It’s Christmas Eve and you’ve left present buying last minute. Read on for our ‘sure thing’ ideas and recommendations…
Presents for the elder in your life
Favourite food and drink is always welcome but it can get out of control. One year Marj was nearly buried in milk chocolate. Not that she minded. All the same, let gift buyers know if there are health or wellbeing implications of too many treats.
‘Smellies’ are welcome, though there’s only so much hand cream one can get through in a year, even if the carer helps. Stick to upgraded moisturising shower gel and shampoo in a favourite fragrance, it’s luxurious and genuinely useful. Good quality body moisturiser is great, but bear in mind that some cosmetic brands are better suited to younger, dewy skin (ie unhelpful for mature skin). Marj wasn’t always that fussed about facial moisturiser but her skin did seem more comfortable with a little Boots No7 and the facial massage was clearly enjoyable.
If horizons have shrunk due to health issues, then bring luxury within reach. New fluffy towels or face flannels combined with a soap upgrade in a favourite fragrance can bring new delight to washing. Furry throws or a new blanket can feel luxurious and comforting on a lap or over a duvet.
Changing furniture and soft furnishings may be discombobulating, but the addition of ready framed family pictures goes down well. I was always on a quest for the perfect lightweight fine bone china mug with a large, easy to hold handle and pretty pattern.
If you’re considering new clothes, check out my style tips for elders, but you’ve missed the boat for home/in-store delivery if you need presents for tomorrow. This is where our awesome independent high street stores will help us find the right treat, go seek.
Whatever you choose, take it round yourself and take time to stroll with, chat, play games or keep company. The best things in life really are free.
Presents for the carer in your family
At this time of year, carers are usually close to ‘frazzled’ due to organising a family Christmas and making sure caring responsibilities carry on uninterrupted. And that’s if everything is going smoothly, eg no illnesses. All holiday periods are challenging since home care workers rightly need time with their families too. If they get any outside help at all, it’s likely the family carer is doing extra shifts to cover absences while balancing everyone else’s needs.
What carers would love most is some time for themselves. If you appreciate what the carer in your family does, show it and say it from time to time. Above all, they’d probably just love some time off. So offer that. When combined with a bunch of flowers/a plant/spa voucher, even better but not essential. Offer an hour, an afternoon, a night (woo hoo), a weekend (ooh the luxury) – these will all go down very well. Please give generously!
Over to you – happy (last minute) gifting!
And to the home care workers who came in over Christmas to help Marj and I – thank you very very much, I love you and appreciated everything you did. There was always a present waiting x.
