Get well gift: original ideas that truly comfort
Looking for a get well gift for the hospital, recovering at home or a child? Read original ideas, what to look out for and examples for a card.
- Updated
- 9 min read
Choosing a get well gift is harder than it looks. You want to show you are thinking of someone, but you are not sure what suits a person who feels unwell. Should it be cheerful, practical, or very calm?
In this article you will find original ideas for different situations: the hospital, recovering at home, after an operation, a long-term illness, a child and an older person. You will read what to look out for, and you will find a few examples for a card with a kind message.
In short
- The best get well gift suits the situation and the energy of the person receiving it. Small and simple is often enough.
- Think about scent, allergies and hygiene. Flowers are not allowed on some wards, so check first.
- Something to do, read or hold works well when someone spends a lot of time in bed or on the sofa.
- Your attention often counts for more than the amount you spend. A card, a message or an hour of help costs almost nothing.
- A soft stuffed animal to hold is a warm gift for anyone aged 3 and up.
Your attention often counts for more than the amount you spend.
What should you look out for when choosing a gift for someone who is ill?
A well-meant gift can still land wrong. A few questions beforehand will prevent that.
- Energy: someone who is tired does not want a gift that takes effort. Choose something that works without explanation.
- Scent and allergies: strongly scented flowers, soap or candles can be unpleasant. After an operation or with nausea, many people are extra sensitive to smells.
- Flowers: on some wards and intensive care units, flowers and plants are not allowed. Check with the hospital or the family.
- Hygiene: choose something you can wash or clean. In a hospital you do not want things that are hard to keep clean.
- Space: a hospital room is small. A big basket full of things often will not fit.
- Diet: with food and drink, someone may be on a diet or feel nauseous. Ask first what is fine.
Really not sure? Send a short message asking what they would like. Many people appreciate that question in itself.
Get well gift for the hospital
In hospital the days are long and sometimes dull. Small things make a real difference.
1. A long charging cable or power bank
The socket is often just out of reach. With a long cable someone can call, read or watch films without having to keep looking.
2. Earplugs and a sleep mask
A hospital room is rarely quiet or dark. This helps with resting better and costs little.
3. Something to read or puzzle over
Think of a magazine, a puzzle book, a colouring book for adults or an audiobook. Choose something you can put down halfway.
4. A soft pair of socks or a warm scarf
Hospitals are not always warm, and your own things feel familiar. Choose a cheerful colour.
Get well gift for recovering at home or after an operation
At home someone needs rest, but also distraction. See what is missing at home.
5. A meal or a grocery run
A container of soup or a pan of food that is already cooked is often the nicest gift. Do ask first whether there is anything they cannot or do not want to eat.
6. An hour of help
Promise to come by to hang up the washing, walk the dog or tidy the house. Agree on a fixed time, so it does not stay a loose promise.
7. A cushion or soft toy for extra support
After an operation, a soft cushion or a stuffed animal can be pleasant to hold against your stomach or side. Do ask the doctor or nurse first whether that is fine in their situation.
8. A subscription to look forward to
A streaming service for a month, a puzzle or a bundle of games. Then someone has something to look forward to every day.
Get well gift for someone with a long-term illness
With a long illness, the cards and visits dry up after a while. That is exactly when small, repeated gestures are worth the most.
9. A message every week
A short message, without anyone having to reply, shows you are still there. Add that no reply is needed.
10. A gift for the good days
A voucher for a coffee, a walk or a film night, to use whenever it suits. That way no one has to cancel anything.
11. Something to hold
With a long illness, a soft stuffed animal can be a steady point of comfort. Read more in our article about a comfort stuffed animal.
A get well gift for a child
A sick child gets bored quickly and is sometimes scared. Choose something they can do or hold themselves.
12. A colouring book, stickers or a small building set
This works in bed, takes little energy and is easy to tidy away.
13. A picture book or an audio story
That works even when your child is too tired to do anything. You read, and your child snuggles up against you.
14. A stuffed animal
A stuffed animal of their own gives something to hold on to in an unfamiliar place. A weighted stuffed animal is suitable from age 3, provided your child can lift it and put it aside themselves. You can read more in weighted stuffed animal for your child.
A get well gift for an older person
For older people, contact often counts for more than the gift. Keep it simple and familiar.
15. Photos or a photo album
Print a few family photos with a short note. That gives someone something to look at and talk about.
16. A soft blanket or a warm sweater
Choose a fabric that feels nice on the skin and is easy to wash.
17. Time together
A cup of tea and a chat is often the loveliest gift. Plan it in advance, so they can look forward to it too.
For someone who finds stimulation difficult or is confused, for example with dementia, you can choose calm, familiar things. Talk to the family or carers first.
A Hugsback as a get well gift
A Hugsback is a soft weighted plush toy of 2 kg, about 45 cm tall and filled with fine glass beads spread across the whole body. It feels like a firm hug and you can hold it or rest it on your lap. It comes in a gift tube, so it is ready to give straight away.
Many people like to hold something heavy and soft when they feel weak or restless. It is not a treatment and it does not take symptoms away. It is simply a warm gesture that says: I am thinking of you.
A few points to keep in mind:
- It is suitable from age 3 and for adults.
- Never place it over the face or neck, and always use it voluntarily.
- The recipient must be able to lift it and put it aside themselves. If you are unsure, choose a different gift. Read more in is a weighted stuffed animal safe?
- For a hospital stay: check whether it is allowed and whether the stuffed animal needs to be clean. Read how to clean a weighted stuffed animal.
Looking for more ways to cheer someone on? Then read an encouragement gift. Want to give two, for a family perhaps? With Mix & Match you get 30% off the second stuffed animal.
A card with a kind message
A card is almost always welcome. Keep it short and warm. You do not have to fix anything, just show that you are there.
A card is almost always welcome.
- "Get well soon! I am thinking of you and would love to come by if you feel like it."
- "Rest up. It is good that you are looking after yourself."
- "You do not have to reply. I just want to send you a hug."
- "I will bring soup next week. Just tell me what you like."
- For a child: "Get well soon! When you feel up to it, we will do something fun together."
Avoid phrases like "it will be fine" if you are not sure. Better to be honest and gentle: "I am here for you."
Would you also like to thank the people who take such good care of someone? You'll find ideas for care workers in our inspiration for International Nurses Day.
Frequently asked questions
What do you give someone who is in hospital?
Choose something small and practical: a long charging cable, earplugs, a book or puzzle book, or a pair of soft socks. With flowers, check first whether they are allowed on the ward.
Are flowers allowed in hospital?
That differs per hospital and per ward. On some wards, flowers and plants are not allowed. Check with the hospital or the family before you bring them.
How much do you spend on a get well gift?
That is up to you. A card, a meal or an hour of help costs little and often feels more personal than an expensive gift. It is the attention that counts.
What do you write on a get well card?
Write briefly and honestly that you are thinking of someone. Only offer help if you mean it, and add that they do not have to reply.
When is a gift not a good idea?
If someone is very tired, nauseous or sensitive to smells, choose something calm and unscented. If you are unsure whether something fits a diet or treatment, check with the recipient or the family.
In closing
A get well gift does not have to be big to comfort. A card, a meal or a soft stuffed animal often says enough. Looking for something to hold? Take a look at our weighted stuffed animals of 2 kg: the plush toy that hugs you back.
