The Memory Unit OT

Father’s Day is right around the corner, so I’ve compiled some of my favorite items to recommend as gifts for loved one’s living with dementia or living in long-term care settings.

a floor-based reading/task lamp – sometimes the standard lighting in a long-term care room is either too florescent or too dim (seems like there’s no real in-between); so a task lamp like this one is great! it has a flexible neck and comes with a remote to change the bulb’s brightness and warmth

an easy-to-read clock – this one includes the full date with day of the week, and the AM/PM display is a nice large font

a squishy pillow – I’ve linked my personal favorite here, but any pillow from home is a welcome replacement to the pillows that long-term care facilities are typically supplied with

cozy flannel shirts – I can’t tell you the amount of men I’ve treated over the years who prefer soft flannel shirts, even in the summer months

a mini fridge – this seems to be turning into a bit of trend on the units I work on 🙂 a lot of Residents love keeping their favorite drinks and snacks in their rooms for easy access

a lightweight shoe – shoes sometimes get overlooked when it comes to equipping Residents with a complete wardrobe, and I’m not really sure why; a pair like these is great! lightweight, flexible, an elastic lace, and easy to wash should spills or other accidents occur

a bird feeder – versions that attach directly to the window are usually the best option because not all windows face a yard space or tree to hang a feeder from

his favorite self care items – making a little kit to stock Dad up with his favorite soaps, lotions, and shaving gear can be a surprising treat for someone living in a long-term care setting

a digital photo frame – this one in particular allows family members to directly upload photos via email at any time, of course traditional photo frames are always a great gift as well

extra reading glasses – somehow these always seem to go missing… I love these flexible ones that come in various colors

pajama sets – something comfy, easy to take on and off, with an overall loose fit to keep warm but not get too hot at night (pj’s over hospital gowns are a simple addition to make a long-term care setting feel a little more like home)

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