15 Meaningful Gifts for Cancer Caregivers (That Will Make Their Day!)
Do you know what it feels like to push all of your needs aside so you can put every ounce of energy you have into helping someone you love feel better?
Caregivers who are helping someone they love navigate a cancer diagnosis are superheroes in disguise.
They’re juggling a ton of responsibilities and emotions while providing unwavering love and support to their loved ones. If you know a family caregiver who deserves some recognition for their hard work, then you’ve come to the right place!
We’ve compiled a list of thoughtful and practical gift ideas that are perfect for showing your appreciation to the cancer caregiver in your life.
The caregiver who is constantly running around to multiple appointments, taking care of everyone else’s needs even though they are totally exhausted. I mean seriously drained, and running on empty.
No matter how you’re feeling…
- Stressed
- Exhausted
- Unhinged
As a caregiver, you have to “roll with” everything that flies at you.
You have to keep going.
Being the support squad is a tough gig.
If you are looking for the right gift to inspire, uplift, and support the caregiver in your life, trust me, they could use it.
Because thoughtful, meaningful gifts that make life easier help tremendously on the days that suck (and there are a lot of days that suck).
We’ve put together this quick list to help you find great gift ideas that will help the cancer caregiver in your life stay strong and inspired.
So, without further ado, let’s dive in and find the perfect gift for your superhero caregiver!
1. Cancer Action Plan
One of my favorite gifts that was created by a cancer caregiver.
The hardest thing about being a caregiver… Figuring out how to balance your life (bills, work, and family) while helping your family member you love undergo cancer treatment.
Getting organized changes everything…. it makes a cancer situation so much easier. Because you have everything you need at your fingertips and you’re able to grab it and walk out the door.
You have a plan set up and ready to go for all of the important stuff…
- How to deal with appointments.
- How to deal with meals.
- How to be prepared for emergencies.
- How to create an environment that’s easier to navigate for someone with cancer.
- How to deal with medication.
- How to make time for you.
- How to plan your week the easier way.
The Cancer Action Plan focuses on SIMPLE action steps cancer caregivers can take so they have a plan to manage everything.
- An easy-to-follow, step-by-step plan so the things they need are set up ahead of time and ready to roll when they are.
- They’re easy to keep up with and take minutes to maintain.
- And most importantly, they help reduce the chaos and make the situation feel more under control.
Written by a family caregiver, The Cancer Action Plan is an easy-to-follow and practical “how to” PDF with step-by-step assignments and worksheets to help you manage cancer and balance your life too.
You can get The Cancer Action Plan here…
2. Hot Cherry Pillows
The job of caregiving comes with a tremendous amount of stress, aches, and pains. These pillows are AMAZING…
They provide warm, moist, soothing heat for sore muscles, joint pain, and aching backs. Or you can throw them in the freezer to help with swelling. They’re made with cherry pits (so they don’t mold ever) and they’re 100% washable right in the machine.
As a happy bonus, they smell incredible! Like warm cherry pie.
For caregivers who don’t have the time to take care of themselves after a long day, this gift will feel like a desperately needed relaxing heat therapy! Note: these pillows are also great for the pain and discomfort experienced by cancer patients.
You can grab a Hot Cherry Pillow here…
3. Send Relaxation
This ultimate gift of rest and relaxation was made for caregivers.
A luxurious collection that promotes comfort, relaxation, and wellbeing. Chamomille soap, a bath bomb, soft and cozy socks, an inspiring wine tumbler, and a scented soy candle that will help them nourish and relax their body.
Imagine what a warm relaxing bath could do for tired muscles and an aching back at the end of the day.
Add a glass of wine and this is the ultimate hour of relaxation for an overworked, exhausted caregiver.
As a special bonus, it comes in a cute gift box that includes a card so you can give them a handwritten note from you.
You can get this gift of relaxation here…
4. Self-love Mental Health Journal
The Self-Love Mental Health Journal is a great way for the caregiver in your life to have a series of daily activities that will help them focus on their mental health and well-being.
Caregivers run out of time to take care of themselves, and having a quick and easy activity that they can do every day to focus on their needs is an incredible gift.
This journal is laid out with daily pages that helps them focus on the things they love so they can incorporate more of that into their day. Cancer is FULL of stress and setbacks, so focusing on the positives in the midst of the chaos can be really difficult.
The self love journal will help them practice mindfulness and gratitude every day and identify insights to areas they want to strive for improvement.
You can get this mental health journal here…
5. Deep Tissue Back Massage Gun
When you never have time for a spa day, and you need relief quickly… this massage gun is the next best thing. It brings the relief of muscle aches and pains to your living room.
Caregiving is seriously hard work and this device was created to ease pain and muscle for athletes.
A great gift for a caregiver who doesn’t have a lot of extra time to spend on themselves, this device doesn’t just work for the tension in their back… Their legs, feet, and shoulders will also thank you as the soreness and stress is alleviated from their body.
You can get the Deep Tissue Back Massage Gun here…
6. Rage Page Journal
When cancer explodes into your family, it takes over. It dominates your time, your feelings, your thoughts, your sleep…It takes over everything.
The Rage Page guides you through prompts with swear words so you can vent and unload all the stress and anxiety you are feeling.
After that it helps you change your outlook, find perspective, and figure out how to get through.
If you’re looking for a practical gift for a cancer caregiver that will help them cope; a journal that eliminates the “fluff’ and allows you to curse, yell, and scream (in writing) and then helps you find the strength and motivation to keep moving forward, this is the one.
