Maybe a Kindle if she is a reader. Even if she's not technologically inclined, most of the nurse's aides are young and will be able to help her get started.

Any favored food items that she might like and miss having at the nursing home? Chocolates or hard candies, a tin of butter cookies, a basket of mandarins, etc.

Audio books and a player with ear buds would be appreciated I'm sure.

And because I am a gardener and a plant person, flowers are always on my list!! An orchid (flowers last forever!!) or a blooming cyclamen, in season right now. Even a bouquet of fresh cut flowers will brighten her room for a few days to a week or more.

No suggestions for you. I just want to say that I love your spirit! Bless you, your husband and your dear sister.

A clip board is handy to put your coloring pages on. Or maybe if she takes the colored pages out of her coloring book, some plastic sleeves and a 3 ring binder. Have a wonderful trip, sounds like you have a lot of nice things for your sister.

Sue

Cherryfizz, she has a lap desk that I got for her some time ago.

Cooper8828, the kindle idea would be nice, but I cannot imagine her warming up to it. It is something I will talk to her about. She isn't a big book reader.

Make sure that she has a box that is not too big but will hold those little items.

Gardengal, she is trying to loose, or at least not gain any weight, as her abilities are tied to keeping her weight at a minimum, so I won't undermine her efforts. She has her radio/cd player there and a lot of music cds. I am taking some Christmas cd's to her tomorrow.

What about some type of Christmas toy or decoration... like a dancing Santa or something to hang on the door? I'm thinking in terms of something fun she can sort of share with the other residents as a little piece of conversation.

Be aware that the cracker barrel here has lines all the way around the building on Thanksgiving. We went there for Thanksgiving a year ago and we couldn't stay.

Books on tape?

Clip board and a clip on reading light for the pens and pencils.

Small flashlight, I agree with the lap desk too.

Cracker barrel used to have beautiful holiday/winter sweatshirts too.

A small plant - cactus or even a small fake but realistic looking plant. That's what I find is lacking in some of these places is greenery - or something that evokes nature.

Stationery and postage stamps, Christmas cards for her to send to friends and family.

Missy just beat me to it ;0) I was going to say an assortment of cards for different occasions, postage stamps. Slippers. Hand lotion.

Is she able to watch tv? Maybe some cute Christmas movies?

Igmd_gaz - Something I have found to be very useful is a supply of disposable plates in the small size for snacks like cookies, crackers, fruit.

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving and a wonderful visit with your sister.

Does she have a cheerful picture on her wall? My mother liked that gift.

I don't know just what your sister's situation is, but sadly I found that anything of value (like a Kindle, or her favorite perfume would be) would very soon disappear from my mother's nursing home room.

How about a shawl or lap robe, to keep her warm?

Typically, nursing homes do not supply much storage space for the residents, especially if they share a room with a second person. The only space they may have is a small chest of drawers to store clothing. If you give items having many small pieces such as a set of colored pencils, etc., I suggest including a box to hold all these parts, else those will get scattered. Also, the container must fit in a dresser drawer.

If the person is capable of traveling in a car, they might appreciate getting outside for a couple hours. That is a rare occasion for nursing home residents. Taking the patient to a dinner or movie is a chance to get outside the facility for a couple of hours and does wonders for their well being. Sometimes, what they might desire is a simple ride to look at scenic views, anything beside the walls of their facility.

If you do take a patient outside the facility, be prepared to be treated like a thief by the facility, because they must operate under many restrictions, and allowing a patient to go beyond the facility's domain give them heartburn due to liability concerns.

Call and ask to talk to the nurse taking care of her. It may be a sweater, robe, or good pair of slippers.

The suggestion of a lapdesk is very good. I remember my grandmother LOVED hers. I suggest you choose a model that includes a "drink hole".

With storage a consideration, I'd think about consumables: Kleenex, lotion, stamps, small snacks.

Years ago we used to take the Girl Scouts to Christmas Carol at the nursing homes, and we always gave a gift of socks to the residents. To say they were thrilled with those socks doesn't say half enough -- people who hadn't come to listen to the kids sing would hear that their roommates had been given socks, and they'd come shuffling out of their rooms calling out, "Wait, wait, do you have any more socks?"

This is standard "furniture" in NH's, which most use as a "lap desk."

MDLN - aren't those pretty standard in hospitals, too? Back in '85 I had a left 1st rib resection. My left lung was punctured during the surgery and I ended up with a chest tube (standard procedure, I know). When I was taken from the recovery room to my private room, there was one of those "lap desks" that would slide in from the left. I couldn't move my left arm without almost screaming in pain, so my husband would move it around to the other side of the bed so it would come in from the right. As soon as the nurse would give me an injection of morphine, I'd go lights out, and when I'd come to, the darn table would be on the left side again. Every time my husband moved it to the right, the nurses would move it back to the left. I hated that darn thing.

Thank you all who responded.

The suggestion of cards for her to send at Christmas was good. I'll take some.

I do have a lap robe packed. She did tell me that she needed one when I asked yesterday.

Her son is in the process of emptying out her Seniors apartment and I know she will be getting a few essentials from there for making her space her own as much as possible.

The lap desk she has is a flat board type of thingy that rests over the arms of her electric wheelchair. She can go to the social room with it to color, work on puzzle books and interact with the other residents.

Everything I am taking is contained and hopefully won't be a problem to store. I know that a place to put stuff can be an issue.

I would love to take her on an outing, but she is confined to her electric wheel chair and there is no way we can accommodate it.

Again thank you all. After seeing the place today, I'll know better what to take next visit. Or what to bring back home this time.

The thing I remember as being appreciated was a good lotion. The air in the nursing homes and the soaps they use seem to be very drying, and lotion can be soothing, esp if it has a nice fragrance.

Annie, I did go to Bath and Body works and picked up her favorite lotion. She said exactly what you said about everything there being so drying. Also got some hand sanitizer in a nice scent that she asked for and chap stick too.

Sounds like a really nice "care" package you have put together. Thoughtful and useful items. I had a friend who spent a year in a rehab/nursing home and I always brought a few inexpensive holiday/seasonal decorations for her room. Most of the time I could just put them on her window sill or hang them on the wall. It made her room feel a little more comfy.

Depending on where she lives, she may not be able to have safety pins, scissors, or anything for safety reasons. Maybe she would be ok but if others got ahold of them, might not be good. Just ask.

Transfer old home movies, to DVDs, so she can watch them. Sun catchers for her window. A mp3 player, filled with her favorite music. Gift certificates, for a the beauty shop. Electronic photo frames.