Mark your calendars for this year’s parental holidays where we let our loved ones know how much we appreciate them.
Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 8th
Father’s Day is Sunday, June 19th
Some of our moms and dads are also family caregivers. Sometimes moms and dads are our care recipients. I’ve shared gift ideas for both roles below. I’ve organized these ideas into the following categories:
- Self-Care
- For the ________ Lovers
- Gifts for those with cognitive disabilities
- Send the Love
- Practical
- Free
To access the gift idea, either click on the associated image or the link provided.
Self-Care
Looking for a gift that provides a bit of pampering, less stress, or a happier environment. Check out these ideas:
A ‘Girls Chronically Rock‘ t-shirt that demonstrates self-love and confidence in the disability community may be the right fit for your loved one. After being diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy, Keisha Greaves started her own clothing line to inspire others with chronic illnesses to have confidence in themselves and not let their disability define who they are.
Isa Lazo toner is a great gift for men and women that promotes skin health and wellness. This skincare company was founded by a mother/daughter duo.
Decadent sheets are often a gift we just won’t buy ourselves and yet we use them daily!
This farmhouse chic door hanger provides an easy way to decorate for all the big and little holidays.
Consider this deck your first aid kit for helping to reduce stress. Each card provides a simple exercise to feel calmer.
For the ____________ Lovers
Food & Drink Lover
We all have to eat and drink to live but these products will help elevate the daily experience.
I got this beautiful Teabloom tea set as a gift from a fellow caregiving advocate. It makes me smile every time I use it.
These are great gifts, particularly for those that are short on space.
Those who entertain and enjoy a good charcuterie board will get enjoy this expandable option.
Make homemade popcorn in the microwave and toss this container in the dishwasher. Movie night fun!
A medley of meat for someone who loves to grill.
Nature Lover
Being outside is great for our mental health and bringing the outside in can certainly cheer up a space.
Rose Box‘s fragrant, long-lasting, and zero-maintenance arrangements offer a great alternative to a regular bouquet.
A HEART’S LANDSCAPE: An Invitation to the Garden of Moments – is a hardcover book by Spiritual Counselor Susan Lax (co-owner of international shoe company NAOT). This book, full of inspirational thoughts and visuals, hopes to help the reader to tap into daily joy.
This raised garden on wheels is also elevated so no dirty knees or sore backs.
This hat makes a terrific gift for a hiker, beach lover, or gardener.
Enjoy more time outdoors with a sunshade.
Game & Activity Lover
Check out these activities and games which will bring people together to share in the fun!
Mexican Train is a family favorite in the Miller house.
Available for a limited-time, this Mother’s Day kit from Pottery with a Purpose includes snacks and an activity.
Karaoke night is any night with this Bluetooth speaker microphone.
Gifts for Those with Cognitive Disabilities
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
An apple air tag can help locate items you want to keep track of like remote, purse, sunglasses, or keys. If you need a way to easily attach an air tag, consider these keychains.
All of these activities were recommended by Happy Healthy Community members:
Send The Love
Sometimes delivering a gift yourself is just not possible. Here are some fun gifts you can order online.
Custom design your own t-shirt, sweatshirt, hat, or bag from RushOrderTees.com. Simply upload a photo or design. Or, use their online design wizard to add text or clipart.
Original art can remind your loved one of a favorite pastime or brighten their decor. Here are two examples from former family caregivers Susie Morrell and Judith Henry.
Imagine waking up and seeing that someone decorated your yard! Not only will your loved one feel appreciated but it’ll spark a great topic to discuss with neighbors. Learn more at cardmyyard.com.
Send a 4×6 frame with a recent photo. Send a new photo to swap in the frame each month.
Each Goddess Gram’s contents are hand-picked and unique to fit your gift recipient.
Soup’s On! A Spoonful of Comfort offers packages of soups, rolls, and cookies!
Practical
Take note of their environment and think of what could really make them feel more comfortable at home. Here are some ideas:
Fill the above couch arm table with some of their favorite snacks.
A ‘twofer’ gift! Elevate their curb appeal while helping them to step safer!
Memory foam travel pillow offers comfort at home or while traveling.
Happy Healthy Caregiver’s partner Carewell offers up these practical gift ideas from their Caregiver Shop to help loved ones be more comfortable, improve sleep, and stay safe.
Free
If your loved one has ‘quality time’ or ‘acts of service’ as their love language, these gifts will be a home run!
- A regular date night together – One HHC community member suggests a ‘cheese and cracker night’ – bring over a new cheese to share.
- Organization help – offer to help purge a drawer, closet, or sort through family photos.
- Interview them – capture some of the important stories on video and put them in a shared digital folder. Here’s a list of questions to get you started.
Need more ideas? Here are some previous gift-themed posts:
P.S. If you are shopping online, consider enrolling with Rakuten where you can earn cashback and get the coupon codes applied at checkout.
