Providing care to someone with early onset Alzheimer’s disease or other form of dementia is one of the hardest and most stressful roles a person undertakes. During this holiday season, it’s important to remember the sacrifices care partners make, whether they are family, a friend, or a trained healthcare professional.
Below are some gift ideas for care partners. As you consider gift options, keep in mind the personality of the care partner. When they receive the gift, you want them to know you chose it just for them.
Single-Item Gifts
- Sleep mask
- Super-soft throw blanket
- Comfy pajamas
- Dark chocolate
- Nice journal
- Tote bag
- A gift card to their favorite grocery store or drug store
- A massage gift card (most caregivers would NEVER buy one for themselves!)
- Meal delivery – meals can be prepared by friend/family or you can provide the care partner with gift cards for meal delivery. Uber Eats, Grub Hub, and Door Dash all provide gift cards for their services.
- Willow Tree “Just for You” angel (holding ‘Thank You’ sign). Click here to view at Amazon.com.
Gift Basket Ideas
- Dark chocolate/assorted chocolates
- Basket of coffees and/or teas with a nice mug
- Spa basket – lotion, bubble bath/shower gel, lavender pillow spray, bath bombs, exfoliating scrub, lip cream/chapstick
- Hands/feet spa basket (Burt’s Bees has nice hand/foot creams and balms)
- Nail care items, including cuticle cream, nail file/buffer, trimmers, hand wash and soothing cream.
- “Movie Night” – favorite snacks (like popcorn, snack mix, chips & salsa), favorite beverage (soda, sparkling water, juice, iced teas), and some uplifting DVDs or a membership to Netflix or Amazon Prime Video.
- Holiday baskets –New Years, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Mother & Father’s Day, Memorial Day and summer holidays, birthday, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and religious holidays like Easter, Christmas, and Hanukkah are all great themes for caregiver gift baskets.
Long-Term Care Facilities
If your loved one is living in a long-term care facility, it is wise to check with the care facility in advance so you can work within their COVID-19 protocols for sending gifts to the multiple people providing care. Gift ideas for a team of long-term care workers include:
- Breakfast – trays of breakfast sandwiches, danishes, muffins, bagels, or fresh fruit.
- Lunch or dinner – sandwich trays, salads, hot entrees (such as pasta), and desserts.
- Health basket filled with nourishing snacks such as nuts, protein snacks, and fresh or no-sugar-added dried fruit.
- Having a meal delivered to the care team (if permitted) through Door Dash, Grub Hub or other delivery services can be a wonderful way to show your appreciation. (It is a good idea to let them know in advance so they can plan meal breaks accordingly.)
- Basket containing personal care gifts labeled for each person on the care team, such as individual hand creams, bath fizzies, foot soak, or other thoughtful self-care items.
- A beautiful calendar that can be displayed in the care facility that reminds the care team of your gratitude throughout the coming year. You can even personalize a calendar or write messages throughout the calendar’s pages for them to discover during the year.