- Whether it is a night, a couple of nights, or a few months in the hospital, medical emergencies can ruffle a person. Showing support to friends or family members that are in the hospital will help to lessen their burdens.
- In this article, we’ve listed many ways to show support to someone in the hospital and if you wish to organize a helpful hospital care package for family members, you are in the right place. We will direct you to some of the best items on Amazon.
- Although we’ve divided our care package ideas into 6 subheadings, we urge that you go through all items we have recommended in this article. Most items are perfect for any hospital care package you intend to organize.
While we look forward to you going through our list of practical items to include in a hospital care package for family members, you might also be interested in some of our senior articles;
1. If you know a friend or family member that is ill, and you wish to show them support or send your ‘get well’ wishes, our article –What to get someone when they are sick– will guide you.
2. A new mom will find these Gift basket for new moms in hospitals very helpful.
3. You can do more than just send flowers to the hospital. Click to find What to send to hospitals instead of flowers.
We will start off by saying; when people are in need, do not assume that other people will help. Do the much you can do for them.
How to help a family with someone in the hospital
Hospital emergencies are normally unexpected and they tend to throw people off balance. Most people that have had hospital emergencies can tell you that they hardly ever thought of things like extra cash, blanket, food, toiletries, their pets, etcetera when the bombshell dropped. These were afterthoughts and even after they tried to get themselves and their loved one settled in hospital, they still need help with other activities.
What’s worse is that when emergencies like this happen, some people entertain the thought that others will be buzzing to help out. This is not always true. Always try to pull some weight whether or not people are there to help.
Here are a couple of ways on how to help a family with someone in the hospital;
1. Visit them with provisions or send it if you are far away.
Whether they are staying a day or more at the hospital, an emergency trip to the hospital can knock a person’s day/plan off balance. Cooking or sorting meals and other conveniences is the last thing they want to be doing. Try to get some provisions for them when you visit. You can send it if you stay far.
2. Assist with errands.
There are a number of tasks a person who has someone in the hospital would love to achieve throughout their day. Not achieving these tasks may cause them anxiety. Achieving the tasks may cause them so much stress because they still have to look after their loved ones in the hospital. If you can help them look after their pets, make some deliveries, pick their kids from school, ensure that their package or property is safe, make important calls, do laundry, etcetera, it will help ease their burdens. It is best to suggest a number of activities you can help them out with. You can also ask them what they need help with.
3. Communicate.
Consistently check up on them. It is one way of giving emotional support. But do not pester them with calls and messages. It is best to communicate twice a day and if any other thing needs to be said, let them contact you. Reassure them that you are always available to help out.
4. Pray.
If you are religious, it goes without saying that supporting them with prayers is expected. It is one of the kindest things you can do for someone going through a hard time.
You do not have to do everything for them, just do your bit, and do it with your heart.
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Quick Overview: Hospital Care Packages
Care package for parents of a sick child
The mind of a parent is never at ease when they leave their child in the hospital to run petty errands. Apart from helping out with food, or a change of clothes, when preparing a care package for parents of a sick child, here are a couple of items to include;
1. Warm blanket and pillow.
Sleeping on that little hospital sofa or chair can be pretty uncomfortable for anyone. A warm blanket and pillow will give some comfort wherever they decide to sleep at the end of the day. You can get this inspirational blanket for them. The message on it is timeless. It reads, ‘let your faith be bigger than your fears’.
Pros:
- It is a timely gift for friends and family going through a hard time.
- The size and quality of the blanket are amazing.
Cons:
- If they will be offended by the religious quote, it is best to leave out the blanket.
2. Socks or foam slippers.
If they will be spending more than a day at the hospital, wearing shoes all the time will be uncomfortable for them. You can include Wool socks like these ones in a hospital care package for parents.Pros:
- These are very comfortable indoor socks.
- They fit both men and women
- They are of good quality
Cons:
- They might be tight for people with bigger legs.
Product summary
For the price of the set, this is a good item to add to a hospital care package for parents.
3. Drinks.
Pick up a pack of bottled water, energy drinks, and juice for them. They do not have to spend money on drinks. We suggest V8 healthy energy drinks and Honest kids juice for parents and child. Honest kids juice is the closest you get to pure organic juice. Coffee people that cannot do without caffeine, V8 is a great energy drink.
