When there's the chance someone may wake to a darkened room at night and be unable to quickly get to the light switch, a good gift may be a nice flashlight or a small, stand-alone, battery-operated, light of some sort. Nurses turn off hospital room lights at night. Power failures can occur when sick people are at home.

People who can't wear their eyeglasses may appreciate items that will magnify. People who can't get up to turn off their home electronics may appreciate a remote control unit that will control several devices.

A helium balloon or two can brighten a hospital room for children or adults; but, of course, how appropriate balloons are can depend on the type of illness the patient has.

Pictures of what has been going on at home, at school, or in the grandchildren's life can break up a day. Putting duplicate copies in a pretty little book lets the patient keep the pictures, which is even nicer.

A hat box (or other pretty box) filled with cards or notes (or anything else classmates or co-workers think will be nice, funny, or entertaining) can offer quite a few things to look at on a boring evening.

People who are very sick and who are also religious people may appreciate religious items, such as small cards with prayers on them or religious medals.

Sometimes, too, when selecting a gift for someone who is sick and/or the hospital, it is also important to keep in mind that the person is still the same person he's always been. If he's always liked a certain baseball or football team, he probably still likes them. If he's always liked mountains or oceans or trees or lilacs, he probably still likes them. People's favorite colors remain their favorite colors. Keeping these things in mind can help you select a gift that will be just right for "the person your loved one or friend has always been" - and not necessarily just the patient he has become.

Learn more about this author, Lisa H Warren.
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