My husband and I are completly stumped about what to get his Mom this year.
The problem is, she doesn’t really do anything anymore. And she’s unable to enjoy her hobbies; reading, needlework, jigsaw puzzles, cooking, sewing. She’s wheelchair bound due to a diabetic wound on her foot. And she can’t do much with her hands because of arthritis. She had a mild stroke a few months ago, and although she’s mostly recovered, her mind wanders and she has a very short attention span.
I’d apreciate any ideas.
Would she enjoy books on CD and a personal CD player with headphones? That’s all I can come up with at the moment.
How about one of those plants you force in the house. My mom used to grow amaryllis and they were spectacular. My gran had one when she was in a nursing home after her stroke and she loved to look at it when nothing else would interest her.
Does she get out at all? You guys could take her to her favorite restaurant. I got my MIL a gift certificate to Wildfire, which is fancier than she’d do on her own (fixed income and all). She doesn’t drive, so someone has to go with her to use it.
I thought about the audio books, but my husband doesn’t think she’d be able to keep her mind on it.
I would love to take her out to a nice restaurant and hear her complain about everything, but she won’t leave the house except for church and doctor’s appointments.
The plant may be an option. She misses taking care of her roses.
Fabulous Furs has some beautiful faux fur throws that she might enjoy having. Poke around their site. There limited edition throws are even nicer than the ones I have linked you to.
But one of the best things you might do is to call a hospital physical therapy department to ask them for ideas. Even a child’s game where she rearranges magnetic tiles to make designs might be something to challenge her to use her mind and some coordination skills.
I always enjoy something that is scented that I can heat up to put around my shoulders or on the back of my neck. Is there someone who can do that for her?
When the squishy pillows came out a year or so ago, I got one for my elderly mother to hug. I told her to pretend it was her baby or her boyfriend. My mother-in-law liked a stuffed musical bear one time.
Bless you all. I hope that she finds her way back.
Do you have children? If so, most grandmothers love to have framed grandkid photos.
I second the blooming bulb idea. Also, how about music? Maybe some old standards that she would remember from her youth?
I second that idea. Recent studies have shown that listening to music from someone’s youth is a great help with Alzheimers and other (stroke) brain injuries. You could burn a few CD’s and give her a good CD player.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
I’m looking into the music and the plant. The throws that Zoe linked to are beautiful but a little out my price range. However I’m going to look for one of those "Grandmother " throws, with the sentimental saying and the grandkid’s names.
I though she might like to have a small fish aquarium. They had one years ago that she enjoyed. I asked my husband what he thought, and he said that the last time he talked to his Dad, he (Dad) had gone to the bait shop and got a minnow to put in the bathtub for the cat to play with. :smack:
So I don’t think we’ll be buying the cat some fancy live toys.
Yeah, fish tanks aren’t such a hot idea. They require cleaning, and that in itself is a big ass chore. She’d probably think you hate her or something!
I like the “throw” idea. Maybe you can find one in your price range.
My two cents - get her “pampering” items - she sounds like she deserves it. I like the idea of a plant, and maybe some sort of “product” like some nice hand creme. I was picking up some of my Burt’s lip balm the other day at CVS and noticed they have all kinds of nice lotions - that could be her stocking stuffer type gift and the plant her big gift?
My mother and mother in law are in similar situations where they don’t enjoy their hobbies anymore due to bad health. Here are some things that have been well received over the years.
Pretty robe and slippers. It was understood without saying that these would come in handy if/when my mom needed to go to the hospital. She never wore them at home, but she was happy to have them when she had to have emergency surgery. Made her feel special to have new things to wear in the hospital.
Emergency radio/flashlight that doesn’t rely on batteries. Depending on where you live, this may or may not come in handy. Where mom and MIL live, the electicity goes out a couple of times a year. This is something that stays plugged in the wall as a nightlight, charging, and when the electricy goes off it is always ready. This was a big hit, as it was needed many times.
Gift certificate to place that specializes in indoor plants. Both Mom and MIL used to love to garden. They both enjoyed getting to pick out favorite indoor plants and pretty flower pots.
You mention she used to do needlework. Is there anything that she made that hasn’t been finished, or properly displayed? My mom used to write poetry, one year I had one of her poems made into a calendar. She loved it. Is there anything like that you might surprise her with?
And one we haven’t done yet, but think we might, is a year subscription to that “I have fallen and I can get up” thing. It isn’t very Christmasy, but I know both of them worry about that situation, but would never get it on their own.
We have given them more traditional presents also, but these practical things seem to be what they most appreciated.
My MIL is 87 and we’re giving her a Wal-mart gift card. That way she can spend it on what she wants and doesn’t have to worry about anything.
Besides, she loves Wal-mart. It’s like catnip to her. She gets a little shaky if she doesn’t stop in at least once a week.
Does your MIL have any old family photos that you could restore/enlarge/frame for her? My MIL has a box of small old photographs, and my husband scanned some of these and printed enlarged copies for her. He could usually photo-shop out any creases and scratches.
You mentioned she’d diabetic. So’s my mom. I just ordered $50 worth of these goodies (the sugar free variety) for her.
For my MIL, who sounds in similar shape to your MIL except w/o diabetes, we got a 3 month delivery special of sweets from here .
Good stuff 