Happy Nice Mall

I am often asked what to do or how to help a friend who is in hospital. A few years ago, after a long hospital stay, I jotted down all the kind and thoughtful things my friends and family did for me (along with a few hospital etiquette rules to avoid). A lot has certainly changed in recent years due to visitor restrictions, but I believe everything I wrote all these years ago is true. Dos and don’ts, gifts – these are all ways of showing that we care about our loved ones, both through our actions and through our donations.

You may not need this post right now, but file it (or pin it!) as it may be helpful in the future. And please add your suggestions in the comments section of the post. Your ideas are very helpful to other readers!

Gift ideas:

These are some of the things I picked up, but also ideas shared by readers. Some are good for any hospital stay, while others are good for longer hospital stays. A gift basket with a few of these would be nice for an extended stay in the hospital.

• Flower or pot arrangement. A beautiful arrangement illuminates the soul. Orchid or potted plant would be a good thought for a longer hospital stay.
• Nice blanket. A pottery warehouse or barefoot dreams Throws make a hospital room feel a little more comfortable and are much warmer than the thin blankets the hospital provides.
• Comfortable Wrap. You never know when a doctor or nurse will arrive, so having a wrap for some quick cover-up is lifesaving. I wore mine Ingrid and Isabel cozy wrap almost every day in the hospital! It’s a maternity style, so other favorites Barefoot Dreams cardigans or White and Warren’s cashmere shawl.
• Beautiful pillow and pillowcase. Hospital pillows are made of plastic and not the best. A comfortable pillow and/or a luxurious pillowcase would be a welcome change. These silk pillow covers Always a favorite in our Gift Guides!
• Socks and/or slippers. great socks Perfect for a cold hospital room.
• Hand lotion. Frequent hand washing in the hospital leads to really dry hands. a for women L’Occitane hand lotion It’s very nice and smells very good.
• Dry shampoo and travel brush. A good dry shampoo is a fun gift to receive during a long hospital stay. Sometimes you can only wash your hair every few days, so dry shampoos are essential! This Kristin Ess Dry shampoo from Target works great.
• A luxury beauty product. Pamper them with something they can’t buy themselves. My skin was very dry in the hospital and I loved Beautycounter. Nourishing Cleansing Balm.
• Nail file or nail set.
• Favorite fountain drink or iced tea. A fresh juice or smoothie can be a nice change from what the hospital cafeteria has to offer!
• Healthy snacks. Hospital food is often heavy and bland. It’s nice to stock them with things like granola bars, greek yogurt (if there’s a fridge in the room), fruit, and even pimento cheese and chicken salad (to have on hand if that day’s food tray isn’t eaten).
• Cookies delivery. Tiff’s Treats Will ship milk with hot cookies in Texas! My friends sent me some and it made my day – also a fun treat for my girls when they visited.
• Streaming service gift card. A Netflix, huluor DisneyPlus Subscription can be nice for entertainment.
• Extra long iPhone charger. I couldn’t survive without this charger!
• Books and magazines or playing cards.
• Mini bluetooth speaker.
• Airpods or headphones. Even a sound machine. Anything to drown out the beeps and buzz of the hospital.
• Hair explosion. It is almost impossible to dry your hair when you are weak and tied to the bed. Maybe your friend asks someone to dry it for him and make him feel nice. Drybar offers this service in select cities! Check if this is currently allowed in the hospital before posting!
• Manicure gift certificate. Download Cherry offers for on-demand manicure. (Check if this is currently allowed before posting.)
• iTunes Gift Cards. For music and audiobooks.
• Spotify or audible membership. Great for music and audiobooks too!
• Food delivery gift card. Hospital food gets old, so deliver a good meal from a local restaurant. It’s also a nice gesture if you can’t visit in person. door panel, Uber Food or Goodness it would be awesome!
• Make a playlist of uplifting music or favorite podcasts. You can share it with them on Spotify or Apple Music.
• Encouraging Bible verses list.
• Thank you notes, pen, notepad and stamps. A notebook It’s good for keeping at the bedside, jotting down reminders, and keeping a list of thank you notes to write. have stamps it also helps!
• Adult coloring book and colored pencils. find them Amazon.
• Activities and treats for children. Coloring books, felt-tip pens, games, and fun snacks are great for visiting kids. Otherwise, they can get angry and bored very quickly!
• Parking lot or valet passes. If you can buy prepaid parking cards for the hospital garage, it’s best to give them to the patient’s spouse and family, as commuting may increase.
• Bring something for the nurses and technicians. During my hospital stay, a friend brought a box of pretzels to drop off at the nurse. Much appreciated!
• A bowl of treats for the staff. A friend of mine told me that while her daughter was in the hospital, she left a bowl of candy with a sign that said “Buy one”. A small way to say thank you to the nurses, technicians and cleaning staff. You can do this for a friend’s or family member’s hospital room.
• Sacred cards. Tiny Tag has created the most beautiful watercolor holy cards, “Calm in Chaos.” Each verse would give everyone a daily dose of encouragement! For an extra thoughtful touch, laminate them and wear a ring so they can be easily kept handy (and clean) while in the hospital.

Do’s and Don’ts of Someone in the Hospital:

• Never visit if you or someone in your household is currently sick.. Do not put the patient at risk, even if the chance of passing bad germs is very small.
• Always disinfect your hands when entering and leaving the room.
• Don’t sit on someone’s hospital bed. Patients often feel that they do not have any personal space.
• Never use the bathroom in the room. A reader once told me how strange it was for her father-in-law to use the bathroom in her postpartum room – it’s not nice! Use the one in the hallway.
• If the doctor comes for an examination, go out of the room. After all, it’s patient privacy.
• Offer to pray, but ask what prayer requests the person wants. As one reader told me, it’s usually for needs other than family members and one’s own health needs.
• Offer to take children or elderly parents to visit their loved one at the hospital.
• Call or text before visiting. You never know if someone has just gotten out of the shower or is uncomfortable for other reasons. Give them a warning and make sure they’re ready to visit (and figure out if the person has declined your offer to visit).
• Come out with something. It can be as simple as an iced tea, a meal from a favorite restaurant, or a thoughtful gift. See below for lots of ideas (kindness of my friends and family who brought me these things!).

What thoughtful things would you add to this list? Also, don’t miss my post about it. What to Do for a Friend with Caner?or When Your Child Has a Hospital Visit Post with gift ideas for kids. If you’re looking for ideas on how to set up a food train for a family or friend at the hospital, this is it. Message has everything you need to know about food train etiquette!

Best photo: Megan Weaver

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