Gift ideas for those with chronically illness or disability?

November 13, 2022 6:21 AM

What's something that's made your life or the life of your loved one better, as someone with chronic illness/disability?

I'd love some suggestions for things that make day to day life easier, or more pleasant, for folks with low spoons.

I'm interested in gathering lots of different ideas, so I'm not including specifics about the features of the recipient's illness.

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posted by rebent to Shopping (30 answers total)

Two things that have been received well by a family member, at very different price points:

A very long (10 ft) phone charging cord, so it’s easy to use without having to get up and walk to a plug in.

A recliner chair with an electric lift thing to make it easier to customize your sitting/laying position and help get out of the chair.
posted by pril at 6:26 AM on November 13, 2022

I just raved a few days ago about my life changing outdoor blanket skirt. Technically I am chronically ill. Not having to jimmy myself in and out of different pants just to be comfortable for a short trip outside in the cold is HUGE.
posted by phunniemee at 6:34 AM on November 13, 2022

Money - whether cash, or certificates for things like cleaning, massages, meals, taxis, etc.
posted by trig at 6:52 AM on November 13, 2022

I cannot tell you how much I loved and still love durable, well made slip-on slippers that you can wear indoors or out. Pile lined with a hard sole like this or its variations, and I'd wear them EVERYWHERE, to treatment, to errands, out for the day.

Loungewear. I know it sounds awfully sexy, and try not to blush because I'm wearing one right now, but a full length, full-zipper (very important), oversized, long-sleeved fleecy sack of a robe (this one is LL Bean but there are others) is honestly one of my truest joys because I am ALWAYS FREEZING. I have two of them now and I'm eyeing a third for Christmas.

Also great: streaming services, iPads for watching the streaming services at the hospital or during treatment, good headphones.
posted by mochapickle at 7:05 AM on November 13, 2022

Gift certificates for daily chores: house cleaning, laundry services, dinner, closet re-organizing. It's all the little daily things that sometimes feel so difficult to do. So having, say, a month where all my laundry is outsourced, or someone comes to my house to deep clean my car, things like that are amazing.
posted by johnxlibris at 7:11 AM on November 13, 2022

Gift things for making a house more ergonomic: A kitchen pegboard. A magnetic knife strip. A robot hoover or stand mixer or instant pot. One of those things with pockets that goes on a hook by your front door to store hats and gloves. Home automation gadgetry like remote controlled lights (also a relatively cheap way to make your lights dimmable without rewiring).

Gifts for people with sensory differences: A lovely textured blanket. Oversized cushions with interesting/cosy textures. A weighted blanket. A weighted plush toy that can be taken on sleepovers. Lamps to put around the house instead of harsh overhead light. Merino clothes (e.g. Icebreaker). Flannel PJs. Fidget toys. A seat that is like a hug (hammock like, or search "sensory swing chair").
posted by quacks like a duck at 7:14 AM on November 13, 2022

As someone who is chronically ill, one of the things that has really helped me is a table that goes over my bed, so I can type or watch TV sitting up in bed.

I really like this one.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 7:32 AM on November 13, 2022

A shower chair with a padded (waterproof) seat and backrest. These are commercially available from shops that specialise in stuff for elderly/Disabled people.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 7:33 AM on November 13, 2022

Some more gift ideas for chronically ill people here.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 7:37 AM on November 13, 2022

This would be fairly specific but we got a MedCline pillow system for my wife to manage her shoulder/neck/unilateral pain issues and also her reflux, and it was entirely worth the money.
posted by restless_nomad at 8:31 AM on November 13, 2022

The best gift I’ve gotten recently is a really high-quality grabber. The cheap ones break so easily.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:55 AM on November 13, 2022

A hot water bottle or grain-filled bag that can be microwaved and/or electric heating pad. Great for achy joints and staying warmer in bed.
Electric mattress pad.
Wool or fleece throw. I got a soft wool throw and it's so nice for staying cozy on the couch or the bed on nights that are kind of chilly. I also have a couple of wool p(tr)ashminas that I wear as mufflers or shawls.
A wedge pillow for reading and working in bed, and a bed table would be a nice addition.
Good frozen meals that are easy to microwave, including soups.
A house cleaner.
posted by theora55 at 9:08 AM on November 13, 2022

Over door hooks. Magnetic holder (there are ones specific for fridges, but I think the cheaper pen holders used for school lockers work great too). Basically things that help corral items AND keep them in view.
posted by spamandkimchi at 9:17 AM on November 13, 2022

I have a hot water bottle that, instead of being kind of a rectangle, is a long tube. It's GREAT. Super helpful for soothing my crampy stomach or sore shoulders.

On the high price end, my mother in law bought me a Dyson shark and I can now actually hoover! It's lightweight enough that I can just....hoover like two rooms without it being tiring? It's fantastic.
posted by In Your Shell Like at 9:53 AM on November 13, 2022

A heating pad with a long cord and a robot vacuum are two things that spring immediately to mind.
posted by rhymedirective at 10:09 AM on November 13, 2022

A USB desktop foam missile launcher to shoot at your enemies with.
posted by Soliloquy at 11:10 AM on November 13, 2022

I don't have it yet, but as someone with a chronic disability, the top thing on my Christmas wish list is a robot vacuum and/or robot mop. (Although a close second will be phunniemee's blanket skirt linked above, especially since I recently brought home a puppy. I think that will make taking the pup out for quick bathroom breaks so much more tolerable this winter.)

