Anyone with a parent or grandparent at a nursing home

[hatredisnotavalue]

this Chistmas. Any ideas on how to make it special?

[Maddy McCall]

1. Perhaps a framed photograph of your family...

which you can take to the home and hang on the wall? What about a nice television with a remote? Or a nice radio or CD player with some CDs with his or her favorite music, and a remote so that he or she can listen while in bed and then cut off the player with the remote?

[hatredisnotavalue]

3. Thanks so much

A picture of the family is absolutely perfect.

[tilsammans]

2. Just by being there . . .

. . . you are making it special! So many old folks are all alone, even during the holidays.

I found one of the best things is photographs. Make several little photo albums, and include captions or stories you type on your computer. Those inexpensive 4" x 6" "brag books" are perfect.

[hatredisnotavalue]

4. Thanks so much

I will definitley go with one of those brag books

[Fiona]

5. And bring a camera and TAKE

new pictures of the gathering and send (or better, bring) them back, all framed. Life isn't over yet... keep documenting it.

[hatredisnotavalue]

6. you are a sweety! n/t

[LiberalinNC]

7. A home cooked meal

My husband's great aunt lived in a nursing home in St. Petersburg, she was 95 at the time. Right before she died, I took her a home cooked meal, after she died I learned how much that meant to her from everyone she told.

[CornField]

8. Other little things

My mother was an RN at a nursing home.

One lady's daughter came in once a week and gave her a manicure and pedicure.

One gentleman had a friend that would videotape various sporting event and community activities. (Actually, many of the folks there would gather in the main hall to watch the videos.)

Pictures are always a big hit -- remember to write notes about the photograph if your elderly relative has issues with memory.

Magazine subscriptions if the person can still read well. (Large print books and/or books on tape are nice for those with failing eyesight.)

Depending on dietary requirements -- foods and goodies. (We had one guy who loved strawberry shakes.)

Either take or ship a video camera around to close friends and family let them tape a message to the person. (We did this for my father -- our family is so spread out that not everyone could come visit as often as they wanted. We found out after that fact that many of the people started sending him tapes every few months. He loved them.)

Movies and videos -- check with the home first. Many offer movie nights and may have a library of movies available for patient use.

Hobbies? Supplies for the hobby are always a good thing.

Finally, stationary, pens/pencils and stamps were always a wanted item. Pre-Paid phone cards are useful too.

[shesemsmom]

9. Not a parent, but my best friend

she is 75 and old enough to be my Mom. She was so vibrant and vital until hip replacement that went bad followed by a heart attach. She has spent this whole year in either the hospital or the nursing center.She has no interest in anything except politics and getting her hair done, so that is what I did, I gave some money to the beauty shop there in her name and she loved that. She can get her hair done several times and of course we also gave her bourbon balls, the Hubby makes her a big jar every Christmas. Shes pretty happy right now.:bounce:

[gmoney]

10. Give it some build-up, if the staff isn't already

My mom lost all track of time in there, and my birthday came and went. I knew she couldn't go out and get me anything, so just let it slide. When she realized she missed it, she really felt bad. I just wish I'd have let her know, maybe brought in my own cake or something. :(

Help her do Christmas cards to her friends if she hasn't, share the ones you've received with her.

Can you take her out? If she can ride in a wheelchair, take her to the mall and just wheel around, let her see the crowds and the displays and decorations, if she's able.

You have any old photo albums with Christmas photos in them from when you were a kid or when she was a kid? She'd probably love to go through them, and maybe she can tell you some old stories.

[hatredisnotavalue]

11. Thanks for the great replies

Went to see my mom today. Asked her what she needed for Christmas. All she asked for was for us to bring our puppy in to see her again. The dog is going thru his teenage years right now and was quite disruptive last time I brought him in (two weeks ago). He entered her room and took only two giant leaps before he landed in her bed. With his head on the pillow he proceeded to wrestle with Nana. She thought it was a riot.
I am going to take a nice pic of the family with the dog for her and bring her her shoebox of photos and buy her a photo album. I think I might ask her to write about each photo. I also think I might make a meal for the family and Nana to share and bring it in with the dog.

As an aside, my mother broke her hip in Aug. and hasn't been out of bed since. It is really sad:(
Anyway, Here is a photo of our crazy pup. Again thanks to all who replied. You are the greatest.

[Cuban_Liberal]

12. My grampa is in the hospital,so...

We sent him an album called "A week in the life of Tony and Paddy", which was all just pics and commentary of us going about our everyday lives at home, work and school. He liked it so well, he called us last night to tell us about it.

:)

[hatredisnotavalue]

13. That is so cool

I too was thinking about doing a video of just everyday life here at home: the kids, the cats, the dog..etc. One thing I want to do is a a film of a walk in the woods with the dog.

Last week, the dog went into a point and I was so excited, we aren't hunters, but I knew his instincts had kicked in. He was so proud! Upon further investigation, he was pointing at a gathering of leaves which "low and behold" was a covered up mound of cat turd!