If you've taken elderly neighbours under your wing during lockdown ...

[midnightmoon8]

... what would you like to receive as a 'thank you' from their children once all this is over?

My folks don't live too far from me and I've been delivering their food shopping etc this past year, but a lovely neighbour of theirs has been looking out for them and delivering little treats to their door, dropping meals off when they are under the weather, phoning them for chats, etc - which has made me feel enormously relieved and grateful. My folks are really grateful to her and I've thanked her when I've seen her but would love to get her something to let her know how appreciated she is. What would you like to receive? Neighbour is 50.

[quote Bloodybridget]**@ineedaholidaynow* and @sugarcherry* I know OP is motivated by gratitude. I'm giving my perspective as an older person. If you had adult DCs who were given help by neighbours, would you think of giving a present to the neighbours? I don't think so, I think you'd leave it to your DCs to express their thanks any way they chose.[/quote]
Of course I would thank a neighbour or friend who had helped adult children in need of support......and I have done. I'm not sure why ignoring their actions is ok?

@Bloodybridget

Just to say I agree with you. Unless there are particular circumstances, IMO thanks should come directly from the recipient.

It's lovely to hear about so many caring neighbours ready to help out :)

@Bloodybridget isn’t the acknowledgment that you’ve saved the adult children a lot of time and worry about their parents if they’re not local? I know years ago my DM could only get away for a weekend to us if my grans neighbour helped out for that weekend so it was definitely my DM that was grateful and passing a gift rather than my gran..

Anyway that aside I have been helping a neighbour shopping etc but she bakes so it works both ways but on that basis I think a nice treat delivered - lots of local bakers doing cupcake boxes on Facebook or similar or some wine?

The thing is by helping her parents the neighbour is also helping OP. my DF was the kind of man who would do anything for anyone, the transition to being more in need of a helping hand than being a helping hand has not been easy and I thank my lucky stars for his lovely neighbours who moved in just over a year ago. It probably helps that she has a career dealing with the elderly but they've just clicked. She manages to get him thinking lots of 2 minute jobs, (eg putting salt on icy path, putting his wreath on his door at Xmas, picking up his newspaper when she's at the shop anyway etc) is almost a favour to her. But the biggest difference for him is just having someone else to talk to that's not me.

My neighbours family sent an afternoon tea through the post with a lovely heartfelt card.