We all get caught up in the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping and often a time of holiday glee can become a dreaded chore especially when the people on your list live in a residential care facility.

Finding the right gift for our elderly relatives and friends can be difficult under the best of circumstances, but for those with limited room and perhaps limited mobility finding the right gift can be a little more difficult.

Angela Noyes, of Market Square Health Care Facility, and Ellie Newell, admissions coordinator of The Maine Veterans’ Home, have a lot of experience in this area of gift-giving and have provided some ideas to help you with your holiday shopping.

Sweaters, lap blankets, and afghans are always welcome. Nursing homes are often on the cool side and having some warm items can be very beneficial. Everyone likes to wrap themselves in a warm sweater or curl up under a warm blanket.

To help put residents in a festive mood going into the holiday season an artificial wreath (no live greens) for their door will help make the season bright. Fresh seasonal-colored flowers are also a good choice, but check with the florist or nursing facility to make sure the flowers are allowed. Some flowers are toxic and some may trigger allergies. House plants are not a good choice due to lack of space and the ability of the resident to care for them.

“For the men,” said Newell, “handkerchiefs are a great gift; they can never have too many of them.” Some of the women might enjoy some pretty hankies as well.

You can never go wrong with picture calendars for the upcoming year. The residents enjoy the pictures and the calendars help keep track of the days.

Slippers for both men and women are a good consideration. Just remember to check on the correct size and make sure the bottoms are slip resistant to avoid accidents.

Gift cards are a one-size-fits-all, whether it’s a phone card that will allow your loved one to call family who may be long distance or a store card so they can purchase something they need or want, make great gifts.

If the individual needs special footwear it is possible to get gift cards for shoe fittings. The nursing staff may be able to point you in the right direction for such a purchase. Diabetic socks are another idea to help the feet and circulation. They are available at most pharmacy stores and medical-supply businesses.

Though nursing care facilities try to have a variety of enjoyable activities for the residents, the days can still be pretty long. Word search and crossword puzzle books, large-print magazines, personalized CDs of favorite music, and picture puzzles are great gifts to help occupy time and keep the mind stimulated.

Family photos and photo albums are a perfect gift for any family member, but for those in nursing homes they may be the only time they get to see how the grandchildren are growing. If your gift recipient is in a dementia unit, the glass in a framed family photo should be replaced with unbreakable plastic.

Often resident have to go outside to a doctor’s appointment or other outside activity. During the cold winter months, a warm knit hat would be a truly appreciated gift.

What not to give for gifts can be as important as what to give. As well as staying away from house plants, colognes and perfumes are not the best gift to give, and food items can be tricky or even harmful unless you know for sure the resident is not on a restricted diet or can handle the size and texture of the food.

The very best gift of all is the least expensive. “The gift of time,” said Newell. “People love visits from loved ones at any time, but especially during the holidays.”

What better gift can you give than spending holiday time with someone who would give anything in the world to spend it with you?