If I regularly had to use a can opener, an electric can opener would be another one.

Also, 2nding shower chair. This one is a bit pricy, but I really like it.
posted by litera scripta manet at 11:25 AM on November 13, 2022

Things that have made my life easier as a disabled person (not linking as I bought them all from French Amazon which is a bit niche!):
Electric blanket that I drape over an armchair and use to ease chronic pain
Heat pad for targeted back pain relief
Shower stool
Folding bar stool for the kitchen and bathroom
Air fryer
Thing to help open jars
posted by ellieBOA at 12:28 PM on November 13, 2022

My partner's pain is worse when they're cold, and they absolutely adore this heated hoodie.

(If you're the sort of person who has a preferred brand of cordless power tool, some of those companies make heated hoodies that run on their batteries, which seems totally brilliant, but none of us is that sort of person, so they just have the generic one I linked to.)
posted by nebulawindphone at 1:10 PM on November 13, 2022

Some sort of smart dingus to turn up/down/on/off lights by voice command or via app has been a huge deal for me, saving me a trip across the room or into the other room for the switch, for example.

You may have to suss out whether the person is inclined to use it, and which flavour they'd want (Apple, Amazon, Google), but it really has been nice.
posted by fruitslinger at 1:53 PM on November 13, 2022

Something I hadn't realized was making my life super easy until mine broke was a really nice electric toothbrush. This is something you'll want to ask your recipient about because their providers may have strong recommendations (my dentist wanted me to get one of the Philips toothbrushes with gum care for medical reasons) but it makes brushing your teeth a lot easier, which is nice if you have any number of physical limitations.
posted by gentlyepigrams at 2:04 PM on November 13, 2022

The gift of reading!

In the US, anyone who can't read standard print due to disability -- vision issues, reading impairment, can't hold books or turn pages -- is eligible for the National Library Services offered by the Library of Congress. NLS offers books in audio and braille (in both physical and electronic formats), at no charge (our tax dollars at work).

Bookshare offers world-wide net access to etexts.. Adult membership costs US$50 annually.
posted by Jesse the K at 5:00 PM on November 13, 2022

Several grabbers of various length that can be kept where most useful. A grabber with a long reach is great by the bed when things fall off the nightstand or pulling up sheets and blankets when making up the bed. Having one by your TV watching chair is handy for dropped remotes and by the computer chair when you mouse falls off the desk. A short grabber is useful when using a wheelchair because you're too low to reach a lot of stuff and yes, when you inevitably drop things.
posted by a humble nudibranch at 12:04 AM on November 14, 2022

Time with a virtual assistant.

I hired one for a chunk of 2020-2021 after dealing with multiple COVID-lockdown-related meltdowns and no spoons to deal with stuff such as washing machine repair or moving. She was pretty affordable *mine was like AU$40/hour?) and was a GODSEND.

Their skillsets cover a lot of things, not just anything particularly office-y. You can interview a few and ask if they're willing to work with your particular situation.
posted by creatrixtiara at 3:09 AM on November 14, 2022

A little tabletop mini fridge for the bedroom has been lovely for when I'm too ill to go downstairs for drinks and snacks.
posted by champers at 3:33 AM on November 14, 2022

This is very specific, but if you know someone with arthritis in their hands or feet, a paraffin wax bath system can be great, especially if they have a tendency to keep the temperature low in their house (which isn't great for my family member's arthritis, but that's an argument I've had to give up on). The wax is reusable as long as they keep it clean (liners can easily be purchased if washing their hands or feet thoroughly is difficult), and it can really help arthritic pain.
posted by Hactar at 5:02 AM on November 14, 2022

If they live in a place where it's cold in the winter, then a heated mattress pad is amazing. I love getting into bed and not being freezing cold. It makes it so much easier to sleep. I think mine is Beautyrest brand.
posted by hydra77 at 8:38 AM on November 14, 2022

compiling a list of potential gifts for others and yourself is a good idea, but for me personally the very best gift in this specific particular area would be you making sure that i was okay with receiving a gift very generally based upon me having a disability. i, me the personal individual disabled person in question, would find it incredibly off-putting if someone was like "oh you have adhd? here is a stim toy and a bullet journal." why this.

anyway i like compression socks in cute colors for my icy blue reynauds toes, and lidocaine patches for my agonies. if someone gave me a box of 100 lidocaine patches as a holiday gift i would kiss them on the mouth.
posted by poffin boffin at 2:27 PM on November 14, 2022

I'm not (yet) disabled, but middle-aged and out-of-shape enough that some cleaning tasks are harder than they used to be, like scrubbing the far side of a giant soaking tub when bath hardware is in the way. A powered scrubber, specifically the kind with an extension arm, make cleaning tubs and showers MUCH easier. Would be useful for those who have mild back troubles, or just not enough "oomph" in their elbow grease. (My GenZ kids like it too.)

The specific one I bought a few years ago is no longer available on Amazon, but a search for "electric spin scrubber" gives many options.
posted by cinnamonduff at 8:29 PM on November 14, 2022

A wall-hugger adjustable bed frame ($$$), a rolling three-tier cart ($), an Embr Wave that can heat or cool the wearer ($$), maybe a bedside mini fridge or coffee/tea station ($-$$).
posted by equipoise at 12:18 PM on November 16, 2022