20 Unique Gifts for Someone in the Hospital For Which They'll Thank You
Recently, I had a loved one who needed to stay in the hospital for an indeterminate amount of time, and I really wanted to make that hospital stay as enjoyable as possible with a unique gift. While flowers can be a great way to add a little color and life to a hospital room stay, they don't really ease the burden of boredom that comes with long stays in the hospital.
So I made a list of all the unique gifts for someone in the hospital that I could come up with. These gifts are meant to both make someone's hospital stay more enjoyable and help occupy their time to alleviate the boredom of the many nights in the hospital.
...you'll want a unique gift that doesn't take up a lot of space.
But before you begin selecting the perfect gift for someone in the hospital, there are a few things you'll want to consider that will determine the kind of gift you should buy.
Think about mobility
Does the person in the hospital have complete mobility? Can they get up and walk around? Or are they bed-bound and can only interact with things right in front of them. This may seem obvious, but understanding the limitations and accessibility issues of the person in the hospital will definitely save you from an embarrassing gift that they can't use.
Space issues
How big is the room? Your loved one in the hospital might not want it cluttered with lots of big boxes or other projects, particularly if they are in a small room. In this instance, you'll want some unique gift that doesn't take up a lot of space.
When in doubt, see if there is anything they need, before getting something else.
Hospital rules
If you're asking yourself, "I wonder if they allow this in the hospital room?" then you'll definitely want to check in with one of the hospital nurses about what they allow. Often, they don't allow something because it restricts their ability to help the patient in the hospital room or to get to them in an emergency. So for safety, check with the hospital staff.
What they enjoy to do with free time
So everyone decided to buy the loved one a book. Now they have about 10 books stacked next to their hospital bed, and they don't even really like to read all that much. Give them the kind of gift that they enjoy—not one you'd necessarily enjoy while in the hospital.
Ask
When in doubt, see if there is anything they need, before getting something else. They'll appreciate a necessity way more than a game or balloon.