What to send/give to stroke victim in hospital??

[princesscj]

My great uncle who I am close with, had a major stroke Sunday. I want to send/give him something, they also found out he had diabetes during testing. They expect him to be in the hospital for about a month. Ok, so what do you send a man who is diabetic? Flowers? He's a manly man, Chocolates, candy? Nope diabetic.

I don't feel a "Get Well Soon" anything will work since he has a long recovery, and right now does not have use of his limbs.


Please give me BUDGET suggestions!!! Thanks so much!!

 

[KJSJpipe]

Since he is going to be there awhile how about some books, there are second hand book stores and some libraries sell some of their old stock. Some one could read to him. If no one is available for that how about books on tape/cd. Also if he has access to a dvd/vcr you could get him some cheap movies at Walmart. That will last him longer then a plant and still let him know you are thinking of him.

 

[indylaw99]

When my grandmother had a stroke two years ago, she had to be in a rehabilitation center for quite a while. What really made her happy were the homemade things that I took to her. I made her a lap quilt that she could use while watching tv or sitting in her wheelchair. She also really liked having pictures hung up around her room--family photos as well as pictures that my kids colored for her. A lot of what was wrong with her was mental. That is, she could not remember a lot of things and needed to be reminded about her life. So we took photo albums and scrapbooks and home movies for her to sit and look at and talk through.

Don't know if any of that will help. But maybe it will help you think of other things that might be applicable for your great uncle. It can be a tough recovery, but it sounds like he has a great supporter in you.

 

[jmminarik]

Why do you think he wants some *thing*? Most older folks I know appreciate people spending time with them more than material things.


-Joe

 

[pilgrimage]

The best gift I have seen watching families in rehab is visits. The sound of a familiar voice, seeing familiar faces are great. Taking photos and have them enlarged so the person can see those they love is a great comfort.

Musical cd's of familiar tunes can help with the mental rebuilding. Even a tape recording of family voices saying prayers (if the familiy member is religious),kids
singing simple songs on tape. All can actually have medically therapeutic value.

Bright homemade posters and wall hangings, a familiar blanket or pillowcase from home, a bowl of fresh fruit can help brighten the sterile institutional setting.

 

[minkydog]

Even though your uncle is a "manly man", hospitalization may make him feel more like a little boy. Don't discount the flowers or a potted plant. When my dad was dying the thing that he loved the most was this giant parrot balloon my DD tied to the end of his bed. He just loved looking at that thing.

When I was hospitalized unexpectedly a few years ago, my best friend brought me a small pillow with a bear face on it. It was a small thing, but it meant a lot--I could sleep with it, put it behind my head, use it to help me cough. And when everyone was gone for the day, it was just me and my bear pillow

 

[jeankeri]

From past experience working in a hospital, the treats for diabetics are very lomited. You could get your uncle some hard candies/ drinks with artificial sweeteners. Check with the nurses to see what refrigerator storage is like. A six-pack of diet Moxie might really cheer him up. The diet drinks served on the meal trays can be difficult to swallow!
I would also second music; some of his favorite CDs/ tapes. Also, if he has a roommate- make sure he has headphones so he can hear it. Dueling TVs can be maddening!!!

 

[HM]

Find out if his room has a DVD or VCR. You could get tapes/DVDs of old Andy Griffith Shows or other comedy shows for him to watch.

 

[mlwear]

FIL was recently hospitalized and likely will be permanently. MIL asked all of his friends and relatives send cards, so he would have a major outpouring of support and well wishes.
WE were unsure and sent flowers. It is a tough decision with a man, but it's spring and I thought a nice spring bouquet would be cheery.
He loved it. He could look at them which was about all he was physically able to do, anyway. MIL said it brightened his room.

 

[ducklite]

I think it depends on his capacities after the stroke. Did he suffer any cognitive loss, or was it mostly physiological? If he's still mentally aware, then books or books on tape (bought second hand or borrowed from a library), a portable DVD player (they are under $100) with some DVD's borrowed from family/friends (you could have family movies or photo's transferred to DVD as well), framed photo's of family and friends, a prepaid phone card so he can call people are all ideas.

Other things to think about--are there things you can do for him such as running errands, taking care of his pet, getting his taxes done if he didn't do them already, keeping an eye on his house and maybe going over to clean it every couple of weeks...even an empty home needs to have the toilets cleaned and be dusted. cancelling his newspaper delivery, there are a host of things like that which need to be done.

