Many think it’s difficult to buy for the chronically ill people on their list. In reality, however, it’s the complete opposite. There are many gifts and ideas that are helpful and greatly appreciated by chronically ill individuals.
Consider the type of chronic illness, the type of pain along with the unique challenges your chronic illness warrior lives with. Focusing on these details, you can then tailor your search for items that support these specific challenges.
With that said, here are some general ideas to get you started, but by no means is an exclusive list. These are all items I have personally used or use and find very beneficial.
- Warm and Soft — Think warm and soft. There are many items in this category but generally speaking, anything warm and soft are excellent choices! This can include (but is not limited to), warm, fuzzy soft blankets, socks, slippers, loungewear, robes and pajamas.
- Personal Care, Help, Comfort and Pampering – Gift certificates for:
- Massage (bonus if they offer mobile service)
- Pedicure and/or Manicure – (bonus if they offer mobile service)
- Hair Cut (bonus if they offer mobile service)
- House Cleaning
- Pre-made meal services (where menu selections are available)
- Restaurants (delivery)
- Pillows – standard pillows, body pillows, heated pillows, lumbar pillows, speciality pillows, extra pillows — one can never have too many pillows! I have a heated body pillow and it is pure bliss!
- Heating Pads and Ice Packs – There are many different types and sizes of these available. One of my favourites is the bean bag type that can be used for both hot and cold. Pop it in the microwave for heat or in the freezer for cold. There are other types too:
- Electric
- Migraine Ice Cap (this is so soothing and helpful for other things in addition to migraine relief)
- Cold pack
- Puzzle Books – Crossword, Search-A-Word, Sudoku, Find The Difference
- Adult Colouring Books and Coloured Pencils
- Journals, Note Books, Symptom Trackers.
- Planners – Personal Calendars, Meal Planners, Appointment Books, Receipt Organizers (Living with chronic illness gets expensive! There are lots of receipts to track and organize for income tax time)
- Don’t forget the pens!
- Books and/or Magazines
- Subscriptions to Favourite Magazines, Subscription Boxes
- Insulated Bottle for Hot or Cold drinks. These are great for both bedside (for those days where getting out of bed isn’t an option) and for during the night to keep beverages hot or cold.
- Mug Warmer. I love my mug warmer! It can be kept bedside and keeps one’s favourite beverage piping hot for as long as needed. It prevents the need for frequent trips to the kitchen to warm and reheat your drink when energy and/or mobility are limited.
- A lap desk or bed desk
- Pain Relief Tools and Gadgets — There are hundreds of different gadgets and tools in this category ( far too many to mention individually). The best approach would be to do a search using the type of pain and/or other issues faced by the chronically ill individual. This helps you discover the most suitable and helpful items for their specific needs. As a side note, two of my personal favourites have been a foot massager and a back massager — both given to me as gifts.
- Scalp Massager — There are different types of these, but two of my favourites are ones made out of silicone (can be used in the shower) and the handheld one with prongs.
- A Bedside Caddy – This is great for holding and organizing medications, supplements, personal items like lip balm, tissues, hair ties etc. and keeping them all in one convenient place.
- Pill organizer — Eliminates that, “Hmmm..did I take my supplement(s) today?”
- Ear Plugs or Noise-Cancelling Headphones
- Eye masks
- Hair Ties
The Don’ts
Of course, this is not a one-size-fits-all, but generally speaking, things to consider.
Scented products can cause huge issues for people with chronic illnesses. This includes essential oils and scented creams – scented anything.
It’s the same with food, candies, snacks etc. Chronic Illnesses bring all kinds of sensitivities to foods and additives, things that do not bother most people.
Unless you know your gift recipient is not bothered by these things, it’s best to steer clear of them.
Happy Gift Hunting and Giving!
Crushing The Chaos 