My step father recently passed away and I would like to get a gift for the workers in the residential care home he was staying at. He wasn’t always very easy to deal with, and they were wonderful. Any suggestions?
I wish when my MIL passed away in memory care that we had these suggestions that others have posted here! We gave the staff as a whole a note of gratitude, and asked the administrator how we could spend a chunk of cash on the staff. This was money MIL had left and would have wanted to give. The administrator said she'd use it to get something nice for everyone. What she did was purchase a warm fleece jacket for each one, about 20 people, but I saw in a group photo that they have the logo of the facility on them. Not exactly what we would have wanted to do, advertising-wise, but I think she honestly did a good thing and the jackets were appreciated. She also told us (not to our surprise) that gifts and notes from the families are rare. That's sad.
As a healthcare worker myself, here are suggestions that have been appreciated (In rising level of costs...):
1. Bring a case of oranges. This is nice as it is available to all shifts and stays fresh/clean as opposed to a cake or such that looks pretty sad after it starts getting used. 2. Offer to provide a delivered meal to a staff meeting. Can be as simple as bagels or as big as a full meal from a restaurant. 3. Offer to fund, in whole or in part a holiday party for the staff. Fewer work places fund these anymore.
Most facilities will not allow you to give money or gift cards. Consider group gifts. Food is always appreciated but consider doing a meal that is easy to grab a bite on the go: sub sandwiches, pizza, fresh fruit plate, breakfast pastries... and upgrade the side dishes, drinks and condiments.
Along with all of the other good suggestions -- my suggestion is to write a letter to the manager of the facility, as well as, the corporate company if there is one.
If there were several people that were especially kind and helpful - I would include their names in the letter. It (probably) can't hurt for the employee to get praise for a job well done and it might get a copy put in their employee file at the very least. Maybe an increase in wage and/or help with a nomination for employee of the month, etc.
Gift cards or money are the items most appreciated by caregivers and health care aides, but as some on this forum have suggested, you should probably check with the Care Home first. A personal thank you card with a $20 (or other amount) bill in it would be appreciated by most workers.
I don't like the community chest idea at all. What if about half of the families of loved ones choose not to donate? Or say every family put in $50.00, how many staff members would receive a portion of it.
Let's say this is a facility with 50 residents, each family places $50.00 (probably not all) so, $2,500.00 for staff to split. Say this facility is a 1:10 ratio. Three shifts, 15 caregivers, then supervisory nurse for three shifts, kitchen staff, a guess of 5, front desk 2 shifts, maintenance guess 3. Thirty employees a guess, but probably more. I sure would ask.
So $2500.00, if all contribute fifty bucks, roughly $80.00 each. Not bad if everyone contributes and the employee count is a reasonable estimate.
One facility I worked at took the community chest money and purchased 2 or 3 gifts: a tv, an x box, and a Keurig, for example. They would then raffle off those gifts and the majority of workers received nothing. Always seemed suspicious because it was consistently the administrator’s favorites that won the raffles.
It is kind and unselfish of you to express gratitude to others at a time when you are grieving.
I would give those who made the most difference cash (quietly), disguised in a card. They are grieving too and healthcare wages are so despicably low that some are living paycheck to paycheck, despite the fast that the corporations are vastly wealthy.
Gift cards have restrictions and come with added fees. Statistics show that many gift cards are never redeemed.
I’m very sorry for your loss. I think having food delivered like someone already suggested would be nice. Really I just wanted to say thank you for wanting to return kindness. People usually take kindness for granted when it’s shown.. guess that’s why it’s so rare
Depending on the headcount and your $$ I have a few: coupons for manicures, pedicures, massages, inserts for shoes being on feet all day, certain lotions, its xmas time so should be able to get nice gift baskets.
A number of facilities owned by large corporations have very strict rules regarding gifts. Often they are allowed but limited in value (under $20.00 for example) and other times they are completely forbidden. Keep in mind that breaking those rules can result in the employees’ reprimand or termination. Please check with administration before you do anything.
In my many years of working in facilities, the most appreciated was when a family would bring in lunch or dinner. Pizzas and salad or sandwich platters and fruit bowls, you get the idea. It demonstrated their appreciation, did not interfere with the work that needed to be done and didn’t exclude or emphasize any individual. If there is a few employees you would like to acknowledge above and beyond, a personal handwritten card is perfect. It will touch their hearts and reaffirm the good work they are doing.
You are so right. Both of the facilities my parents were in had a holiday fund campaign. You can make a donation and it is split among the employees. That plus a meal would be wonderful. I agree that a positive note is excellent. It helps the employee build their resume. I would shy away from sweets...many of the workers are overweight and when my parents put out candy treats last year, most declined.
Most places have restrictions on the monetary value of what can be given. So check that first. A lunch delivered would be nice. Pick the time so it is end of one shift and the start of another. Sub sandwiches, pizza would be good and for early morning shifts donuts and coffee And the ultimate... For each staff person that made a positive impact write a note of appreciation and send a copy of the note to administration so a copy can be put in the employment record.
So sorry for your loss. My Mom passed away this past year and I gave all the caretakers at the house a gift box from Lush. Check if there is one at your nearest mall. The ones with the lotions and shampoos are better than the bath bombs. Their products smell sooo awesome and come wrapped up in the cutest little boxes. For whole house you can bring a gift basket with edibles etc. Gift card always appreciated. Big hugs to you!
This is a great topic. Very sorry for your loss! May he rest, now.
I too, if it’s permitted, would think gift card first. Maybe do it regardless, on the down-low, it’s not like you have a business relationship with them anymore (ie, your ‘bribe’ will get you nothing).
