What present do you get someone in hospital after a stroke?
Darryl’s father very recently suffered a stroke, and he has reached out in the hope of some suggestions for a gift to help his Dad while he's a patient in hospital. Darryl says “Dad has very limited movement but has his speech. For this we are happy at least we can communicate with him and him with us.” If you have a suggestion, post below – thanks in advance!
Judy: The new Google Home is wonderful ..you can have it close to your bed...It tells you the time .. The date.. Month.
You can say to it ..play Frank Sinatra or any type artist or music..It just plays what you want..you can ask it to tell you jokes..wake you up at certain times....My son had one at the weekend...They are just new ..
Brilliant...look them up on google...JB HI FI...or Telstra
They are $199.00 but so good people who are disabled or not well...They are amazing
I am buying one for us this week....My husband is 80 lost the sight of one eye...Always looking for the time or date etc.....Besides his family being with your darling dad
Please give this a look..Hope he gets better soon ..Judy
Tanya: Maybe one of those electronic photo frames that he can have in his side table...presents like a slideshow. Load it up with images of all his favourite people and memories.
Karen: A snuggly blanket to personalise his bed. Acute care and rehab settings are bleak and institutional and I found comfort in personalising my bed.
An extra pair of pjs. It's not until you're sharing a room with four other people that you realise how saggy baggy your pjs have become.
PJs with elastic rather than draw string waist. When you have the use of only one hand tying a cord becomes impractical.
New jocks one or two sizes too big. More people than you care to mention may suddenly be seeing your old daggy jocks and pulling underwear up and down one handed is easier if they're a bit generous in their sizing.
Nice wool slippers or ugg boots.
Decent track suit pants. Once you graduate from pjs to putting on clothes you suddenly realise how saggy your 'around the house' trackie dacks had become.
Really good quality wool socks. This is a time for nurture. Even though hospitals are heated to within an inch of their life, high quality socks provide comfort to uncomfortable lower limbs at bed time. Finding comfort in an uncomfortable body is difficult and anything which has a positive sensory experience is helpful.
If he has good cognitive function but limited movement, something associated with his hobbies or interests. A book by his favourite author, a jigsaw puzzle, a book of crossword puzzles or sudoku. Anything that can keep his mind busy to occupy the endless hours of down time. It'll help keep post stroke depression at bay.
A big ticket item, but if he doesn't have an iPad or tablet with an internet plan, one of these. It will allow dad to research all things stroke related so he can understand where he's at and be his own advocate and start to connect with other survivors in online support groups. Or if this is beyond reach, extra data on his phone plan. He'll be chewing through it.
A delicious home cooked meal. Hospital food is seriously lousy.
Lauren: It depends on your price range and his general interests, but perhaps some games, jigsaw puzzles, books, kindle, iPad so he can do some exercises through some great apps that you can access. Photos are a great way to lift spirits or even make a video message for him of friends and family. wishing him well. Try asking his therapist of things that may benefit his therapy. Tens machine is a good option for improving leg and arm muscle function.
Carmel: For my daughter it was a whiteboard that we could add dates for various physio, visits by family, etc. Also a digital clock that showed date, day of week, time etc. A felt base for doing jigsaws. I used a canvas frame and put felt onto it on the back which then gave sides so pieces didn't fall off!
Megan: A little battery operated radio , so that your dad can listen to sport ,the news or music. Stick some 'blu-tack' to the base so that it can be fixed to his bedside table within his reach and wont slide off . My dad spent some months in rehab post stroke and his little radio was on most of the time tuned into his favourite station , keeping him in touch with the outside world.
Stacey: Get him a decent pillow the pillows in hospital are the worst! My mum slept sooo much better once we got her a nice pillow! I hope your dad improves more and more each day.
Any other ideas - we'd love to hear them!