Gifts for Someone Who Is Dying: Showing Love and Comfort in Every Moment

These are highly customizable, allowing you to load your favorite photos and images of your loved one, their friends and family, and even other photos you know they love. Personalized gifts like this are sure to be a hit for anyone.

Families with many members or those who live far apart should consider this exceptional option. It offers the opportunity to see a highlight reel of family members, memories, and milestone moments caught on film. This also offers an ideal opportunity for storytelling and reminiscing with family and friends who visit - I like to call them 'remember when' moments.

They might appreciate a giant fuzzy blanket to keep them warm and comfortable when they need a little extra comfort. Something colorful, decorative, and warm is perfect for the task.

There is something psychological about being wrapped in a blanket too. Being wrapped in a blanket can help us feel very secure² - remember when you were a child and the feeling of security you got from a baby blanket, etc. And with the variety of sizes, styles, designs, etc., you can fine-tune what you're looking for and pick something special and unique.

Sometimes, the best thing you can do for something is giving them a safe way to voice their thoughts and feelings. A digital voice recorder gives someone that opportunity even when no one is around.

They can record their thoughts and feelings and retell memories and stories. When the mood strikes, this gives them a way to express themselves, even alone.

My father had a heart attack a few days before Christmas. Luckily, CPR was administered, and this life-saving measure gave him an additional nine days with his family. Shortly after he passed, I went through my phone and found several voice messages he had left for me throughout the past couple of years. What a gift it was to come across them! Hearing his voice, hearing him tell me he loved me - I was so grateful. I uploaded them to iCloud and now have them stored there whenever I need to hear his voice.

Pet therapy for hospice care has been shown to reduce anxiety and stress, lower blood pressure and even help with depression³. While you will want to check with the facility in question, you should consider bringing the family pet in for a visit with your loved one, even if only for a short time.

And if your loved one doesn't have a pet, check with the hospital or local animal shelter. Often times there are pet comfort animals that can be brought in for a visit, and it truly is a wonderful gift to share with an animal lover that is dying

Photo-engraving specifically can immortalize a favorite family portrait into a much smaller, portable keepsake that won’t fade or tear over time. It’s a fantastic way to create a small memorial that you can take with you anywhere. Even better, photo-engraved keepsakes come in multiple shapes and sizes, giving you even more options to choose from. 

Photo engraved jewelry can perfectly replicate a loved ones image onto a small metal keepsake, and the resulting image is available in black and white grayscale or full color. Consider a piece like this engraved circle gold-plated pendant if you want something timeless and ornate. It combines a beautiful 14k gold plated finish with a raised edge of clear crystals to give your special photo a distinguished touch.

Most of us, especially as we age, have a list of things we'd like to do before it's time to go. Call it a bucket list, a must-do, a wishlist, etc. It may have one thing on there, and it may have hundreds.

Why not go over your loved one's bucket list with them and choose something that they can do - or better yet, a couple of things. It doesn't have to cost a lot of money, it doesn't have to be super extravagant and maybe you might have to pare it down or change the bucket list item somewhat due to the health of your loved one. Again, it's a memory making opportunity for both you and your loved one and will provide a precious moment in time that you can look back on.

For some people, film and television bring comfort, especially old favorites. Watching a beloved film is an experience you can share. What about finding a boxed set of their favorite television series or film franchise? That provides hours of entertainment that they can watch, repeat, and share in the experience with others.

I can tell you right now, mine would be The Notebook¹⁰!  It doesn't matter how often I watch it; it always makes me cry and believe in true love and how the strength of family and the love of two people is truly something special. I don't know if my husband would feel the same, nor would it be HIS favorite movie.

Sharing music is a powerful thing, too. If you don’t feel confident in your writing abilities – or even if you do – you might find that you are better able to express yourself through music. Creating a playlist is sometimes harder than you might think! It can be a time-consuming process that takes emotional labor.

You may want to focus on putting together a playlist of the person’s favorite songs and artists to cheer them up. Create a list of songs that bring back memories for the two of you or your family: songs that remind you of your lives and the person.

If you want a homemade gift, this craft project might be just the thing. Using a standard mason jar, you can cut colorful paper strips into shapes (like hearts or simple rectangles) and write down memories or fun times you shared with your loved one.

You can include quotes from favorite movies or books as well. These can be anything intended to cheer someone up or offer comfort. When they are feeling down, they can pull one of these pieces of paper from the jar and read the message written on it.

And get the whole family involved! Every member of the family can add some notes and memories. This gets the younger generation to participate and opens the door for storytelling about their family's history.

If someone isn’t comfortable talking, they might find solace in writing down their thoughts and feelings. Writing can be incredibly cathartic for many people, especially if they cannot find the words to say things out loud. They may enjoy a personalized journal for this purpose.

And you can also include some journal prompts for them! What was your favorite childhood memory? What were your parents like? What is your most favorite color and why? Journaling is not just for writing either! Draw, sketch, doodle - journaling helps to relax the mind and body⁶ and there are no rules as to what you have to write.

Your loved one may not feel as if they have any important stories to tell but we all know that’s not the truth. Everyone’s story matters and what better way to spend time together and enjoy one another’s company than by sharing important memories with your loved one.