Rather than a get well soon card, maybe a thinking of you card? Or just write him letters, nice chatty ones with news about his family. Even talking about the kids' sports or other after school activites and such.

Hope he recovers with no further complications!

Anne

 

[Rozzie]

From past experience working in a hospital, the treats for diabetics are very lomited. You could get your uncle some hard candies/ drinks with artificial sweeteners. Check with the nurses to see what refrigerator storage is like. A six-pack of diet Moxie might really cheer him up. The diet drinks served on the meal trays can be difficult to swallow!
I would also second music; some of his favorite CDs/ tapes. Also, if he has a roommate- make sure he has headphones so he can hear it. Dueling TVs can be maddening!!!

YIKES, I about fell of the chair reading this.

I am a stroke nurse, and PLEASE do not send drinks or candy without first checking to see what type of diet he is on. A great deal of fresh stroke patients are not able to drink thin liquids or eat hard food. Most food needs to be chopped and thickened, or pureed. Drinks need to be thickened to a honey or nectar consistency.

A friendly voice goes a long way. A homemade card to hang in room, or a potted plant to cheer the place would also be nice. A lot of stroke patients have difficulty reading, I would find out his abilities before a gift of this sort. Might just frustrate.

Hope he has a speedy recovery!

 

[eeyore45]

When my FIL had a stroke, he had some memory loss, so I asked a friend who worked in the 'business'... she suggested pictures... mount them...

It sounds like the OP will have a problem due to being far away... so do send flowers and balloons...

I took 4 poster boards and mounted pictures, I think I may have put a year or saying in the center, and had several pictures all around, pictures of his home, christmas, things that were familiar to him - it gave people who visited him something to talk about, when he was moved to a rehab facility he was able to take the poster with him...

If you have children, maybe draw something and roll it up and mail it in a tube???

Good luck..

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I agree, Rozzie, my first thought as well was if it was a major stroke, he may be kept NPO (nothing by mouth) for a while until swallowing studies can be done to assure he is not aspirating liquid into his lungs (which could lead to a pneumonia). Families often want to see patients eat, but they really need to wait until it's been absolutely established that it's safe for him to do so. Also, blood sugars are being kept extremely tight now in the hospital since we know that even slightly elevated sugars will impede healing in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients. I'd suggest sticking with non-food items, at least for the time being.

In addition to the great suggestions of non-food items above, I'd suggest maybe a really good book written by someone who had a stroke but went on to do well. It can be inspiring. When I had breast cancer, a great book someone gave me was Chicken Soup for the Survivor's Soul. It was good for me to read (but there were times I couldn't even pick that up, I just had enough of the subject matter if you know what I mean). Perhaps there is a similar one for stroke patients, I don't know. Ideas, anyone? I also think a supply of junky magazines is good just to look through, or if he has a hobby like fishing or woodworking, he might enjoy just looking through those.

You may find he may be quite depressed and may not want to read or interact that much. A major event like this involves a period of adjustment and grieving the loss of perceived health. It may take a while for him to feel better. Thanks for being a caring niece and good luck to your uncle.

 

[kinntj]

I agree with the previous post. My grandfather had a slight stroke and couldn't concentrate on reading, so we would go in there and read to him. When we were gone he would listen to his Christian music on a tape player. Ok, back then all we had were tape players. The nurse would have to help him with it though.

If he doesn't have use of his limbs right now, reading is out anyway as he couldn't hold the book. Music sounds good and my grandpa did like the plants he had in the room. My grandpa did receive some manly flowers (carnations) and he commented on how silly and overboard everyone went to make sure his room was as homey as can be. He didn't want to be made a fuss over, but you could tell he really liked it.

Just us being there made a huge difference. The nurses would comment that they wish all of the patients there would have visitors.

I hope your great uncle has a great recovery!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I'm sorry if someone posted this and I missed it, but I really love to see homemade quilts or pillows and comforters from home on patients' beds. It screams at me that this patient is very much cared about!! I also just love photos from home, I always take time to look at them and ooh and aah over them. I especially love photos of the patient's home and pets. If you have a German Shepherd picture in your room, I guarantee I will be in there to have a conversation with you about it.

One of our sick, elderly patients recently had a poster of photos made by his family of him when he was a young man, racing cars. It was a huge conversation starter. I wasn't even caring for him, but I went into the room to see it and talk to him about it as did many others. It was nice for this particular patient because he was blind and bedridden and it was uplifting for him not only to have company but to show a piece of himself from so long ago that was really quite unique.