When dad passed at a small board and care mom gifted the caregivers with a Target gift card. She bought thank you cards and wrote a nice note in each one. It was easy as there were only 4 main caregivers.
I agree with Zdarov about doing it quietly and on the down low, also with Sendhelp to do it sooner rather than later.
Major changes, like mom's move to memory so doctor changed and I was no longer the caregiver, mom's hubby passing in AL. Both changes I sent staff involved in their care Edible Arrangements. It was so appreciated by them all and a healthy fun way to let them know I did recognize their efforts to assist mom and her hubby in remaining comfortable and feeling loved and cared for. And also so supportive of me in the case of their doctor's staff.
Where my dad lives, they do not allow employees to accept gifts other than the residents holiday gift fund that is divided up among staff. So check on that first. Although I’m sure they would allow a food gift. A letter I agree with another poster, is meaningful
A lot of caregivers are overworked and vastly underpaid, so gift cards would be appreciated. Aim for places that everybody uses, like Target or Amazon. And a gushing letter to the bosses is always good.
It is so nice to want to thank them! Thinking what to send, or give.... It may be all in the delivery. Whatever you decide, do you think you might want to take it in person, or have it delivered with a card?
If you wait or procrastinate, your kind enthusiasm might wane, (human nature), so try to act on your idea early.
Thinking something more healthy like oranges just did not resonate with me, so I am thinking the traditional gift of Sees Candies, whether you bring it or have it delivered.
I'd check to make sure they are able to receive gifts. I know that while normally I give Christmas gifts to the staff at my LO's facility, I recently read that it's not legal in some places. I hadn't even thought of that. I'm going to look into it, but, since your LO is deceased, perhaps, the same rules would not abide. If gifts are allowed, I might ask if the facility needs a tv for the break room, coffee machine, or microwave. Or boxes of doughnuts for each shift.
Letters are invaluable and especially if there are special people you want to recognize. A big bouquet to the "main lodge" of the facility, or the main room with a big card. Sees candy or some other. The main thing here is that you want to recognize them. And if you show up in the morning once a month with a box of donuts and a "I will never forget you" that will go a long long way to making their day.
1. Bring a case of oranges. This is nice as it is available to all shifts and stays fresh/clean as opposed to a cake or such that looks pretty sad after it starts getting used.
2. Offer to provide a delivered meal to a staff meeting. Can be as simple as bagels or as big as a full meal from a restaurant.
3. Offer to fund, in whole or in part a holiday party for the staff. Fewer work places fund these anymore.
As well, I would take the time to write a heartfelt note on a nice card telling them how much their efforts meant to me and our family.
If there were several people that were especially kind and helpful - I would include their names in the letter. It (probably) can't hurt for the employee to get praise for a job well done and it might get a copy put in their employee file at the very least. Maybe an increase in wage and/or help with a nomination for employee of the month, etc.
Let's say this is a facility with 50 residents, each family places $50.00 (probably not all) so, $2,500.00 for staff to split. Say this facility is a 1:10 ratio. Three shifts, 15 caregivers, then supervisory nurse for three shifts, kitchen staff, a guess of 5, front desk 2 shifts, maintenance guess 3. Thirty employees a guess, but probably more. I sure would ask.
So $2500.00, if all contribute fifty bucks, roughly $80.00 each. Not bad if everyone contributes and the employee count is a reasonable estimate.
It is kind and unselfish of you to express gratitude to others at a time when you are grieving.
I would give those who made the most difference cash (quietly), disguised in a card. They are grieving too and healthcare wages are so despicably low that some are living paycheck to paycheck, despite the fast that the corporations are vastly wealthy.
Gift cards have restrictions and come with added fees. Statistics show that many gift cards are never redeemed.
A number of facilities owned by large corporations have very strict rules regarding gifts. Often they are allowed but limited in value (under $20.00 for example) and other times they are completely forbidden. Keep in mind that breaking those rules can result in the employees’ reprimand or termination. Please check with administration before you do anything.
In my many years of working in facilities, the most appreciated was when a family would bring in lunch or dinner. Pizzas and salad or sandwich platters and fruit bowls, you get the idea. It demonstrated their appreciation, did not interfere with the work that needed to be done and didn’t exclude or emphasize any individual. If there is a few employees you would like to acknowledge above and beyond, a personal handwritten card is perfect. It will touch their hearts and reaffirm the good work they are doing.
I would shy away from sweets...many of the workers are overweight and when my parents put out candy treats last year, most declined.
A lunch delivered would be nice. Pick the time so it is end of one shift and the start of another. Sub sandwiches, pizza would be good and for early morning shifts donuts and coffee
And the ultimate...
For each staff person that made a positive impact write a note of appreciation and send a copy of the note to administration so a copy can be put in the employment record.
I too, if it’s permitted, would think gift card first. Maybe do it regardless, on the down-low, it’s not like you have a business relationship with them anymore (ie, your ‘bribe’ will get you nothing).
I agree with Zdarov about doing it quietly and on the down low, also with Sendhelp to do it sooner rather than later.
Thinking what to send, or give....
It may be all in the delivery. Whatever you decide, do you think you might want to take it in person, or have it delivered with a card?
If you wait or procrastinate, your kind enthusiasm might wane, (human nature), so try to act on your idea early.
Thinking something more healthy like oranges just did not resonate with me, so I am thinking the traditional gift of Sees Candies, whether you bring it or have it delivered.
Sorry for your loss.
my Dad did free hand glass etching. His caregiver got one of them (a rose in a vase) which I put in a nice mounting.