Can you gift your elders/residents?

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I was told I can bring things like deodorant and lotion etc for my elders. Only that I won't be reimbursed which is fine. I didn't expect I would be. What about treats? We get donuts every other Saturday and this past Saturday one of my residents wanted an apple fritter and the one we had was hard as a brick. I felt terrible of course. Would it be ok to bring him a fresh apple fritter in the morning one day? I just feel like he got jipped and it's a while 99 cents at the bakery. I can't imagine this would be any different than bringing him a bottle of body wash or a stick of deodorant, but I'm new so...:

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Specializes in MCH,NICU,NNsy,Educ,Village Nursing.

What does the policy say about bringing food treats? Is he a diabetic? Those are things to find out. Otherwise, I think it would be fine, as long as the policy is okay with it and he's not a diabetic. (My husband once had an elderly friend who had been admitted to an assisted living/nursing home. The ONLY thing he ever asked for was beer. So, my husband checked to be sure it was okay and took him a 6 pack on his next visit. His friend was beyond excited to have that one pleasure left to him.

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He's not diabetic. I'm certain of that. He also seems depressed but puts on a show for everyone. I feel like gettin a fresh apple fritter would make his day!

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

It's generally not a good idea for facility staff to bring gifts of any kind to individual residents/patients. For one thing, it's probably against policy, and for another, it can be seen as showing favoritism unless you're giving all of them something.

I know, it's really hard not to do so. When I worked ALF/LTC I had a few favorite residents I loved spending time with, and it was difficult to tear myself away and tend to the ones I didn't like so much. But other than filling a candy bowl in my office for anyone to help themselves, I refrained from bringing residents any personal items such as deodorant, cologne, soap etc., not even with my own money. That was for their families and friends to do, not the staff. I think most facilities have policies against this.

That being said, I don't see anything wrong with sharing food, like a big veggie or fruit tray with residents, or bringing flowers to display at the nurses' station for all to enjoy (unless someone has allergies).

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Off topic, but may be of some interest...

The word jipped/gypped is seen as an ethnic slur by many and it would probably be better to avoid using it, especially in a healthcare setting where you're very likely to encounter all kinds of people.

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.
Off topic, but may be of some interest...

The word jipped/gypped is seen as an ethnic slur by many and it would probably be better to avoid using it, especially in a healthcare setting where you're very likely to encounter all kinds of people.

I never knew this! *Googles*

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