Great Gift Ideas for the Spinal Cord Injury Survivor in Your Life

It can be challenging to find the perfect gift for a family member or friend who is living with paralysis. Today, we will help you discover some gifts that can make life a little more comfortable. They may even help with rehabilitation. Whether it supports gait training exercises or supplements occupational therapy by offering a new way to do an everyday task, these can be practical and thoughtful gifts. 

Tech with Convenient Accessibility Features 

One great way to help out a friend living with paralysis is to gift some smart home technology. Plus, there are other gadgets that make it easier to perform ordinary tasks with vocal commands. For example, Google, Apple, and Amazon offer personal assistant type services that can control lighting, temperature, and even small appliances. Additionally, many of these devices can also allow you to shop online, play music, start a podcast, send a text message, and more! 

For a friend whose paralysis includes all four limbs, there are about a dozen different adaptive mouse varieties. These provide unique ways to move a cursor on a computer screen and make selections. Some are controlled by head movements, while the mouth controls others. Dictation software can also allow a person to speak emails, memos, or even a book! 

Another practical tech gift is a video doorbell. This allows the SCI survivor to see who is at the door. They can even talk to the person without transitioning to the wheelchair and getting to the door by using the intercom feature. It is a useful security device. Plus, it can also help your loved one not miss visitors due to how long it takes to get to the door. 

Wheelchair Accessories 

You may never have thought of it if you don’t personally use a wheelchair, but it is virtually impossible to get around in the rain without getting soaked. It’s not like you can wheel yourself and carry an umbrella. A wheelchair poncho can make an excellent gift for a friend who is still very independent and likes to go out on their own with a vehicle that has adaptive hand controls. 

Another neat gift if your family member or friend likes to go out at night would be light up casters. They provide plenty of LED light for nighttime visibility while also producing cool designs. 

Additionally, a wheelchair is not the most comfortable of seats, and they don’t really keep you warm. A lovely gift for wintertime would be a sheepskin wheelchair cover. It provides extra comfort and warmth during those cold winter months. 

Finally, a push-button air compressor is an excellent tool for pumping up wheelchair tires in a fast and straightforward way. 

Gifts That Enhance Comfort 

If a loved one is living with paralysis, then you know the pain and discomfort that comes along with a spinal cord injury. Can you share a gift that will help ease some of the pain or provide comfort? Here are a few suggestions:

• Electric blanket – Body temperature regulation can be a challenge for those living with paralysis. A heating pad makes a great gift. Make sure it has an auto-shutoff feature in case your loved one falls asleep while using it.
• Handheld massager – A massager can boost circulation and relax the muscles. These are crucial benefits for a person living with paralysis. It also provides a nice way for a caregiver who has no massage experience to be able to help provide some relief throughout the day. 
• C-shape body pillow – These were designed for pregnant women. However, they can also help an SCI survivor to maintain a comfortable position while sleeping that is good for the spine. 

Gifts That Promote Recovery

Whether the injury is recent or several years ago, gifts that help provide a little rehabilitation are an excellent way to support your loved one. For example, you may not think of an activity tracker as a suitable gift for someone in a wheelchair.

However, it can be handy for reminding the person to perform some activity throughout the day. This is necessary to prevent muscle atrophy, circulation issues, and swelling. Plus, if your loved one performs gait training exercises at an activity-based therapy center, it is a great way to track recovery. 

Therapy putty is a nice gift for someone who has limited hand function. The putty can be squeezed, pulled, or twisted, and these motions help provide rehabilitation for the hands. This product is available in various levels depending on the patient’s current ability level.

A leg lifter is an excellent way to get some passive exercise for the legs between gait training exercises at a physical therapy center. The strap allows your loved one to move their own legs by pulling the strap back. Another use is in practical situations to help swing a leg out of bed or into a wheelchair. 

Finally, iAM ABLE wants you to provide your loved one with a copy of our eBook, 7 Unbelievably Important Steps to Take to Thrive after Paralysis. This book can help mentally prepare your loved one for the recovery journey, so they keep going with gait training exercises and other methods of therapy that are challenging or when the results are slow. Accepting the challenges is a way to thrive instead of just survive. And for those in the Miami area, we hope to see your loved one at our SCI recovery center for rehabilitation assistance.

Grab our free e-book 7 Unbelievably Important Steps to Take to THRIVE after Paralysis by clicking the image below.