up with ideas, I know. I used to give people little baskets with various items like, crossword puzzle booklets, cards with stamps, so she can send cards to people, along with an address book. This might not work if she has vision issues or dementia. Also, photo album with pictures of family members. Take some of her too, to put inside the album. A digital frame will take up little space in the room and you can load it with many different pictures for her to see all day. My mom has a wall Christmas clock that plays a Christmas jingle on each hour. A nice, soft, warm throw is always good, even if she already has one. I like those with reindeer, snowmen, holly berries, etc. as they brighten the room for the holidays.
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One year I took my mom a nicely arranged basket of chips, pretzels and small bags of candy. When she was done, I took the basket home. Also, one year my grandsons and I went and decorated her room for Christmas. She didn’t really appreciate gifts and I got most of them back so I tried not to get too much material stuff.
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How about a new pillow and a nice blanket for her bed?

Can she leave the facility? A gift certificate so she can buy lunch or dinner if she can.

What about nonperishable food items that she can share or a fruit basket with soft fruits.

Homemade goodies are always a hit.
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