When your friend is fighting cancer, or any particular illness, one of the most helpful things you can do is deliver a meal or two. It doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, a simply presented, but delicious meal might be just what the family of a sick loved one needs. If you are feeling intimated by the process or just aren’t sure where to start, here are some simple ideas for delivering meals to friends in need.
At some point, we have all had at least one friend or family member who has endured some kind of surgery. We all make a promise to go visit. We pick up some flowers and then that awkward moment hits. We walk in the room and we are expected to say something. If you’re feeling that knot in your stomach, even as you read this, allow us to offer some advice as you think about what to say after surgery.
Care packages are one of the best ways to support a loved one in need. When a friend or family member is admitted to or discharged from the hospital, it can be isolating and lonely and creating a care package for your loved one can bring much needed comfort. From hospital, pre and post-surgery, get well, and friend care package ideas, we’ve put together the following guide on how to make a care package that’s sure to put a smile on anyone’s face.
What is a Care Package?
The formal concept of a care package dates back to 1945 when the Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe (CARE) created a program to provide food relief to Europe, where millions were in danger of starvation as a result of WWII. As time went on, the concept evolved and today is used in many different contexts. While much of our experience deals with hospital and home care packages, other popular types include care packages for military personnel and even college students.
What to Put in a Care Package
What to send in a care package really comes down to the person the care package is for. Here’s a few of our top recommended questions to ask yourself when setting out to create something memorable:
As a friend or family member, you have a great idea of who the person is, so you’re in a wonderful spot when it comes to delivering something that really brightens their day. Just sit down for a few minutes and brainstorm your thoughts. Feel free to use the above questions to get started.
9 Specific Care Package Ideas to Make Anyone Feel Better
How to Make a Care Package
If you’re sending your care package as opposed to delivering it in person, one fun idea is to decorate the inside of the actual large flat rate box you might use to send its contents. Decorating the inside of the cardboard with photos, well wishes and the recipient’s favorite colors and patterns is a way to create something that’s more than just a handful of purchased items – being crafty will make for a sentimental and happy experience when opening and beyond.
If you’re not one for arts and crafts, there are plenty of websites and delivery services available that will do all of the work for you. A few of the top online one-stop shops for gift basket include:
If you love Do-It-Yourself projects, there are plenty of places to go for inspiration like Pinterest, Real Simple magazine, Michael’s, Hobby Lobby or even your local arts and crafts stores. The benefit of creating the package yourself is the level of thoughtfulness that goes into the effort, which certainly won’t go unnoticed.
Hospital Care Package Considerations
If the person you happen to be creating a care package for is in the middle of a hospital stay, make sure you look into and follow the hospital’s rules. Depending on where a patient is staying, there may be specific regulations about when you can visit and what you can deliver. Also be mindful of special diets that your friend or family member must adhere to. This way you can be sure the hospital care package that you deliver can be enjoyed to the fullest!
A Final Care Package Thought
While there’s thousands of wonderful ideas and resources available to help put you on a path to creating the best care package possible, the best care packages are the ones that come from the heart. Forget how many things are inside, the price and the degree of fanciness, a care package of any shape or size communicate a clear message of support. By sending a care package, you’re letting your loved one know that you’re here to help and you care. And when a friend or family member knows this, everything else, including the contents of the package, become less important because friendship, love and support are the best gifts of all.
Can you hear the ring of school bells in the distance? Can you feel just a nip of cooler weather as the sun sets?
With just a few more weeks left of summer, the warm season is winding down and busy fall schedules are just around the corner. Here at Lotsa Helping Hands, we dread packing away our suitcases and swimsuits, but we are always happy to welcome everyone back from vacations and settle into more regular routines. For those of you supporting caregivers, this can be a time of respite, relaxation, and getting ready for the bustle of fall. But if you are providing full-time care for a loved one, the intensity of your responsibilities may not change much from season to season.
What’s your favorite kind of sandwich? Roast beef and cheddar? Peanut butter and jelly? Hummus and veggie? Sandwiches, much like us, are diverse and varied, sometimes simple, sometimes complicated. But they always have one thing in common: the middle component holds it all together. If you are caring for kids and parents at the same time – you are the middle component holding it all together.
As a caregiver, the phrase you probably hear most from friends and family is “What can I do to help?” As you juggle the responsibilities of caring for a loved one through an illness or crisis, as well as the every day, ongoing daily tasks, ranging from family to career, those offers of help can be both a welcome relief and additional burden. Here at Lotsa Helping Hands, hundreds of thousands of caregivers have accepted community help during times of need. We recognize that you may find all those offers of help overwhelming, so here are a few ideas to empower you the next time you hear that question.
By: Austin Kiliham
This holiday season, families across the county will come together to celebrate. Going home for the holidays can give adult children a window into how their aging parents are faring and a chance to pick up on any worrisome clues.
This year, while you’re celebrating, take time to do some sleuthing and look for these five signs that perhaps things aren’t going as well for Mom and Dad as they should be.
Employee, family member, caregiver, friend, citizen. We all carry multiple roles in society, and each comes with pressures to deliver the highest quality service. Sometimes those responsibilities require more than a 24-hour day will allow, which has implications for not only individuals and families, but also businesses of all shapes and sizes.
By: Comfort Keepers®
This month is National Family Caregivers Month and serves as a time to acknowledge the commitment and dedication of family caregivers far and near. Unfortunately, as the senior population is projected to increase in the following years, the number of eligible family caregivers is declining. According to AARP, the ratio of caregivers to individuals over the age of 80 will decline from 7:1 in 2010, 4:1 by 2030 and 3:1 by 2050.
By: Alexandra Axel, The Caregiver Space
Do you want to give a caregiver in your life a break? Here’s what NOT to do.
When a loved one develops a health problem, typically one family member serves as the primary caregiver, depending on geographic distance from, or relationship to, the patient. In an ideal world, the rest of the family steps in to give the primary caregiver some respite. But sometimes, relatives hoping to help can end up doing more harm then good.