K-State experts suggest gifts for friends and relatives in nursing homes

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Source: Gayle Doll, 785-532-5945, gdoll@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Michelle Hall, 785-532-6415, mhall@k-state.edu

Thursday, November 16, 2006

K-STATE EXPERTS SUGGEST GIFTS FOR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES IN NURSING HOMES

MANHATTAN -- Time spent together and the comforts of home are great gift ideas for older adults in nursing homes, according to faculty members in the gerontology program at Kansas State University.

Gayle Doll, director of the K-State gerontology program and a researcher on long-term elder care, said it is important to remember that residents of nursing homes might feel uncomfortable if they can't reciprocate when it comes to gift giving.

"Most of us feel comfortable when we can match goods and services we receive with equal goods and services," she said. "Persons living in a nursing home cannot do this. There can be rules about them giving anything to staff and once they move into a home, their ability to get resources that may be transferred to someone giving them a gift are very limited.

"For this reason, it might be nice to consider a type of gift that doesn't feel so much like it needs to be equally reciprocated, like a gift of time or an activity," Doll said. "Or you might consider offering the gift, such as cookies, predicated by a statement of this being a payback for previous years of service: 'Remember all those cookies you baked for me when I was growing up? Now, it's my turn to bake them for you.'"

Some gift ideas include:

* Items to make nursing home residents more comfortable and their rooms more "homey," such as blooming plants -- amaryllis or paper white, for example; potpourri; favorite teas or coffees; home-baked items like cookies; soft socks; herbal neck wraps; throws; fresh fruit; snacks; and clothing.

* Activity ideas, such as art and hobby supplies, videos, music tapes or CDs, and stamps and stationery.

* Personal items, such as lotion, shaving cream, shampoo and tissues with lotion or aloe.

* Promises of time spent together, such as movie or restaurant certificates with transportation, and coupons for "will do" activities, such as playing a game of Scrabble.