If you have a loved one in rehab then it can be tempting to send them a care package or gift but it’s important to be careful about what you send. Depending on the addiction in question a seemingly innocuous gift may not be allowed into the facility.
The first thing that you can do is contact the center for advice or gift ideas that would be allowed in. They might want to be mindful of other residents, so it might not affect your particular loved one but they won’t want it in the area. They’ll be accustomed to handling these inquiries so don’t be embarrassed to ask.
If you want to have a list of things to ask about then you can prepare some of the following in a gift parcel. Rehab can be a boring place from time to time so puzzle books and games are always appreciated. If your contact has an issue with gambling then be careful about what type of game you select, try to avoid ones with money or chance.
You can make the parcel personal but don’t fill it with remembrances that might trigger a relapse. Photos can go either way, so if in doubt don’t include them in your care package. If you want to make it more specific without photos focus on adding in particular favorites of theirs that will be of interest. If they had a particular hobby that they enjoyed before their addiction then you can add this in and a new focus may help them on the road to recovery.
Think about what they need in the setting that they are in, for instance those in a rehab center in Florida wouldn’t want warm clothes but someone in Alaska might. Try to think about the things that would comfort you in that situation and then apply them to the person in need.
You can also help them out by sending them a package that has elements of each of the five senses in it, for an all-round winner. Some candies that will last the trip will take care of the taste part, soft clothing or blankets can be comforting and a perfumed soap will also go down a treat. You could also include something to decorate the room, if allowed by staff, and a CD or MP3 player filled with their top music will take care of the sound aspect. Keep these things as simple as possible, as these will be what’s appreciated most during a tough time.
Once you’ve collected up all the items you wish to send don’t hesitate to get back in touch with staff to double check your selection. They’ll be checking over the parcel before they give it to the resident so even if you don’t agree with them it’s important to abide by the rules in place. They may point out something you may not have considered a dangerous item and may even offer you an alternative suggestion to pack.