Pros:
- These are healthy drinks and they come in different flavors
- Their prices seem fair
Cons:
- How long it takes to arrive depends on the seller your patronize
4. Interesting activities for the child.
A good way to distract children from being nervous or worried about themselves is to give them interesting activities to do, like this Coloring pillowcase and or this Interesting board game for 4-7year olds. The coloring pillowcase comes with coloring markers and we love how broad the picture on the pillowcase is. It is enough activity for a few days. The board game is a challenge for any child and a good way to preoccupy a child’s time.Pros:
- We chose these activities because they are fun and interesting and a good way to keep a child occupied in the hospital. Painting their own pillowcase will make their bed as colorful as they wish
- The quality of these items are great.
Cons:
- It might get them too distracted.
5. A nice plush gift.
Your nephew or niece will be excited to have a friendly cuddle buddy like this Feel better dog plush. The colorful message on the dog is attractive and child-friendly. Most reviewers are also pleased with the quality of the plush. It is a lovely gift for a sick baby.Pros:
- It is a cute and colorful plush many children will love
- It has great reviews that should convince you to buy one for your nephew and niece.
Cons:
- We hope that the delivery is prompt.
6. Books and stationery.
When organizing a care package for a family in hospital, try to include interesting books and notebooks. This should make their time at the hospital a little more interesting. The snail and the whale, and five-minute stories, are interesting books for children. Five-minute stories has over 50 tales and fables, which is enough story to keep a child entertained. Funster activity book should keep a parent busy. Don’t forget to include notebooks, pens, and pencils.Pros:
- These are great books to include in a hospital care package for families
- These books are also affordable
Cons:
- These books are distracting. They are good distractions.
7. Food and snacks.
You can prepare meals for them if they trust you or you could also give them meal tickets. This will be very helpful. A box of snacks like Protein Bars, and Cookies variety pack can also make it to your list of care package ideas. Having snacks in between meals will help keep their energy up since parents rarely find the time to eat.Pros:
- These are delicious treats. We are very confident that the recipients will enjoy them
- The sellers we’ve chosen are offering them at a reasonable price at the time this article was written
Cons:
- If the recipient is allergic to nuts, you could buy Nature Valley oats and nuts instead.
8. Gums.
Gums keep the mouth busy plus no one wants to be dealing with stale breath at the hospital. Throw in this Extra Polar Ice sugar-free Gum into that hospital care package for parents.Pros:
- These are sugar-free gums and they still taste fine
- The favor last long
Cons:
- You can’t stop buying them
9. Hand Wash and sanitizer.
Liquid hand wash and sanitizer are thoughtful items to include in any hospital care package. Choose Dial antibacterial liquid hand wash and Purell hand sanitizers.Pros:
- These products are amazing. They make the hands feel tender after using them.
- You can always find them on Amazon
Cons:
- It sucks to buy them in packs if you only need one but it’s also best to buy them in packs.
10. Toiletries.
This convenience kit for women has a good number of items that should serve a patient’s mom for a few days. You can also buy it for yourself if you intend to travel to visit your family at the hospital.Pros:
- The kit is really convenient
Cons:
- If they will be staying longer at the hospital, you might want to buy bigger sizes of toiletries
Gift ideas for someone in hospital long term
For someone staying in the hospital for a long time, here are a number of useful items you could get for them weekly or monthly.11. Medical journal.
Usually, patients that stay in hospital long term have been diagnosed with a number of illnesses. And even if this is not the case for the patient you are visiting, they will surely tell you that they have to acquaint themselves with a lot of terminologies and need to follow a couple of instructions and this is why a medical journal is important. You’ve got this journal allows patients to write down as many diagnoses they encounter and as well, allows room for notes.Pros:
- It is a well sectioned medical journal. It is very easy to use.
Cons:
- If you are looking for something a bit different, you could also try out My Personal Medical Log.
