It is important to show your elderly loved one that you care. Whether your aging loved one lives independently in their own home or has recently moved to a senior living community, it can be difficult to find the right way to express your care for them.
A perfect gift idea, highly personalized and both functional and thoughtful, is to create a bespoke and tailor-made care package to either send through the post or give to your loved one personally on your next visit.
1. Warm Clothes
Regardless of age, lifestyle, or where you live, there is nothing better than getting into bed at the end of the day and snuggling into warm pajamas, a nightdress, or a dressing robe.
Depending on the size of hamper or basket you are working with, one of the more luxurious components could be some soft and warm nightwear, tied with a ribbon and layered at the bottom of the hamper.
2. Things That Make Life Easier
A fundamental reason to create a care package for your aging loved one in the first place is to provide them with a variety of things that will help make their life easier and more enjoyable.
If your elderly relative or close friend has been recently diagnosed with the swallowing problem dysphagia, then be sure to include some Simply Thick liquid thickener packets which they can add to their drinks. These can help make swallowing easier for those with difficulties doing this.
Other items that will make small but impactful differences to the daily life of your elderly loved one include crossword and word searches, books and magazines, playing cards, tea or coffee selection packs, moisturizer, lip balm, and other lotions and potions. These items can be used for their self-care and help provide entertainment in their lives.
3. Chocolates
There are many benefits to one’s physical and emotional health and wellbeing to indulging in some delicious, artisan chocolates, making them an essential component of your loved one’s care package.
Benefits to relaxing with a handsomely sized bar of gorgeous chocolate include:
- It helps the heart to stay healthy and the veins and arteries supple and strong
- Improvement in general cognitive function
- Lower feelings of anxiety and stress
- Decrease cholesterol levels
- Increase happiness levels
- Lower blood pressure reading
4. Animal Therapy Vouchers
If your elderly loved one is a self-described animal lover and they are not able or else not permitted to have their own pet, then booking a group of sessions for animal therapy and hiding them amongst the other items in the care package would be an amazing surprise.
The benefits of animal therapy, whether that be the animals visiting them at their own residence or transport arranged to take your loved one to and from their community to an off-site building, are numerous and incredible.
Such benefits include, but are categorically in no way limited to:
- A true mood enhancer
- Encouragement to interact socially
- Physical activity and exercise
- Decreased levels of stress
- Reduction in anxiety levels
- Companionship and a reduction in feelings of loneliness
If you’re looking for some inspiration on what to provide your senior loved one with in a care package, these ideas should get your creativity flowing.
