GIFT IDEAS
Give Comfort in the Present
You can never go wrong with giving someone a gift that will help them feel loved and comforted. A person who is on a journey with a life-limiting illness, especially if they are confined to a small space or a bed for most of the day, might appreciate comfortable clothes, warm blankets, easy snacks to eat, etc. to help them feel better. It’s a good idea to ask them what they want or need to get them something that is desirable to them. Gifts don’t always need to be tangible, however. Spending time with your special someone and enjoying the moments you have together can show them you care and want to be there for them during this time. Some ideas for consideration are bringing them a playlist of their favorite songs and listening to music together. Offering to do something for them such as bringing their pet for a visit if it is permitted. Additionally, bringing them a collection of photographs and/or videos and spend some time together reminiscing about life and the fun times. These sorts of gifts can add a little bit of joy to an otherwise difficult and lonely time.
For People at the End-of-Life
As the holiday season rolls around, many of us get into the spirit of giving. We want to give to the people that are special to us to show them how much we care and appreciate them. When someone is in good health, gift ideas are endless. But what if we have a special friend or family member who is in hospice or near the end of their life? What kind of gifts are appropriate in these circumstances? It depends on the person and what could be meaningful to them. There are many things we can give from creating family heirlooms, to giving them things that will provide them comfort in their remaining days, to giving them peace of mind knowing those they care about will be cared for in the future after they are gone.
Capture the Memories
Imagine giving the gift of remembrance to the one you love. For example, there is a website called The Canada International Star Registry where you can give the gift of naming a star in your special person’s name. You might have heard of this before and it’s a nice gift to give to someone while they are living. These also come with the options to write a special message to them as well. Perhaps there is a special piece of jewelry that your person has or one you can create, such as, a pendant or ring that contains the birthstones of you and your special person and whoever else is meaningful in their life. Engrave it in memory of your loved one. You can create new heirlooms as well, which can be a meaningful gift. Memory quilts make good heirlooms as well as handcrafted art and family photo albums. It's anything you think would make a good treasure to pass down to the next generations.
Prepare for the End
If your loved one’s life-limiting illness diagnosis was sudden, perhaps they weren’t prepared and hadn’t done any estate planning. Imagine the extra stress that could add to your person’s life. A wonderful, yet practical gift would be to help them with their final affairs. Anything from getting them in touch with lawyers to work on their will and final wishes to covering all the costs of funeral expenses, etc. if that is something you can afford. This can go a long way in easing their mind of the affects their death will have on their own loved ones. Think about the person who you are giving a gift to and make your decision to give them something of value depending on their needs, wants and circumstances. The holiday season can be a wonderful opportunity to make someone feel comforted and treasured.
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