Gift Ideas for Nursing Home Residents

Every Christmas I do a list of gift ideas specific for a certain age or gender. (my other ones are teens and pre-teens here and budget friendly here) This year is special. My boys play games with the elderly every week. It is made possible by my friend Lydia who suggested the idea and who picks them up every week as my daily schedule won't allow me to drop them off in time. Yeah, she's pretty awesome!

Anyhow, I was brainstorming with my mother-in-law today with ideas of what gifts we could give them as prizes for winning a game. I wanted something meaningful and nice. Here is the list we came up with and I have supplemented with ideas from the Internet. Of course, you should check with the facility to ensure the item is OK. I have not put snacks or food items on this list as dietary concerns can be a problem.

Check Oriental Trading or your discount and dollar store for many of these items.

Music box
lapel pin (holiday pins are popular)
Small holiday decor item for their room
Book marker
Christmas ornament for the facility tree
fresh flowers
brushes & combs
magazines (readers digest, taste of home and farm & ranch)
small wreath
pocket games
picture frames
various blank cards (birthday, thank you)
balls
snowglobes (I love this idea)
Suncatchers
magnifying glasses
playing cards
silk flower corsages (I love this one too)
stuffed animals
tissues in decorative holiday boxes
tissue box holders
Old magazines from the 40's & 50's (totally in love with this)
hats (fishing hats & fedoras for the guys, pretty hats for the ladies)
puzzle books
handkerchief
yarn (for the knitters)
blankets
stamps
pens
chapstick (careful it isn't medicated)
Dusting powder (my friend Melissa suggested this great idea.)