Poor friend stuck in hospital - ideas please!

[TurtleyAwesome]

My dear friend has to stay in hospital for three months. She’s not close enough to visit (5 hour drive, I might be able to go once) so I’m trying to think of things to send her to keep her spirits up and help her combat boredom. Any suggestions?

Lots of little/regular packages? Nice snacks if she can eat normally, magazines, ear plugs, good hand cream, a Netflix subscription if she has a tablet.

Yarn if she knits or crochet and is well enough.

A phone call at a convenient time. You can't beat a caring voice.

Maybe an e-reader/Kindle type thing? They aren’t too pricey these days, and you can pre-load with books if needed.

Mints, juice, tissues, good book to read or amazon voucher for e-reader books

I think your time will mean more like regular FaceTime or phone calls - if she’s allowed to. There’s nothing like seeing/hearing a friend.

I used to play scrabble with my Nan over the app - we’d set a time and do it. She said time went so slow in there so things or a time to look forward to are lovely I think.

Lovely suggestions. Keep them coming, I’m making a list!
She’s on a super strict diet so I’ve been told to forget sending any food or drink. Poor thing!
Any suggestions on apps for games we can find each other and play together?

This possibly sounds childish but I spent weeks in hospital and played the sims a lot on my iPad. I haven’t played it since but it really helped the time go by.

My sister spent a year in hospital. One of her friend's mum wrote to her, without fail, every week. The letters weren't long, and just included some of the village gossip (nice stuff only), what my dsis's friend was up to...

They gave my sister a link to the outside world - which mattered to her (she felt she lost the whole of 2000 to the hospital).

That letter idea is SO NICE. I can't get over it. Do that.

Also nice smellies - clicheed but I've spent a lot of time in hospitals and you do feel just so DIRTY! To that end, I'd love a friend forever if they brought me in some Dettol wipes to keep by my bed.

Nice headphones for listening to eg podcasts? My concentration was shot when I was in so books didn't really work, but listening to stuff is easier.

That’s why I suggested the audio books

Letters sounds lovely! Magazine subscription also a fab idea! I’m in hospital quite often and my earphones are a godsend to have the ability to block out for a short time the rest of the noise chaos around me

New PJs
Word search books

A weekly magazine so she always has something fresh to look at

Does she have decent headphones so she can watch/listen to media?

Audio books - great especially if she's not able to sit up to read.

Crocs so she doesn't have to walk to the toilet in socks/ slippers
A dressing gown
Colouring
A diary
Make her a photo album with photos in
Plan a trip for when she is out?
Can she have someone come in to do a manicure or pedicure like a mobile beautician?

Cross post with the same ideas! Sorry.

Love the letters idea. It's so rare and special these days to get a long letter.

Could you get other people to chip in - maybe other mutual friends or family

You could send her a regular sheet face mask and a rose quartz roller. At least she can feel a bit nicer. Maybe a different travel sized moisturiser as well? Perhaps an eye mask, ear plugs and sleep spray?

Mouthwash (they never have it and its so refreshing)
Citrus room spray or perfume based to lift her spirits
Maybe some seedlings and a small pot, she can grow her own plant and water it etc
Photos in frames are always welcome
cards
A decent mosturiser
baby wipes and dettol wipes
A really uplifting book
a teddy
Diary she will come to enjoy reading it when it is all over
Battery operated fairy lights for her bed
comforting socks
a new nightdress

I hope this helps. I have spent long periods in hospitals and letters, cards and packages make the world of difference.

Spotted this game on the App Store the other day. No idea what it's like but it might be good. So long as you can talk to get at the same time as you play the game.

I love the idea of old-fashione dletters. I had a friend who wrote to me when I was away from home for a year and oisolated. Just chatty gossipy letters. She ended up being one of my closest friends because of that. And we've stayed in touch for 35 years!

The other thing my sister liked was 'crap mags'. Take-a-break, etc. She was too ill most of the time to focus on a book (she did manage some Harry Potter, but that was about it), but found she could manage the Jeremy Kyle type stories in these.

She particularly enjoyed the money saving tips. Did you know that if your favourite mug looses its handle, you could use it as a pen holder . £20 paid for that invaluable suggestion.

Words with Friends is a good app - Scrabble-style.

Diamond art- cheap on eBay and v good for mindless distraction...
Adult colouring in books- there is a good swearing one!

Colouring book and colours
Books/kindle voucher
Eye mask as it's always so bright
Ear plugs
Slippers as floors are dirty
Soft blanket as the sheets are hard

Could you set up a newspaper subscription for her? So that she gets something everyday (I loved getting a paper as I felt connected to the outside world & lots for me to do - crosswords, sudoku etc). Is she into the adult colouring books?ahbe one of those and some lovely new pens?

Baby wipes, facial wipes, hand cream, dry shampoo, ear plugs, frequently keeping in touch, even if it's just by text.