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| Peter G. Levine Stronger After Stroke |
The most important gift you can give a survivor is your time. Often months and years later, the thing survivors remember most is the company they received. A phone call, a visit, a text.... seems so simple but not to the stroke survivor whose mobility is limited. Social interactions will also help the survivor recover.For survivors with children, organizing play dates for their kids can be a big help!
Gift that survivors often cherish include:
- The gift of Food and Drink!
- Chocolates or any other delicious food. However, be aware that stroke can often affect the ability to swallow so yummy food will be a tease!
- Survivors often worry about their family eating well. Friends can organize and help by over dinner for my husband/ wife and kids every night.
Clothes: - New comfy pajamas
- Comfortable snugly sweat pants (elastic waist!)
- Shoelaces that you don't have to tie like the Yankz! Sure Lace System
- Slippers
- baseball cap to wear (to cover unwashed hair)
- sweats with the person's favorite team logo
- Comfy therapy clothes
- A manicure/pedicure (A trip to the hair salon for a cut, color and pedi is often a favorite post-stroke gift. Survivors often feel so much better after a trip to the salon)
- Massage of the affected with a hand/body cream
- Hair styling
- Clean clothes
Useful gifts:
- A journal for all the millions of thoughts that buzz around the survivor's head... great stress management
- Stuffed animals, especially ones that remind the survivor of their own pets
- A "grabber" to pull tray over, pick up the phone, or pull the tv over. Survivors are sometime left alone for extended periods.
- Video games
- Dry shampoo and leave in conditioner
- a new toothbrush
- Electric shaver for face or legs. Survivors are often afraid to use a razor
- Flowers
- A fluffy comforter
- Books and for survivors with trouble reading, books on tape. Or, read to the survivor!
- Photos of loved ones. A photo album with lots of pictures, where they were taken etc. (Survivors often forgot a lot!) Positive sayings in there as well as written prayers and messages from other friends
- An attractive medical ID bracelet that fits with the person's personality (jewelry-style, paracord, beaded, Velcro (like Road ID).
Music:
- Music gets its own category because music helps recovery, especially during the acute phase (~the first 7 days after stroke).
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