Christmas is just a few days away now, and care home residents all over the country and their families will be looking forward to joyful reunions and time spent together. While many people will have chosen their gifts by now, there may be some who have not had time yet – or who are in need of some inspiration to find the perfect present.

Here are some ideas that are quick to make and/or easy to track down and could be a popular choice with care home residents of all ages.

Memories at Christmas

Someone living in a residential care home or care setting may think often about their friends and family. Help keep them close to their heart by putting together a photo album, filled with loved ones, memories and mementoes of a life well lived. You could put photos into a frame as an alternative, or make a scrap book that can be flicked through and enjoyed again and again throughout the year.

Lotions and potions

We all enjoy discovering new luxurious ways to pamper ourselves and what better way than a gift basket filled with soaps, lotions, bubble bath and more? There is a huge choice of bath products available in supermarkets, chemists, salons etc, or you can shop to your heart’s content online – do check final delivery dates. Find a pretty basket – charity shops normally stock a good selection and fill it with lovely products for your loved one to enjoy.

Stationery supplies

It might seem like a less than glamourous gift, but care home residents often enjoy keeping in touch with friends and family members by letter or card. Refilling their stocks of notelets, writing paper, birthday cards, envelopes and stamps could be a real act of kindness to help them communicate with the outside world during 2025. It could also mean that you start to receive more letters and cards from them in return! Many people’s relationships have strengthened over time by the simple act of writing letters and cards regularly to one another.

House plants

The shops are still full of Christmas plants, mini trees, wreaths and bulbs, which would look lovely in someone’s bedroom. Caring for a living plant can become a new pastime for a care home resident, as well as welcome colour and interest. The gift could spark further interest in exploring the garden and grounds of the care home, or building up a small collection of pot plants or herbs indoors. If your loved one is not a keen gardener, they can still gain huge pleasure from a bunch of cut flowers instead, either bought or from your own garden.

Puzzles and games

Often, care home residents who are keen to keep the little grey cells in good working order turn to puzzles to help. A simple, yet welcome Christmas gift could be a set of books containing crosswords, puzzles, sudoku and wordsearches. You could present these with a set of pens or pencils to fill in the answers, or a dictionary to help them look up new words and check spellings. Doing a puzzle with another resident is also a great way to pass time and get to know people better, so this gift could also help to encourage friendships in the home.

Wraps, blankets and shawls

December is often one of the coldest months of the year, alongside January and February. Choosing a cosy blanket or throw to keep your friend or family member warm in cold weather is a truly festive act of kindness. Again, you can find blankets, shawls and throws in many different types of shops, even at short notice. They are also great for adding an extra layer to bedclothes on a cold night or for covering knees to keep out the winter chill.

Home-baked goodies

Show your care home resident you care by baking them a plate of their favourite sweet treats – biscuits, cakes, fudge and sweets all go down well. The recipient can enjoy them by themselves or share them with other visitors. Make sure you take account of any dietary requirements, flavour preferences, eating restrictions etc. You could put the baked goods into a pretty tin or basket that the person could use to store paperwork, jewellery, other biscuits etc. afterwards.