12. Grooming kit for men or women.
Patients staying in the hospital for a long time will obviously be in need of personal care products. You can choose to buy Nivea for men grooming kit, we think it is a great grooming kit for men. And for women, we recommend a Nivea skincare set for her.Pros:
- The content of each kit is great and would last for a while
- Most of the products in the kit are fine for people with sensitive skin
- The kit is affordable
Cons:
- A few customers received damaged kits.
Product summary
These are good items to include in a hospital stay gift basket
13. Lip balms.
Palmer’s Lip balm set and EOS lip balm are amazing lip moisturizers to include in a hospital care package. We recommend any of these sets.
Pros:
- They smell nice and moisturize well
- They have pretty packaging
- They are affordable although EOS lip balm is more expensive.
Cons:
- We hope they do not react to any of these lip balms
Product summary
A good gift idea for someone in hospital long-term.
14. Wash towels.
A hospital patient will be in need of wash towels and we suggest that you include Pleasant Home washcloths in the hospital care package.
Pros:
- These towels are soft and absorb well
- The set comes in assorted colors
- Their size is great
Cons:
- It does leave some residues with its first few uses. You can also try out Chakir Turkish wash towels.
15. Purified water.
They need to stay hydrated and supplying them with packs of bottled water will surely go a long way. Nestle Pure Life purified water is a good option.Pros:
- The package arrives well packaged
Cons:
- Lots of reusable containers to deal with.
16. Plush gifts.
A plush gift has a way of making the heart glad and if you are looking for a cute one for a child or adult, this Get well plush is perfect.Pros:
- The sloth is so adorable
- Good for all ages
Cons:
- It is a little expensive. Check out this chocolate teddy bear.
17. Inspirational gifts.
If you believe in the power of prayer and the word of God, this book on Prayers and promise for healing is a good item to include in a Hospital care package for family members.Pros:
- It is a good guide when praying for healing.
- The book is easy to use and understand
Cons:
- If they are not into Christianity, they might not appreciate this gift.
18. Multipurpose tissue.
For wiping sweaty face, dusty surface, spittle, and using the restroom, this Multipurpose soft tissue is a thoughtful item to include in a hospital care package for family members.Pros:
- They are thick and soft. They hardly irritate the skin
- There are enough tissues in one pack
Cons:
- A few customers complained about tissue residues but it is a negligible amount.
Care package for a child after surgery
Going through surgery can be nerve-wracking for anyone, so you can imagine how children feel before the surgery is performed. To applaud them for their bravery, here are a couple of items you could get for them;19. Plush gifts.
A cute plush toy. We will recommend a superhero plush like this fuzzy bear supergirl plush. Adorable, right? But also check out this Crochet bunny rabbit doll, isn’t it so pretty? Any of these plushies will make a little girl happy. The bunny plush has male versions.Pros:
- These plushies look well-made. A lot of customers are impressed with their quality.
- These plushies have amazing reviews that should convince you to buy one for your niece or nephew.
- They are affordable
Cons:
- We hope the delivery does not take too long. These are timeless gifts. So regardless of when they arrive, your little angel will be excited to get this gift.
20. Superhero t-shirts.
You can also choose to get her or him a superhero t-shirt like this Supergirl t-shirt. Cute right? Check out this Batgirl t-shirt.Pros:
- The comic design looks flawless.
Cons:
- Although these shirts are a bit pricey, they will make a little girl happy.
21. Superhero water bottles.
Marvel black panther insulated tumbler, and Batman metal water bottle are cool post-surgery gifts for tweens and teenagers. Superheroes should hydrate themselves with the best water bottles.Pros:
- The design/ graphics on the bottle looks stunning.
- Their quality seems ok.
Cons:
- We wish these bottles had superpowers.
Product summary
These are good gifts for someone in the hospital
Care baskets for hospital patients
If you are looking for readymade care packages that you can get for someone in a hospital, here are a couple we found interesting.
22. If you are unable to visit your loved one in the hospital, you can send this Groovy Get Well Box. The content looks great.
Pros:
- Some thoughts were put into the selection of items in the box
- The price seems fair considering the content of the box
Cons:
- A customer complained that the puzzle book had religious content. If the receiver isn’t a fan of any religion, you may want to consider this.
Product summary
It is a nice gift basket for families in hospital.
