Gift Guide for Anyone Receiving Chemotherapy, Hemodialysis, Other Medical Treatment Infusions
Gift Guides•December 11, 2023•By mysistermademebuyit
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My dad was on dialysis for 11 years before he passed. Being in kidney failure and on dialysis is brutal. My dad was incredibly strong and even though he hated dialysis, he never missed a dialysis day.
Having to be on dialysis is truly like having a full-time job. You have to go three days a week – and you can never take a day off. A lot of dialysis patients do not make it as long as my dad did and he was not the healthiest guy. We attribute his 11 years to the fact that my mom never let him skip a treatment. He was adherent, consumed enough protein, and did what he was told – even if he whined or complained about it. I admire that so much about him.
My dad loved buying gifts, but ironically he was so hard to buy for. Since he spent so much time at dialysis, we often bought him things he could use there. That is how I put together this gift guide tailored to a loved one who is receiving regular medical treatment away from home like hemodialysis or chemotherapy.
12 Can Lunchbox – While this was not the exact lunchbox my dad had, this was around the same size and held everything that he needed to take with him like snacks, his Yeti, phone, headphones, and medications.
Yeti Rambler with Twist Off Lid and Chug Cap (sold separately)- This is 18 oz and keeps everything cold. Limiting fluids is very important on dialysis, so this was perfect for helping to gauge how much he had consumed.
Noise Cancelling Headphones with Adapter – I am unsure if dialysis sites have updated their TVs, but when my dad was going, he needed headphones with a jack. He also couldn’t figure out how to use Bluetooth LOL. I would recommend going with noise-canceling headphones because my dad would complain about all of the noise from other patients. If your loved one already has nice headphones, they can use this bluetooth adapter. Just plug it in and pair.
iPad Holder – This is a great iPad holder for someone who needs to frequently change positions and it is also can be folded flat for easy portability.
Foldable Blanket & Pillow – People on dialysis, and most people who live with chronic diseases, are often anemic, and both dialysis centers and hospitals are typically cold. This is a travel blanket that can also be turned into a pillow.
Travel Pillow – My dad’s head always fell to his side when he slept so I bought him this pillow that you can easily wrap around your neck for extra support. He hated it because he was claustrophobic (LOL, whoops), but it is a great travel pillow and stays in place.
Large Pill Travel Container – Dialysis patients usually have to take like 16 or more pills a day, often with every meal and snack — and some are very large pills! This container helps to ensure that they are always available after a meal.
Canvas Tote – We used a canvas tote from LL Bean as his dialysis bag. This is where he would put his blanket, lunch box and anything else he was bringing to treatment that day.
Fistula Access Hoodie – This is a great one because dialysis patients can’t typically wear long sleeves. On this hoodie, access opens in the sleeve so that they can stay warm during treatment.
Medical Record Journal– I know it’s 2024 and we have access at our fingertips through technology to everything including our medical charts, but I would still highly recommend keeping an old-school, handwritten journal to log pertinent medical information. Being able to keep a log of day-to-day activities, appointments, vital signs, physical symptoms, what you ate or drank, and any other important information your loved ones and medical providers need to know is something I cannot stress enough. This can also be helpful as a communication tool between family members who may not be at appointments or with your loved one all the time.
Comfy Non-Slip Slides– Falls must be prevented and non-slip shoes or socks are a gold standard in medical care. When your loved one is in the hospital or having to sit at a dialysis center or through day long infusions, being able to put on a comfy pair of slippers or slides that are easy to take on and off is a way to provide some comfort while also helping to prevent falls when they are getting up or in and out of the hospital bed. Here are some with women’s sizing.
Calendar Frame– This is an incredible digital calendar that can be used to track household to-dos, but it would be a great option to help manage multiple schedules and medical appointments. This would also be a more seamless way to manage schedules between caregivers if you are sharing that role with other loved ones. It can easily sync with calendars on your smartphone too.
