Had to share these ideas
Although she loves movies, Mom simply does not have the brainpower to follow the plot anymore and gets easily frustrated. But she loves animals... I got her four animal DVDs including last year's Westminster Dog Show, National Geographic Animal Orphans and Unusual Animal Friendships....
She is a big potato chip snacking fan (hey, at her age why not?). So for her 86th birthday which quickly follows, I got her.... Potato Chip of the Month Club!
How fun is that? I guarantee though, she will have no idea why she's getting packages of potato chips in the mail!!!
Slippers, nap blankets, bed robes
Costume jewelry, special large size jigsaw puzzles or picture books
Give her a manicure or massage or curl her hair
Edible treats - favorite meal or box of candy
Thanks!
The puzzle table tilts and she can more comfortably work her puzzles, it takes up very little room and she loves it! Plus, nobody had to DO anything. She has so many useless little ornaments and figurines all over her place...and candles and bath salts and slippers (none of which she can even use).
I'm getting some NatGeo special issues, such as the Ocean one, but now I'll check out DVDs as well. And who would have thought of a "potato chip club of the month"?
Like FF, I'll be getting clothes - more fleece lined flannel shirts and flannel lined pants. I've also seen a London Fog fleece lined throw that I'll check out; it'll be nice to snuggle underneath when he naps after meals.
On a less comfy level, I'm getting a few of the smaller rolling luggage carriers to pack for emergencies. When his power was interrupted during a storm earlier in this year, I had to scramble to get 4 - 5 days' worth of supplies ready. This time the "go" bag will already be prepared.
As to crackers and cookies, we've figured out a way to eat those on a dysphagia diet - smear them with applesauce. It softens the cookie which can then be eaten.
I'm anxious to see what other posters suggest; this is such an appropriate topic for this time of year.
And, if I may add, what are caregivers getting for yourselves?
And as HugeMom above had mentioned, crackers and cookies :)