5 Father’s Day Gift Ideas for Dads in Long-Term Care Communities

On Father’s Day, we honor the father figures in our lives and recognize them for everything they have done for us. How do you make the day special for your dad (or your favorite father figure) when he is living in a nursing home or assisted living facility? These five Father’s Day gift ideas will get the job done, and nearly all of them are budget friendly.

Gift Idea #1: Read the Newspaper Together

One option is to show up in the morning with Dad’s favorite hot beverage and a print edition of your local newspaper. Open the paper and browse the headlines together. Ask Dad for his opinion about the news stories, and then listen. You may be surprised that his views have changed over time or that he might agree with you!

Gift Idea #2: Reminisce about the Past

Bring photo albums, scrapbooks, or meaningful artifacts to your Father’s Day gathering, then go through them together. If you bring picture books, make sure they include old pictures of you—and of Dad. Talk about the memories sparked by those photos. In addition to getting a good laugh, your dad may share some facts about his past (or yours) that you’ve never heard before.

Gift Idea #3: Enjoy a Meal Together

If your father has a favorite meal at a local restaurant but he can no longer travel there to enjoy it, order that meal to go and bring it to him in his facility. If your dad’s long-term care community has a communal kitchen, you might be able to prepare the meal there. After the meal, if Dad is well enough to leave the facility, take him to a local park or lakefront to get some fresh air. Use that time to talk, to reconnect, and to reminisce while you enjoy the outdoors.

Gift Idea #4: Play Games

Sit down with your father and play some of the card games you both enjoyed during your childhood, such as Go Fish, Rummy, Uno, or Spades. Board games are another fun option with kids’ games like Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, and Battleship setting the stage for lots of laughs. Playing fun games together can stimulate that spirit of friendly competition that you and your father once enjoyed.

Gift Idea #5: Participate in the Father’s Day at the Community

Many long-term care communities host special Father’s Day activities, which often include games, food, sporting events, and maybe an adult beverage or two. Spending the day at your dad’s community and participating in the Father’s Day festivities will give you the opportunity to see how your father spends his time. In the process, you’ll be able to interact with your dad’s friends, neighbors, and facility staff.

Buying Dad a gift is a tradition on Father’s Day, but for many older adults, the most significant gift you can give is your undivided attention. Spending quality time with your father figure on this Father’s Day will mean more than any object ever could.

Do you need help making sure that your elderly father gets the right care at the right place and at the right time—and that you have a way to pay for his care while protecting his assets to the greatest extent possible? If the answer is YES, Kimbrough Law can help. Call us at 706.850.6910 to schedule a consultation.