Ideas for Grandmother in nursing home

[happybratpack]

My Nana was finally to the point she couldn't live unassisted so she's moved into a assisted living home. She's depressed and I feel horrible for her. I would like to start sending her little care boxes (she's in Florida, I'm in Texas) and am looking for ideas. She's 93, can't hear well and her vision is very poor so I'm having a hard time coming up with ideas. I know she's bored and lonely. Any help would be great!

 

[Pixiedust34]

That's a tough one. My MIL was in a nursing home and we had a hard time buying things for her, too.

Is she on a restricted diet? If not, how about some favorite treats to eat?

Older people tend to have dry skin. Can she use some nice hand or body lotion?

Does she get chilly? How about a small blanket for her lap?

If she can see well enough, framed 8 x 10 photos of loved ones would be appreciated.

How about an inexpensive bracelet to wear to remind her that you're thinking of her?


Sadly, we found that my MIL's clothes "disappeared" in the laundry system of the nursing home so other than basic, comfortable stuff we didn't invest in a lot of clothes. My MIL did like stuffed animals in her room.

 

[Luvmy4boys]

My Gramma is in her 90's and in a nursing home too. Her memory is going very fast. She enjoys looking at family pictures though she can't always remember who the people are. If your Nana's vision isn't too poor maybe you could make a scrapbook or photo album for her. My Gramma also likes to look at magazines. I'm not sure she actually reads them or just likes all the colorful pictures.
We stopped sending cookies or treats. We were told she eats them all at once. She doesn't realize it and then gets sick.
Does she knit or crochet? You could send her some supplies, yarn.

 

[Aisling]

I worked in the Recreation Dept in a nursing home for several years, and I noticed that many of the ladies enjoyed having baby dolls with changes of clothes. If your grandmother is more of a sentimental type as opposed to an intellectual type, she may like this. The staff makes a big deal when they see the dolls on the ladies' beds or in their arms, so it opens a new avenue of conversation. It also gets them talking about their children/grandchildren/greatgrandchildren, and conversation is always great, especially when one is depressed. You can regularly send doll clothes to match the seasons and holidays.

If you think this is a good idea, and your grandmother still has normal mental capabilities (meaning no dementia), tell her you're sending the doll and clothes to remind her of her of when her children were babies, this way she won't think you're treating her like a little girl. If she has dementia, then she she most likely won't feel that way and just feel like she has someyhing to "take care of".

If she's the intellectual type, but has trouble seeing/hearing, how about something tactile, like Playdough, and ask her to try her hand at sculpting, and her artwork can be displayed throughout the home. Explain to her that nothing grand is expected of her, to just give it a shot, and to let her memories be her guide. Suggest she start out with flowers, as they are easiest for beginners. Send her some disposable cameras with stamped return envelopes so that the staff can take pictures of her work and mail the cameras back to you for processing. You can make a big deal out of it when you speak to her, telling her you've framed the photos and have them displayed in your home for all to enjoy.

How's that for a start? Sound like something she'd go for?

 

[Breezy_Carol]

Not sure how bad your nana's hearing is but here is something I got for my 88 year old mom. Her vision is very bad but her mind is ok. She can't enjoy photos at all. I found small stuffed birds that when squeezed make the sound of that bird. They have the authentic bird call. She really enjoys them because she used to like nature and this is something she can touch to enjoy.

bird link

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

First, is she in a nursing home, or an assisted living facility? Those are two very different entities in Florida.

You could contact someone at the facility and ask about having a credit put on her account for the hair salon (that is often right in the ALF, if that is indeed where she is).

Also, many elders use nearly all their monthly income to pay for their room and board and care in an ALF (and NH). If that is the case with your Nana, then she may appreciate care packages of practical things such as lovely soaps (that won't dry her skin) bath powders, and the like. She may also like small boxes of all occasion cards with stamps so she can send out birthday and other cards to family and friends.

Lotions are quite nice, as staff can then use them to do back rubs, foot rubs, ect.

Other options are certificates for pedicures (always a very nice thing for an elder) and manicures.

First though, be sure you know what sort of facility she is in as that will drive the rules and regulations and what is allowed.

If you need further info please feel free to PM me, as I work in the ALF "world" and may be able to provide you with additional info.

 

[happybratpack]

Wow, you guys rock. I can't thank you enough for the ideas (and so quickly, too!).

I would say it's more of a nursing home situation than assisted living now that you bring that up. I haven't gotten to see her there yet but based on what I'm hearing it definitely sounds like it.

 

[Darcy03231]

I know you said she's hard of hearing, but what about books on CD with a personal CD player and ear phones. That way she could turn it up as loud as she needed without disturbing anyone else.