My parents loved "care packages" of food items that I knew my Mom would never buy at the grocery store. That way she and my Dad could try out different things. Mom loved the different cookies and candies. Dad liked the different soups and snacks.
My MIL is in a retirement facility. Every year before Christmas we reserve the private dining room and all her kids and grandkids come for a big holiday dinner and gathering. The facility caters it for us. It is a fun couple of hours. She LOVES fresh fruit and they do not serve breakfast at her facility so we send her a small edible arrangements fruit bouquet a few days before Christmas. But we no longer give her tangible gifts as she doesn't need anything at this point.
When elders are in permanent care, and particularly if they are in small or a shared room, it makes it rather difficult. Before she went into care my mother had almost finished a long stitch embroidery to put on the wall. I have now completed it and am in the process of turning it into a cushion. Mother is wheelchair bound and needs cushions around her for comfort, then in between times it can sit on the lounge chair alongside her bed. Also a new supply of nighties. The industrial laundry at her care facility is pretty rough on clothes, her night-wear has now all faded from the strong detergents. Every item will be pre-labelled. It is intriguing how many of her belongings are found in other people's rooms - including men's - and how many of their items are located in hers. Mother is somewhat forgetful and leaves her things lying around from one of the facility to the other, especially her spectacles. No point in making accusations. It would be the pot calling the kettle black!
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Before she went into care my mother had almost finished a long stitch embroidery to put on the wall. I have now completed it and am in the process of turning it into a cushion. Mother is wheelchair bound and needs cushions around her for comfort, then in between times it can sit on the lounge chair alongside her bed.
Also a new supply of nighties. The industrial laundry at her care facility is pretty rough on clothes, her night-wear has now all faded from the strong detergents.
Every item will be pre-labelled. It is intriguing how many of her belongings are found in other people's rooms - including men's - and how many of their items are located in hers. Mother is somewhat forgetful and leaves her things lying around from one of the facility to the other, especially her spectacles. No point in making accusations. It would be the pot calling the kettle black!