The top ten thoughtful holiday gifts that can bring comfort and joy to chronic illness patients, enhancing their quality of life during the festive season.
Are you running around trying to figure out the perfect stocking stuffer or holiday gift for the chronic illness patient in your life? You want to show them that you care, that you’re sympathetic to their situation, but you don’t want to inadvertently give them something that will make their situation worse. Don’t worry; I’ve got you covered! Below are 10 easy holiday gifts that can help many chronic illness patients, whether they’re struggling with tick-borne illness or any other debilitating condition that affects their quality of life.
10. Soft blackout eye mask
Many people with chronic illness struggle with sleep disturbances, fatigue, and light sensitivity. This handy stocking stuffer can help with all three! I travel with a blackout eye mask and even keep one in my nightstand for sunny days when it’s difficult to nap. Masks allow patients to get the full darkness they need for nighttime or daytime rest, whether they’re at home, on a plane, or visiting your house for the holidays. Masks can also help patients who need darkness when battling a migraine or who just need to “shut off” for a bit. Be sure to get a nice soft one for comfort with an adjustable strap.
9. Soft ear plugs or noise-cancelling earbuds
Akin to light sensitivity, many chronic illness patients also experience sound sensitivity, whether from fatigue or an overstimulated sensorium. I personally have a hard time with loud music or movies and am sensitive to the slightest noise when I sleep. This makes getting proper rest when I travel difficult, so I always make sure to have ear plugs with me. I use the soft, squishy kind that you roll between your fingers and then expand when you put them in your ears. They work so well that I can even nap while my nephews are running around playing right outside my door! Others recommend Ozlo Sleepbuds. Noise-cancelling earbuds are another way for patients to quiet the world, especially in public—they can wear them in a theater or in a car when they can’t handle the chatter or music. Consider the size of the patient and whether a smaller or larger pair—or earbuds that come in multiple sizes—would be best.
8. Blue-light blocking glasses
Blue-light blocking glasses (such as Ra Optics or similar) have special lenses that filter out some of the high-energy, short-wavelength blue light emitted by screens. You’ve probably seen people wear them in Zoom meetings, or maybe you wear them yourself when working on a device. They’re useful for anyone, but especially for chronic illness patients who have light sensitivity, such as neurological Lyme patients who get sensory overload. These glasses may also help with better sleep.
7. A light magazine subscription
Due to sensory overload, fatigue, and neurological overstimulation, many chronic illness patients have difficulty focusing on an entire book. I’m a writer and a former English major who used to consume books voraciously, but at my lowest points of Lyme and co-infections, I couldn’t concentrate on more than a paragraph at a time. Books were too overwhelming, but I could read short articles in light magazines. A weekly gossip magazine became something fun to look forward to and a way to stay connected to pop culture. I still have my subscription!
6. Children’s coloring book and colored pencils
Coloring is a great relaxation technique that isn’t too mentally taxing. But you may be wondering: why a kid coloring book? They make adult coloring books now. They do, but here’s the secret: they’re too overwhelming for patients who struggle with neurological symptoms. Their images are busy and the lines are small. Flipping through one of those books can feel like watching a high-paced action movie. Children’s coloring books have bigger pictures. Filling in the wide spaces is calming rather than overstimulating. There are plenty of children’s coloring books that have themes adults can relate to, like nature coloring books with beach or mountain scenes. With sensory overload, I find the smell of Crayons to be overwhelming if not a little repulsive. Colored pencils are less offensive, and they are also more sophisticated, so the patient will feel like they’re not actually getting a children’s gift.
5. “Help” coupons
As a friend or family member of a chronic illness patient, you probably want to help them out but may not be sure how. More than flowers (which take energy and effort to care for) or advice (not always solicited), chronic illness patients need tangible acts of service. What’s difficult for your loved one to do, and how you can ease that burden? Make them a handful of coupons that they can “cash in” for tasks like emptying their dishwasher, shoveling their driveway, picking up their prescription, or driving them to an appointment.
4. Personalized journal
When I was bedridden, a friend bought a notebook and covered the front and back with collage images of things I love—photos cut out from magazines of my favorite activities, and words cut out to form inspirational phrases. The cover made me smile, and inside I had a blank slate to write or draw whatever I wanted. Years later, I still have that journal as a memento—not for what I wrote inside, but for what my friend thoughtfully created on the outside.
3. Cozy blanket or other comfort tools
Who doesn’t love snuggling under a cozy blanket? Chronic illness patients spend a lot of time in bed or on the couch, and they deserve to feel comfortable when doing so! You might also consider cozy non-slip socks. Some patients find certain at-home wellness tools like infrared sauna blankets or red-light devices to be helpful for relaxation or recovery routines (for these, you might want to check with the patient first to see if it’s something they’d like to try or if their doctor approves).
2. Favorite or helpful foods or supplements
Specialized foods and nutritional supplements are expensive and not covered by insurance. If you know your loved one has a favorite snack, uses a certain type of electrolyte tablet for hydration, or uses a specific supplement approved by their doctor, these can make great gifts. Avoid buying something they don’t already use (patients always need to check new therapies with their doctors before use).
1. Time
In my opinion, the number one gift you can give a chronic illness patient can’t be wrapped, but you can make coupons or verbal promises to give it throughout the year. Chronic illness patients spend inordinate amounts of time alone. They need companionship. They may not be up for going out, but they would love for you to come over and just sit with them, even for ten minutes. They would love for you to call them weekly to check in. Don’t tell them what to do or ask them when they’re going to get better. Just listen, validate, and let them know you’re there for them unconditionally—priceless gifts.
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