This week is "Nurse's Week!" How to thank all of my dad's carers?

When my mom was in a facility, there were many kind people who cared for her. On special days, I ordered pizza or a hero sandwiches for the staff. I’d also drop off chips and my homemade salsa. I learned that staff was not allowed to accept cash gifts and there were just too many special people there to buy individual gifts for them all. They thanked me for the food gifts for weeks afterward.

I sent Edible Arrangements. They can last through the shifts if one of the larger ones. And they LOVED them!

Many facilities and healthcare employers have rules that state that individual caregivers cannot receive gifts. Ahmijoy has some good ideas.

I have taken Subway sandwich party platters (and pizza) to the LTC facility for Nurses Week. I made sure that all three nursing shifts had a platter set aside for them with more sandwiches on the day shift platter since there are more people working the day shift. All three platters were labeled for the appropriate shift. If you take one platter of food, then it is usually gone before the evening or night staff arrive for work. I had the pizza delivered before noon for the dayshift and delivered after 9 PM for the evening and night shift. A box or basket of snack size candy bars are also appreciated.

So often caregivers are not thanked for all that they do to make a loved one's (and your) life more comfortable. Thank you for thinking of showing your appreciation to your Dad's care givers.

From a nurse’s perspective (me) we loved food! The Edible Arrangements are awesome, especially chocolate covered strawberries.
I think you can’t go wrong with food.

Shari's Berries is another one it you do not have Edible Arrangements.

Our nursing home is having special treats for all the staff throughout the week, yesterday was Muffin Monday.

I sent pizza at shift change time so that both shifts would be covered. I had called the supervisor ahead of time and asked the best time to make sure everyone got some pizza. Any kind of food is good, just make sure all shifts get some! I would also write a card with a personalized message about the care your loved one receives. Remind them of what they do that is really meaningful to your loved one and your family. Call out specific examples if possible. Everyone loves to be praised for doing their job well.

At Christmas when my MIL was in SNF I made up a basket with note pads - post its, and regular pocket sized - pens, markers, packages of mints and hard candy, note cards, food bars, hand lotion, and things along that line. I put a bow and a note on it thanking everyone and telling things to be sure and share (happy face) and that who got to take the empty basket was up to them. When I delivered it I spoke with a supervisor in the MIL's section and thanked her and gave her the basket, asking that it be shared with everyone, including housekeeping and food staff. They loved it. There was enough for everyone to select a couple of things and we were thanked many times over. One person told us that there were never enough note pads or pens/markers around as they go through a lot of them each day.