Question About Nursing Home Donations

[CrochetAmore]

My daughter and I want to make small crocheted items to donate to our local nursing home. We would like some ideas as we are at a loss. We cannot possibly make a blanket for everyone by ourselves, but we'd like to make things like bookmarks, etc... just a little something to say someone cares. However, not everyone in a nursing home is able to read. Are there any other functional or practical items that you can suggest? Thanks so much!

[losingmymind2]

My son is in a long term care facility due to a traumatic brain injury, so I've been crocheting for his center and I've noticed that some of the patients don't have any winter items. If you want to make things like scarves, hats, shawls or mittens (easier than gloves to put on); I'm sure the staff can direct your donation to someone who doesn't have much. I like and lapghans in manly colors as well as for the ladies, because often you feel colder when you get up in years.

[kookykatlady]

walker or wheel chair caddies would be a great idea.... crochet pattern central has a really simple one on their site...

[proudmama762003]

slippers or socks with non-slip soles!! especially with winter coming.

[Super Granny]

small pillows that can be placed behind the neck or under arms.... their skin is very fragile and for someone sitting in a chair for long periods of time a pillow is appreciated... it would probably be best to use acrylic yarn... things get washed frequently...

[jheatherley]

Hyperbolic planes are fun to make, and are appreciated by those who, for one reason or another, need something to squeeze.

[RoseRed]

Not everyone needs a blanket. a 3x5 1/2 foot blanket is perfect for the hospital beds and they 'should' give stuff out to those that have no family at all first.

 

Shawls - rather, I should say stoles - the points tend to get caught up in the back of the wheelchairs are wonderful because it's always so cold in nursing homes to begin with.

 

If you really want to make their day - go garage sailing and find cute sweatshirts! Those go like hotcakes. We brought a couple boxes of them in after I went thru my Stepmom's stuff for my Dad and the ladies acted like it was Christmas.

 

They brought in the people that have no family and everything was handed out in less than 5 minutes.

[evelyn]

I made just small lapgahns just big enough to put on there laps they loved them, and pillows I done them for bingo prizes as I was doing them alone and couldnt make a bunch ,I used left over yarn for them they went really fast, some of them just like something soft to hold.

[RecycleCindy]

I have this quick and easy wheelchair/walker pattern available here. I also have one done with recycled plastic bags or plarn here. Both patterns make nice, handy totes for people to use.

[CrochetAmore]

Sorry I'm so late in responding to this! Thank you everyone for all of the great responses. You've given me some great ideas. I also thought maybe some used books & crocheted bookmarks too

[knitncrochet]

These are all great ideas! I may have to make a few for my local nursing care facility. I was also wondering, do you think any of the ladies would like hooks and yarn to crochet themselves?