23. Unboxme Get Well care package for men and Unboxme Get Well care package for women are some of the amazing care packages this brand offers and we highly recommend their packages as gifts to send sick friends and family members.
Pros:
- This brand puts enough attention to their gift selection and we love these get-well packages they have made for men and women.
Cons:
- Pricey
Hospital gift ideas sick friends and relatives
24. For friends and relatives that are sick but are not necessarily hospitalized, you can send this Get Well Heart plush. It is absolutely beautiful.Pros:
- It is a wholesome get. Bright and full of life. This plush is adorable.
- This plush has outstanding reviews and ratings.
Cons:
- You’ll wish someone sent one to you.
Product summary
It is a good gift idea for a sick friend or family.
25. This Get well spoon is an adorable and funny gift for friends and family you wish well. An item like this one will stick around for a long time.
Pros:
- This is a fun gift.
Cons:
- It is a long spoon. Not too long but longer than normal spoons.
Product summary
We give this item a thumbs up. It is a nice gift.
what to bring someone who just had a baby in the hospital
If you are looking for ready-made care packages for family and friends that just had a baby, here are a couple we found interesting;
26. After the whole journey of pregnancy till birth, Magnolia New mom gift box should get her blushing. Items in this lovely gift box have been carefully selected to get moms to relax. She will absolutely love this. It contains a copper water bottle, scented candle, moisturizing body lotion, creamy foot butter, and a congratulatory card for moms.
Pros:
- The item selection is wonderful as well as the presentation
- This is a value for money item.
Cons:
- Apart from what’s written on the exterior of the card, we were wondering if there were more messages on the card. It will be best to know what the message says to be sure that it is relevant.
Product summary
A beautiful gift for someone who just had a baby.
27. Customers have only positive things to say about Bue Moon New mom gift box and we think that it might be the perfect body care gift for new moms. This gift box contains hand-made soap, bath salts, body oil, mist, and a lip balm with lavender essential oil.
Pros:
- The gift selection is amazing
- The packaging looks stunning
- Customers are impressed with the quality of the products thus far
Cons:
- The sellers had limited stock as of the time this article was written.
Product summary
This gift box looks like a good gift idea for new moms in the hospital.
28. If you are looking for the perfect gift for the couple, this New mom and dad 2021 gift box will do. It is a simple but lovely gift box. It contains two mugs,-one for mom and the other for dad-, a ‘new to the crew’ romper and a cute baby bib. Who wouldn’t love this gift?
Pros:
- The content of the gift box is lovely
- The price seems fair
Cons:
- Since this is a yearly gift, we hope that the seller makes the right correction on the year before sending it.
Product summary
We give this gift box a thumbs up. It is a well-thought-out gift for parents.
29. Another excellent gift for couples at the hospital is this Family figurine. Gosh! This figurine is stunning and embodies so much life.
Pros:
- Impeccable craftsmanship
- It comes with a gift card
Cons:
- This beautiful gift will probably make them cry.
Product summary
If you are looking for what to bring for someone who just had a baby in the hospital, this figurine is perfect.
LET’S ANSWER MORE QUESTIONS
1. What do you send to someone home from the hospital?
Start by volunteering to get them one or two items prescribed by their doctor. It could be exercise equipment, gadgets, furniture, or type of clothing. Other than that, you can send them
- Meals
- Snacks
- Fruits and nuts
- Plants
- Comfort blankets and pillows
- Useful gadgets
- Inspirational gifts of any form; books, jewelry, plush, notes, journals etcetera.
- Funny gifts
- Interactive games
2. What do you send to an elderly man in the hospital?
All we can say is to add some fun to the gift and make sure your moods are not depressing. You can send him
- Fun, happy, interesting games.
- Interesting puzzles
- Books about funny jokes, riddles, and fables
- A unique comforting blanket
- Comfort slippers and socks
- The genre of music he loves
- Healthy pastries
- Pure juice
- Funny pictures and videos of family and pet
- Hilarious letters but heartfelt too
LAST WORDS
Supporting people at critical times counts and in case you’ve been wondering how to support friends and families that are in hospital, we hope this article has truly given you one or two clues.
02 HOURS 40 MINUTES
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