7 Great Things to Pack in a Hospital Care Package
Key takeaways:
Fill your hospital care package with comforting items like a pillow, blanket, toiletries, family photos, and favorite books.
Personalize the care package by adding things specific to your loved one’s interests and hobbies.
Avoid including live plants, alcohol, sharp objects, and anything else that the hospital may not allow.
Table of contents
Between the unfamiliar setting, beeping machines, and poking and prodding, being stuck in a hospital can be lonely and scary. If you have a loved one in the hospital, you’re probably wishing you could make their stay less stressful. And you can! Brighten their dreary days with a personalized hospital care package.
Learn about essential things to include in your hospital care package and ways to get creative below, so you can put a smile on your loved one’s face.
What is typically included in a hospital care package?
As you assemble your hospital care package, think about the items your hospitalized loved one would miss most. Here are seven ideas to get you started.
1. Favorite sleep items
Anyone who’s stayed in a hospital will likely tell you the environment makes getting quality sleep nearly impossible. The unfamiliar setting, noise, and light exposure can all interfere with getting restful sleep.
Giving your loved one items to create a better sleep environment will help them get the rest they need to recover. Just be sure to check the hospital’s policy on items allowed.
A care package with the following items may help your loved one sleep better during their hospital stay:
Comfortable pajamas or a robe from home, if permitted
An eye mask and earplugs to block light and sound
A white or pink noise machine to drown out beeping monitors
A cuddly stuffed animal for comfort
Their favorite pillow
A lightweight blanket to keep them warm
Fuzzy socks with nonslip bottoms
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2. Personal care must-haves
Even basic personal care habits can be disrupted during a hospital stay. Help your loved one maintain their usual hygiene and grooming routines with items from home. Consider packing the following:
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Hairbrush and comb
Deodorant
Electric shaver or razor, if allowed
Shampoo and conditioner
Dry shampoo for days when showering is difficult
Moisturizing lotion
Lip balm
And don't forget to toss in some travel-sized hand sanitizer. The hospital will likely provide hand sanitizer, but having a personal supply by the bed is convenient.
3. Entertainment essentials
Long days in a hospital bed can be mentally draining. Consider adding some items that you’re loved one can entertain themselves with, such as:
Noise-canceling headphones are also great for blocking out hospital sounds while listening to music or an audio book. Like reading and playing games, listening to something entertaining provides distraction and relief from boredom.
4. Ways to stay connected
Even with the constant activity, a hospital stay can be lonely and isolating. Help your loved one stay connected with you and others by ensuring they have their mobile phone. Being able to call, text, or video chat with family and friends can lift their spirits.
Don’t forget to add a phone charging cable to the hospital care package, so they can keep their device powered and usable during their stay. A long cable is handy since outlets may be across the room from their bed. Portable chargers can be helpful as well.
5. Snacks
Chances are, your loved one will quickly get bored with the hospital’s food menu. Break up the monotony by including nutritious snacks in their hospital care package. Here are some options:
Granola and protein bars
Trail mix or nuts
Dried fruit
Crackers or pretzels
Other comforting snacks or treats they like
Having a variety of tasty go-to snacks available gives them options if the hospital meals become unappetizing. The bonus of prepackaged snacks is that they won't spoil quickly. But be sure to keep any dietary restrictions in mind when choosing snacks. Verify what they can and cannot eat with the hospital staff.
You can also consider adding gift cards for food delivery services in your hospital care package. Most delivery services — such as Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub — will deliver to hospitals.
6. Photos and heartwarming notes
Seeing friendly faces and reading kind words may instantly brighten your loved one’s day. Include some heartwarming reminders of home in your care package, such as:
Printed photos of family and friends
Handwritten letters and cards
Drawings and artwork from kids in their life
A scrapbook of family photos
You can also make a digital photo album that they can flip through on their phone or tablet. Having visual reminders of all the family and friends who love them and are cheering them on will keep their spirits lifted.
7. Preferred activities
In addition to other entertainment options, consider packing items that are related to your loved one's hobbies or interests. Think about what they enjoy doing for fun or find comforting, then include items related to those things in the care package to keep them entertained.
If they enjoy crafting, provide supplies like knitting needles and yarn or coloring books and markers. If they’re a music lover, load up their phone or tablet with playlists of their favorite songs and bands.
What should you not include in a hospital care package?
While your intentions are good, you may accidentally include prohibited or problematic things in your hospital care package. To avoid this, keep in mind that these items should be left out:
Live plants: Due to the risk of infection, some hospitals don’t allow live plants or flowers, especially in certain units like intensive care, oncology, and those for people with a compromised immune system.
Latex balloons: Many hospitals prohibit latex balloons as they can cause allergic reactions. Mylar or foil balloons might be OK. But check with the hospital first.
Alcohol: Hospitals will generally not allow alcoholic beverages in their facility.
Sharp objects: Leave out knives, scissors, or anything sharp that could be mishandled.
Oversized or breakable items: Space is limited in hospital rooms, so large or fragile things could get in the way.
Valuables: It's best not to include expensive electronics, jewelry, cash, or other items that could get lost or stolen.
Scented lotions or soaps: Hospitals often don’t allow strong fragrances that could bother other people, especially if your loved one is in a shared room.
If you’re unsure if an item is appropriate to include in your care package, call the hospital. Ask if they have rules about what can go in a hospital care package. They can tell you what is and is not OK to include. This will help your loved one avoid problems like having items taken away. You may also be able to find this information on a hospital’s website.
How do you put together a hospital care package?
Now that you have all the items you want to include, it’s time to put together a thoughtfully designed care package. Follow these steps to package your items:
Gather all the items you wish to include.
Choose a sturdy container like a tote bag or bin to hold everything.
Pick up tissue paper, wrapping paper, ribbon, gift bags, or tags to decorate the package.
Make handwritten, custom labels with your loved one’s name on them for belongings. This will help avoid mix-ups at the hospital.
Use organizers or bags to separate items into categories and arrange them neatly.
Wrap food in plastic bags or other containers to limit smells and keep snacks fresh.
Pack the items strategically. Put heavier items on the bottom and frequently used ones on top.
How do you deliver a hospital care package?
Before doing a care package delivery, call the hospital or check their website. Check your loved one’s room number and verify that they can receive packaged items. Ask about any other rules for dropping off hospital care packages
Hand-delivering the care package adds a thoughtful, personal touch, but mailing it is fine, too. Choose a delivery time that won’t interrupt important hospital routines, like medication rounds and nurse shift changes. And respect any social distancing protocols and protective gear requirements at the hospital.
If your loved one is sleeping or unavailable for visitors when you arrive, the hospital staff can typically hold the package until an appropriate time. Though it requires some coordination, delivering a hospital care package can make a loved one's day.
The bottom line
Putting together a thoughtful hospital care package takes effort, but it's a meaningful way to remind your hospitalized loved one they’re not alone. Customize the care package based on their interests and needs, but keep safety and appropriateness in mind. The goal is to pack things that they’ll appreciate but won't cause issues at the hospital. When in doubt, ask the hospital if an item or type of delivery is OK.
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References
Allina Health. (n.d.). What you need to know: Important things you need to know when coming to the ICU.
Arora, V. M., et al. (2019). Sleep in hospitalized older adults. Sleep Medicine Clinics.
CaringBridge. (2021). Useful hospital care package ideas for friends and family.
Northeast Georgia Health System. (2021). Did you know flowers are not allowed in some hospital units?
