My next door neighbors are an elderly couple and the wife is on hospice due to cancer. The husband is relativley healthy and still works. I have never spoken to them, just waved from a distance. My husband ran into the gentleman while outside one day. He said he is having a hard time with everything. I would like to give them something to express our sympathy and offer a helping hand. Any suggestions?
2007-07-25 10:19:48 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
make a bunch of nice home-cooked dinners that he can put in his freezer.
maybe offer to run errands for him, or to visit his wife on a regular basis?
the best gifts are those that come from the heart.
2007-07-25 10:24:36 · answer #1 · answered by chieko 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
they dont need a gift from u. i know u feel bad for their situation, which is understandable, but what good is a gift going to do for the lady if shes just going to kick the bucket any day now? what i would do, is offer to help them out, cook for them, go over and keep her company when u have free time. offer to learn how to give her her meds and stuff like that. bathe her. just be a friend. that would be better than any materialistic think you could give her. if you INSIST on a gift of some kind, bring her fresh flowers every week, im sure she would love fresh flowers in her room, so pretty to look at, and smell good. might cheer her up some! also, if you have any great comedy movies, bring them over to her room (if she has a tv and DVD player in her room) and watch funny stuff with her. laughter is the best medicine. ask her if theres anything she ever wanted to learn in her life, and see what u can do to help her learn, so she feels more fulfilled as she passes. if u attend a church, sign the other parishoners up for volunteering at her house, so she has people there with her, 'round the clock keeping her comfortable, and entertained. ask her if there are any "loose ends" u could tie up for her!
good luck, i hope these suggestions help!
2007-07-29 10:09:47 · answer #2 · answered by waterlily750 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can do any or all of the following:
Cook and bring the husband a meal.
Invite him over for tea, coffee or homemade lemonade or iced tea.
After the garbage is picked up bring his garbage can in on garbage day.
Leave a package on his doorstep with some home-made goodies and a card with your phone number.
Visit his wife in the hospital with some flowers.
Call your church or a church nearby and ask that the husband and his wife are put on the pray chain.
When you are out gardening, weeding or mowing--do his lawn too.
Give him a gift certificate to a nice restaraunt with some flowers.
Tell him you are sorry for what he is going through and that you would really like to help him with any of his needs. Ask him if there is anything you can do for him.
Pray for him and with him if you're a Christian.
2007-07-25 10:38:50 · answer #3 · answered by Jordan A 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Make him a nice dinner and have your husband bring it over so he doesn't feel the need to socialize in his home.
Send a note with the dinner letting him know you are free to help with errands etc., Include your phone number so he doesn't have to ask for it.
The only gift I would suggest for someone in Hospice is a visit, if she has hospice care at home; then maybe bring a green plant(no flowers) to brighten her room up a little.
It' wonderful you understand they need someone right now and you want to help.
May God Bless You all =)
2007-07-25 10:38:10 · answer #4 · answered by Helpfulhannah 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Invite him over for supper. He must be so lonely, and there is nothing more depressing than eating alone. I'll bet he would love to sit down to a meal with someone to talk to.
You could drop him over a meal every once in a while, or leave some cookies for a treat and a flower for the table. I'll bet it would make him so happy to know that somebody cares.
2007-07-25 10:39:27 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Cook them several nice meals and prepare them/package them for freezing. Chances are this man doesn't have much time to cook (especially since he's old and a guy, lol), so I'm sure they'd greatly appreciate a few nice homemade dinners. I wouldn't get them anything physical (nicknacks, picture frames, etc.) because what are they going to do with it? The wife can't take it with her when she dies, you know?
2007-07-25 15:30:15 · answer #6 · answered by brevejunkie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What would be so cool would offer to help with housecleaning, maybe make some casseroles to take over and maybe put in the freezer, grocery shopping...etc. Maybe lawn work. If they have a dog...maybe ask to give the dog a bath or walk the dog.
2007-07-25 10:33:09 · answer #7 · answered by Yvonne 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Find out if you can help him with some of the things he is having difficulty with.
I'll bet he has not been able to do much shopping for food for himself or even make himself a decent meal.
Maybe offer to run some errands for him.
2007-07-25 10:26:04 · answer #8 · answered by nycguy10002 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No i don't think of that's an especially stable thought. the two in basic terms ship the cardboard, or in case you will discover out what the guy died off you're able to additionally make a small donation to that charity and at a footnote in the cardboard saying you have carried out that
2016-10-09 09:14:41 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Something simple that they can enjoy. Flowers, you coming over to read them a favorite book, you making them dinner, a prayer request at your church if you go. Something they can use now. Maybe slippers for her? Atleast invite him over for dinner some evening. He's got to be emotionally exhausted and a little company would do him good.
2007-07-25 10:32:04 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