Good treats for health aides?

June 1, 2017 9:41 AM

What are good treats to leave in a nursing care room for the staff that help?

A friend recently recommended that we get some chocolates or other treats to put in the room at the rehab nursing facility where my dad is in care. I like this idea, because I would like to give them a little thank you for doing tough (underpaid) work. I would also love if they checked on him a little more often, because I know he's waited as much as 45 minutes after pushing the call button just to get from his wheelchair into the bed when beyond exhausted.

Mom is allergic to chocolate and goes every day, so that isn't the best choice (although individually wrapped might be ok if folks could/would take them elsewhere, maybe?). I'm a little worried that dad, when groggy, might go exploring and get into trouble trying to eat hard candies like toffees (his favorite). Any other good ideas for treats that could be available in his room and attractive to staff?

posted by ldthomps to Human Relations (12 answers total)

Best answer: I think generally the staff would appreciate any gifts intended for them to be given directly to them or for them to share in an employee only setting. They don't want to be taking things from patient's rooms even if they do have permission. I think snacks are a good idea, especially individually packaged ones.
posted by cyphill at 9:49 AM on June 1, 2017 [7 favorites]

Best answer: I wouldn't leave the food in his room like you're setting a rabbit trap for the aides. Like you said it's a hazard for your dad and it may even be against the policy of the facility for staff to eat in a patient's room. They would definitely be appreciated in the employee break room and you can attach a note in large handwriting thanking them for their care and "signed" your dad and his room number.

Individually wrapped candies are generally appreciated in the hospital. Starbursts, Dove chocolates, Hershey's minis, etc.
posted by telegraph at 9:52 AM on June 1, 2017 [4 favorites]

You know what the staff at my grandparents' Medicaid-funded nursing home appreciated? Cash tips.
posted by radicalawyer at 10:10 AM on June 1, 2017 [2 favorites]

An occasional fruit basket (nothing fancy- cheap bowl and assorted fruits from the market), a platter of sandwiches from the local deli, coffee and bagels from Dunkin', a platter of cookies from Costco. If you are a regular visitor and you leave these these types of things with a 'with appreciation from XXX's family'on a bi-weekly basis, I guarantee that the staff there will notice. Some of these ideas will cost you $10 and some closer to $50. These are all things that our biz brings to ORs on a regular basis to show appreciation. Be mindful that many places have policies against cash tips. I don't think a bowl of chocolates/candies will have the effect that you are looking for.
posted by PorcineWithMe at 10:55 AM on June 1, 2017 [1 favorite]

Best answer: The staff can't legally accept cash tips.

When I worked in a nursing home, the day someone brought us still-warm, homemade apple crisp and a bucket of vanilla ice cream was like Christmas! We talked about it for days. Bring them something that can go in the break room, not your dad's room, and definitely make it clear whose family brought it in because people remember that sort of thing.
posted by adiabat at 10:55 AM on June 1, 2017 [5 favorites]

Also wanted to add that these items should be placed in the staff breakroom, not your dad's room.
posted by PorcineWithMe at 10:56 AM on June 1, 2017 [1 favorite]

Best answer: (I guess maybe the legality of cash tips varies by state, but it's illegal to accept tips in a nursing facility in my state. I had several families try to tip me, especially at Christmas, and it put me in an awkward position because I had to turn it down. I know that many of my coworkers pocketed tips without a word and I don't fault them for it because god knows it's the hardest job I've ever had for the least amount of pay, but it is definitely going to make the more conscientious workers very uncomfortable if you even offer. Plus I took my work seriously and felt sort of offended at the idea of a cash tip, as though I was providing an optional service and not high-quality healthcare for their family member. Apple crisp was much appreciated, though.)
posted by adiabat at 11:09 AM on June 1, 2017 [1 favorite]

$5 gift card for a local coffee place.
posted by fairmettle at 11:26 AM on June 1, 2017

Best answer: I worked in long term care for a long time . The best gifts we ever got:
- the box of jo from dunkin donuts
- a really yummy fruit basket
Definitely include a card identifying who its from and thanking them. Bring it to the nurses station.

The staff is definitely not allowed to eat anything from a resident's room, or even in resident areas. I'm 99% sure of that. HOWEVER, they are probably allowed to wash their hands in resident rooms. I remember one lady who's family kept Philosophy Pure Grace hand soap in her bathroom. Genius. It won't cut the staff's call bell response time in half or anything but it will certainly put a spring in their step.
posted by pintapicasso at 1:28 PM on June 1, 2017 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Definitely bring something for the staff room. pintapicasso's suggestion of a box of coffee is a great one - hospital/facility coffee is usually absolutely horrible. Gifts to specific employees are usually price-limited or simply not allowed, but something that can be shared will be devoured and appreciated.

The reason behind taking it to the nurses' station or the break room (depending on the facility) is that random food lying around may be eaten by someone who is not supposed to have that food. I worked on a geriatric unit for a while, and we spent a lot of time removing food from people who weren't supposed to have it.
posted by catlet at 4:39 PM on June 1, 2017 [2 favorites]

Packs of movie coupons. If you're a aaa member most branches sell them for the local chains. Amc, Regal and Harkins can usually be redeemed on the 1st day of the movie's run.
posted by brujita at 5:42 PM on June 1, 2017 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: And update: we took things to the nurse's station over a few days to spread the treats out to staff. Most popular were Trader Joe's individual little packs of nuts and trail mix, with a close runner-up of various Dove chocolates. Individually-wrapped was important. We asked around for favorites, and the nut and trail-mix packets were the winners.
posted by ldthomps at 12:41 PM on June 27, 2017 [1 favorite]