Are you looking for Christmas gift ideas for a speech therapist on your list this year? Today I am sharing a gift guide that will help get the perfect present under your tree!
This has been a year that required unbelievable strength and dedication from our healthcare workers. Long hours wearing full PPE, social distancing from family and friends to protect their patients, ever-changing schedules, uncertainty of hours and income, counseling lonely, heart-broken patients daily just name a few challenges.
The Perfect Gift
In this post you will find gift ideas for self care like relaxing bubble bath and lotion for the driest of hands; for extra comfort on long days on your feet; things that will enhance the SLPs work day; snuggly things for the weekend or those days off when it is time to relax.
If you are a SNF SLP and love these gift ideas, feel free to click on the image below to download the full list with links to email to your friends and family!
Gifts for Self Care
When your everything hurts and your mind is racing, what is better than a nice hot soak in the tub? Dr. Teel’s bubble bath is a favorite of mine. There are several different fragrances with essential oils including “soothe and sleep” and “comfort and calm.”
Washing your hands every half hour or more leads to painful, dry, cracked skin. When polled in my Facebook Group for SLPs who work in SNFs, the best lotion for dry hands was Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream. I suggest a bottle for home and a bottle for work. Some other recommendations were: O’Keefe’s Working Hands and Udderly Smooth Hand Cream.
After getting that dry skin in order, a little self care add on can be some cuticle oil for the nails. This SolarOil cuticle oil is perfect to use every night before bed. It was recommended to me by another SLP so I bought some and can vouch for its worth!
The last thing on my list for self care gifts is this Naipo Shiatsu back and neck massager. You can sit down in the evening, prop up your feet and get your own personal massage on your sofa to press away the cares of the day. Another SLP friend recommended this product saying her husband who is also a healthcare worker uses it every single night!
Gifts for extra long shifts
If my feet hurt, I hurt all over. A buttery soft pair of socks and shoes that have good arch support and memory foam insoles can make all the difference!
My favorite pair of shoes is the New Balance Fuel Core N-ergize. I have bought a few different pair but my go to is the leopard print! The most recommended socks are Bombas. They are pricey so I wouldn’t buy them for myself which makes a perfect reason to surprise someone with them under the tree.
Another wonderful Christmas find that a SNF SLP or other healthcare worker would appreciate is the Lion Latch. This little container is a safe place to store your rings while working. Stop putting them in your wallet or a side zipper on a bag! No more pockets or desk drawers. Connect it to the zipper on your bag or your key ring.
Gifts for the new grad
A new therapist or someone who has limited supplies at their workplace would likely appreciate some work related presents. Treating patients after COVID recovery has required more breath support training in our field so a good Pulse Oximeter would be a great addition to a SLP toolkit.
Keeping materials sanitized is a huge issue right now so many SLPs are turning to digital resources and apps for therapy sessions. With an iPad mini, therapists can access videos, digital handouts and worksheets, apps and more. They can also use it at lunch to catch up on their favorite Netflix show or read a few minutes on their Kindle app!
ASHA certified SLPs have to get 30 hours of continuing education per certification cycle. With in person conventions and conferences being on hold this year, a virtual option would make a great present. You can purchase a year long subscription to MedBridge for a low price using this link. MedBridge even has an app that makes it easy to stop/start sessions in the car on your way to and from work. There are a TON of great speakers with relevant topics on the MedBridge site.
One last item that every SLP needs is a Throat Scope. The Throat Scope is an illuminated tongue depressor that makes it so much easier to do an oral mech exam. The disposable blades are cost effective and easy to get online or at your local drugstore.
Gifts for the weekend
After a long week there’s nothing better than a couple of days to relax and unwind. Lighting a candle and covering up in a fuzzy throw to watch your favorite Christmas movie sounds perfect to me.
This faux fur weighted blanket has amazing reviews. It comes in two shades of pink, white and gray. You can choose what weight works best for you. Light this LuLu soy candle and turn on a Hallmark movie! During quarantine I found these fuzzy slippers in an Amazon search. Snoozies fit true to size and are extremely comfortable and warm.
At some point, we will be able to sneak away for the weekend again. I am a huge fan of Vera Bradley bags and this Large Tote works great for weekend getaways.
I hope you found some ideas for the SLP in your life this year. It was really fun to make this list for you with my SNF SLP friends in mind.
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