 We did something similar when we knew our dad was dying. For Christmas that year, our family and my brother's family sat down and wrote him a letter. On Christmas Eve, my brother presented our dad with a binder with all ten letters: a letter from each of his children, a letter from a daughter-in-law and a son-in-law, and six individual letters from his six grandchildren.

You don’t need to be a professional writer to convey your love and affection to someone. You just need to express yourself from the heart. Physical letters are meaningful, tangible ways to connect to other human beings, especially when someone might be feeling lonely and hurt.

As I shared above, we did this with my dad. And I'm forever grateful that we did. I currently have all the letters in my possession; I will decide what to do with them at some point. We could turn them into a leather-bound book we can look over as a family and reminisce about my dad.

There is nothing like reconnecting old friends, and where the logistics of this could prove somewhat of a challenge, it could be a wonderful and treasured gift to give them! If the friend is relatively local, you could arrange to put them up in a hotel and surprise your loved one with a dinner out with their friend.

Or take your loved one on a road trip to see them! A little bit of thoughtful planning could make for a wonderful outing that brings them (and their friend) a tremendous amount of joy and comfort! Nostalgia can help remind a dying loved one of who they were and help to put their present self into some perspective⁸.

This doesn’t need to be a strenuous hike (unless that is something they choose to do) but it can be something as simple as a stroll around a park or even taking a few hours to share a meal on an outdoor patio. You can even go for a long scenic drive together.

Spending a day enjoying the sun – and one another’s company – just might be the perfect present for someone who misses outdoor activities.

My grandmother used to love to feed the ducks at our local park. As she got older, those duck outings became a little less frequent as she was no longer driving. One of my most favorite activities to do with her would be to bundle her up and take her to the park with a loaf of bread. It was something so small yet it brought her so much pleasure and joy.

Additionally, if you live further away, you can order them a gift basket filled with their favorite snacks and perhaps a few other things to keep them company when you can’t be around. 

As a note, you may want to check with someone (a medical provider, close relative, spouse, etc) to see if they have any dietary restrictions before you select a food or drink item. They may not be able to enjoy them and you’ll want to plan accordingly.

This again reminds me so much of my dad. I was home the beginning of December the month that he died and he had an appointment for his cancer treatment. On our drive up there, we stopped at a convenience store and said I want one of those big blue Slurpees. Now NEVER in my lifetime had I seen my dad drink a Slurpee. I hopped out of the truck, marched in and got him the biggest Slurpee they had!

This gift idea is best suited for someone who is still able-bodied enough for any sort of long-term physical activity. Many people have a “bucket list” of things they would like to accomplish, including places they want to go. If you have the means and the available time, you might consider taking the person on a short trip depending on their health.

This doesn't just have to be a bucket list item - it could really be virtually anything. It could be taking a train across the United States, it can be visiting a childhood favorite spot, it could be any number of destinations that holds special meaning. Maybe it's traveling to go see a distant relative. Truly the options are endless.

It is very important to note that when you are traveling with someone that has a terminal illness, be certain that wherever you are going that their medical needs will be able to be taken care of should something arise⁹. Check with their doctor as well as where you're traveling to make sure their needs can be met.

This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t gift them anything else, especially if you see something on this list that inspires you. However, a gift doesn’t need to be a physical object to matter. Sharing quality time with your loved ones before they pass can be the most important thing you can do.

Tell them you love them, that you will be there for them, and listen to what they have to say. Do not leave anything unsaid, especially when you may come to regret it.

Living far from family can be tough. Staying connected is the best gift you can give. Just hearing from loved ones can brighten the day. A call, text, or video chat means the world. When my dads died and my grandmother died, I wasn't able to physically be there. So I found ways to 'be' a part of whatever I could. I would call my grandmother almost every night and catch up abour our days. She would tell me to wait while she got her wine so we could chat. I was able to talk to both of my dads before they passed and leading up to the loss, called and reached out as much as possible. I wish that there had been more physical close contact however I had to make due with the situation I had at hand.

Meet Jeri K. Augustus, an experienced customer service professional from Great Falls, Montana, with a heart full of compassion for helping others. Jeri has spent more than four decades in the industry and has gained a wealth of personal experience with loss and grief. She has dedicated herself to assisting families in finding meaningful ways to honor their loved ones who have passed on and celebrate those who are still with us.

Jeri's contribution to the cremation jewelry industry is remarkable. She played a key role in developing new lines of modern pendants, cremation rings, and bracelets. She launched a line of photo-engraved jewelry that now includes several hundred styles for families to choose from. She is actively involved in leadership and customer care at Jewelry Keepsakes Inc., where she helps people every day with their inquiries and concerns regarding these products.

Despite her many years in the industry, Jeri remains passionately committed to helping those who are grieving and supporting families as they find personal ways to cherish their loved ones. She still resides in Montana and enjoys spending her free time with her dogs, children, and grandchildren. If you're looking for someone who can guide you with compassion and expertise in selecting a beautiful keepsake to remember your loved ones, Jeri is the perfect person to help.