A wide selection of gifts to give when you want to say get well soon in 2024 displayed on a white background.

Get Well Soon Gifts

We are at that age (ugh) when more and more of our friends are having joint replacements and health challenges and losing loved ones.  What can I take to the hospital?  What can I drop off on the front porch? We want to help but often don’t know what to do (BTW do NOT ask the patient what you can do to help – that puts work on them and they don’t need that now!).  This is tricky but we’ve developed a FabList of items that will be appreciated by friends and family in a time of need.

Gifts to take on a hospital visit:
Note: Always check with the hospital regarding their policies on what items are allowed, as some have restrictions on things like flowers, certain foods, or electronics.

Comfort Items:

Blanket/Throw: Hospital blankets are not very soft!  A small fleece blanket is a perfect gift.

PJ’s: A soft pair of comfy PJ’s is a nice alternate to a hospital gown.

Robe: Cozy and soft is a perfect cover-up.

Socks: A cozy pair of UGG socks is perfect!

Slippers: Something easy to slip on is a great go-to item. Look for no-slip grip bottoms.

Small Fleece Pillow: This can be used as back support or as a soft pillow.

Entertainment:

Stack of Trashy Mags: Who doesn’t love to look through mindless dribble? Tie up a bundle of magazines like People, US, etc.

Puzzle books:  Sudoku, Crosswords, Word Search – all good!

A tablet or ereader, like a Kindle, with downloaded content: You can lend your own or gift a new one.

An ipad with downloaded content: You can lend your own or buy a new or “renewed” one! 

Books:  A stack of paperbacks (keep it lighthearted and easy to read) to keep the patient entertained, like The Thursday Murder Club books, funny David Sedaris books, or New Yorker cartoon books.

Personal Care:

Hand Cream: Especially in the hospital with extremely dry conditions, hand cream is a very welcome gift!  This one from Chanel is lovely as is this one from Aesop. 

Lip Balm: In a neutral color to pamper those lips.

Dry Shampoo and Face Wipes: When showering is a challenge, dry shampoo is very handy! Face wipes are convenient for a quick freshen up.

Toothbrush kit: This would be great – contains toothbrush, paste, floss, etc . . . .

Snacks:

Special treats their diet allows:  Edible Arrangements has great get well items, like fruit and some sweet treats, as does Harry & David.

Flowers or Plants:

Brighten up the room with a small bouquet or a low-maintenance plant (check hospital policy).

Cards and Notes:

A heartfelt card or letter is always welcomed.

A book of photos or drawings from mutual friends or family.

Practical Items:

Plugs can be inconveniently located so an extra long phone charger or a portable power brick are great to have!

Earplugs:  Hospitals can be noisy so ear plugs are handy. Jo’s sister was recently in the hospital and used her Bose noise canceling headphones.

Reusable water bottle:  An easy to sip from water bottle with a straw is a great gift!

Gifts to drop off at home:

Many of the above items can be used, as well as the ones below to help your friends feel more comfortable and supported as they recover at home.  Make sure to check if they have any dietary restrictions or preferences before sending food items.

Note:  Food items can be for the family and friends of the “patient”, as well as for the patient her/himself.  A box of cookies, a pan of brownies or some ice cream bars can be perfect for the patient to have on hand for when guests stop by.

Self-care/spa items:

Uncommon Goods has some great sleep and relaxation items! Or you can put together a grab bag of face masks, under eye patches, and face creams.

A bath kit with bath salts and other body balms.

Entertainment:

Streaming Service Subscriptions:  Hulu, Apple TV

Practical Help:

Meal Delivery Services: These are meal kits that give the family a head start in making a meal. Blue Apron, Hello Fresh.

Grocery Delivery Services:  Instacart, Amazon Fresh

Meal Delivery:  GoldBelly is great for meals that can be eaten later. Door Dash for meals to be eaten upon delivery.

Home Essentials:

Aromatherapy diffusers and essential oils

Scented Candles

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Joanne & Chrissie

Chrissie and Joanne love discovering, curating and creating. They developed FabList as a place to share their favorite finds with you.

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Joanne & Chrissie

Chrissie and Joanne love discovering, curating and creating. They developed FabList as a place to share their favorite finds with you.

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