You can take a look at the Rage Page Journal here…
7. Gift Card or Gift Certificate
Giving them a gift card to their favorite store, local restaurants, or activites (like coffee, or movie theater) can allow caregivers to treat themselves and take a break from the insanity of caregiver life.
Give them a chance to escape from the chaos for just a little while and do something fun. That’s a HUGE meaningful gift.
8. Tote Bag with Exterior & Interior Pockets
This tote bag will be a lifesaver.
Finally, a bag that’s big enough and comfortable enough to carry everything you need all day long.
With 13 interior and exterior pockets, this tote bag can handle all the items caregivers usually have to carry with them…
It’s a convenient way to carry all these items in one place, making it easier to keep everything organized and accessible.
- Medication
- Medical supplies
- Snacks
- Extra clothing
And this tote bag comes in a variety of different colors and designs (52 total!) so you can choose the one that fits their personality and style.
You can check out this tote bag here…
9. Caregiver Handmade Necklace
This gorgeous handmade love knot necklace is a great reminder that you can do this and you’re appreciated on the days that suck. And there are a lot of days that suck.
This gift comes with an inspiring quote to add some encouragement and inspiration to the mix…
You can grab this handmade necklace here…
10. Chaos Coordinator Gifts- 20 oz Tumbler
A great (not to mention accurate) gift for cancer caregivers that couldn’t be more accurate. Being the support squad automatically means a whole lot of chaos!
Using this as a coffee mug to keep your coffee hot while you’re scrambling out the door is a great gift idea. And it’s even better when later on during the day it doubles as a water bottle and keeps your water nice and cold.
Drinking plenty of water throughout the day is essential for staying healthy, and a tumbler can help stay hydrated throughout their busy caregiver’s day.
You can find the Chaos Coordinator Tumbler here…
11. Audible Books
Audible books are a great option because it means you can lose yourself in someone else’s story and forget about your own for a while. Escape is a blessing for a caregiver.
And because you can download these books right to your phone, you can “get lost” whenever you have the time. Long car rides, endless waiting times, cooking dinner, trying to sleep but can’t… these books will help the caregiver in your life get lost in a good book and focus on someone else’s drama for a while.
It’s the little things, like a much-needed retreat no matter where they are!
You can get Audible Books by clicking here…
12. Resilience Agenda
One of our top ideas for cancer caregiver gifts this diary is a thoughtful gift that will help your caregiver focus on their mental health and build strength and resilience for whatever life throws at them. Cancer battles wreak havoc on your mental health. The fear, the terror, and the depression involved in a journey like this is beyond intense.
One minute everything is going fine and the next the whole world is falling down around you. It’s an insane roller coaster of feelings and emotions that you can’t get off of. You just have to roll with it.
Having an easy activity that will help focus on your mental health will make you stronger and help you build coping skills to withstand the stress. Mental strength is paramount so you can keep fighting for the long haul.
You can grab the Resilience Mental Fitness and Wellbeing Diary here…
13. Chakra Crystals Healing Bracelet & Necklace Stone
Chakra are energy points in your body that affect our emotional and physical well-being.
This jewelry set is not only bright and beautiful, it’s full of positive energy and healing. This is a very popular gift for caregivers and people with cancer as it alleviates anxiety, has strong spiritual properties and balances out your personal energy.
Who doesn’t need some added protection, and spiritual healing when they’re knee-deep in a situation of this magnitude?
You can get positive energy and spiritual healing here…
14. Gourmet Hot Chocolate Bomb DIY Gift Basket
This hot chocolate is incredible all on its own. But if you add a collection of items and a personalized mug and a bottle of Bailey’s Irish Cream and you have created one of those cute little gift baskets to brighten the day of any caregiver.
And as a bonus, a cup of hot chocolate with a little bit of Bailey’s will help them get a good night’s sleep on those frequent nights that rest feels out of their reach.
You can get these gourmet hot cocoa bombs here…
15. Let That Sh*t Go Journal
While most of us will tell you that being a caregiver is an honor… but the caregiving role is also incredibly difficult. You give up so much of your life to take on a situation like this.
Your focus is totally on the person you’re caring for and your needs get pushed aside. You miss things that are important to you and you feel guilty for wanting to do anything at all for yourself.
This is the gift of emotional support.
This journal is the best gift we’ve found to help them process the feelings and emotions that come with being a caregiver. And help them find peace and happiness in the journey.
You can get our favorite journal for caregivers here…
P.S. If you have a friend, neighbor, or someone you work with who has been diagnosed with cancer and you want to do something meaningful for the family but you have no idea what to do or how to proceed… The Support Squad Care Kit: 13 Genuine Ways to Help a Family with Cancer is packed full of thoughtful and practical ways that ANYONE can do.
Because when you ask a family with cancer “do you need anything?”, they’ll almost always say no. Why?
- They have NO clue what they need, how you can help, or what would make this any easier for them.
- They’re drowning in this situation trying to manage a complicated, terrifying diagnosis and it’s hard to see anything beyond that.
These are useful ways to help that will give the family the extra support they need without having to figure out a lot of complicated details.
Need More Gift Ideas?
Unique Gift Ideas For Someone With Cancer.
What’s the Best Gift for a Woman Going Through Cancer? Here’s 23 Ideas.
33 Great Ideas for Gifts for Children With Cancer.
50 Special and Thoughtful Gifts for Terminal Cancer Patients.
33 Best Memorial Gift Ideas For Someone Who is Grieving.
25 Gift Ideas For Men With Cancer That Will Make Life Better.
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