An overnight hospital stay is never fun and can feel like torture! Grab my list of the gifts men actually want when stuck in the hospital so you can make their day.
As a nurse, I’ve cared for many men in the hospital, so I’ve seen some GREAT (and not-so-great) gifts for male hospital patients.
Nobody likes to be hospitalized. But if that’s the place for healing, it’s the place to stay.
However, it’s boring to be in a hospital or medical facility. The days are long, with a lot of nothing to do.
Here’s a listing of some of THE BEST get-well gifts for men I’ve seen – you know – the gifts men actually want when stuck in the hospital!
My referral and affiliate links are below. If you click through & make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. My full disclosure can be viewed for details.
In a hurry? Just click on one of these three most popular gifts so you can complete your to-do list and be on your way to being a hero:
- Noise Cancelling Sound Machine (#pdlink)
- Jerky Flower Bouquet (#pdlink)(these are not real flowers; they’re made from beef jerky!)
- A Huge Box of Individual Snacks! Crave Box (#pdlink)
Happy shopping, and I hope your male patient feels better soon!
I’ve listed TONS of great ideas throughout this article, but you can use the quick-links table of contents right below for convenience. Also, there are bulleted gift idea lists under each category, and I’ve placed links (#pdlink) to some of these specific ideas to save you some shopping time.
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Connection is the #1 Get Well Gift for Men in the Hospital!
Hands down, in-person hospital visits (as allowed and appropriate—definitely call and ask first), video chats, and phone calls come at the top of the list.
Loneliness is a common complaint by people – even men – who must be hospitalized.
If your friend needs a video device, an iPad provides a great video experience, and here’s a super wallet-friendly tool that will work for this, too.
- 8″ HD display, 2X the storage (32 or 64 GB of internal storage and up to 1 TB with microSD card) + 2 GB RAM. 10th generation (2020 release).
Morale Boosters – Best Gift for Male Hospital Patients
Invest a few minutes of your time with your male friend by:
- visiting in-person
- video-chatting
- talking on the phone
It’s a great way to show ‘your person’ in the hospital that you care about him. Plus, it’s a big morale booster for him too.
And a short visit with his pet (again, only when & where appropriate) is sure to be a hit! A dog is a man’s best friend, right?
Men also appreciate short or informal visits with coworkers or neighbors. You don’t have to be a family member or best friend to feel okay about visiting.
Feeling a connection to others is a priceless gift.
My only caution is to visit alone or with just one other person at a time (not a big group). Large groups of visitors are exhausting to people while they’re in the hospital and can even prolong hospital stays.
Text and private social media messages are also appreciated, but visits, video chats, and phone calls will feel like more meaningful gifts to hospital patients.
Gift Summary List – Connection
- Personal visit #1
- Video chat – iPad or entry-level tablet (#pdlink) for short-term use
- Phone calls or texts
- Bring his pet for a visit
Should You Send Flowers to a Man in the Hospital?
YES!
But consider sending these:
Beef Jerky Flowers
A Beef Jerky Flower Bouquet (#pd link) is a no-fail plan. I mean – what’s not to love?
Well, technically, these look like flowers, but they’re not, so they make great hospital gifts that aren’t flowers! They look amazing, smell amazing, and taste amazing, too!
Real floral bouquets are also great get-well gifts for men.
It’s fun to watch men receive flower bouquets (#pdlink). The man in your life wouldn’t probably suggest it to you as a gift to buy, but trust me, it brings a smile to a man’s face just like it does for a woman.
Flowers are one of the simplest gifts to send to hospital patients (if you’re not going personally).
How to send flowers to a patient in the hospital.
- Call your favorite florist (or call one closest to the hospital to save on delivery charges if it’s based on distance traveled)
- Place your order (or have them pick something out for you based on your price range)
- Ask them to write your personalized message on a little card
- Give them the person’s name, ICU or floor name, and the room number
The florist will deliver the flowers to the ‘hospital flower room’. A person in that room will accept the flowers, look up the patient in the patient directory, and then immediately take them to the patient’s room (or the ICU nurse desk).
That’s it!
Can you send flowers to ICU?
The answer: it depends.
In most cases, yes you can.
Flowers are great gifts for ICU patients because it gives the patient something uplifting to look at while they are lying in bed.
There are a few reasons (usually medically related) that flowers in the ICU will not be permitted, so you should always call the ICU nurses’ station to get permission first.
Gift Summary List – Should You Send Flowers
- Beef Jerky Flower Bouquet (#pd link)
- Bouquet of real flowers! (#pdlink)
Entertainment for Men in the Hospital – An Awesome Gift Idea (That’s Not Flowers)!
Tech – The REALLY GOOD Gift for Male Hospital Patients YOU LOVE
If the man you are visiting is a close friend or family member and you want to splurge a little, Apple’s Airpods (#pdlink) and a 30-day free trial of a Prime membership (#pdlink) are going to be on the list for gifts men actually want when stuck in the hospital.
Free movie access is going to be a game-changer for him!
Another great option is unlimited access to online music (#pdlink). It’s entertaining and can drown out the noise. It is NOT quiet in the hospital.
If he’s a reader, an electronic reading device (#pdlink) will be a hit, as well as a membership for unlimited access to books (#pdlink).
Video Gaming Supplies
Are they into video gaming? A Nintendo Switch console (#pdlink) is going to be a top request. Of course, a new Nintendo Switch game (#pdlink)is an awesome addition!
Noise Canceling Tech
This compact and portable sound machine (#pdlink) can provide white noise, or six different nature sounds to help with sleep.
And, if noise is interfering with listening to music or sleep he may appreciate these affordable but noise-canceling special earplugs(#pdlink).
Gift Summary List – Entertainment
- Apple’s Airpods (#pdlink)
- 30-day free trial of a Prime membership (#pdlink)
- online music (#pdlink)
- electronic reading device (#pdlink)
- unlimited access to books (#pdlink)
- Nintendo Switch console (#pdlink)
- Nintendo Switch game (#pdlink)
- sound machine (#pdlink)
- special earplugs (#pdlink)
FOOD! Gifts Men Actually Want When Stuck in Hospital
I think we can all agree that hospital food is not good. It just doesn’t taste good at all.
But, do you know what does taste good? Steak(#pdlink). (Psst! Be sure to check ahead for diet restrictions!)
One of the most popular (but not the most frequent) hospital gifts for guys I’ve seen is a steak dinner. Have one delivered, or send them an Uber gift card in a sweet or funny card.
Better yet, bring a hot, juicy steak dinner along with a baked potato loaded with butter and sour cream, soup or veggies (for good measure). And if you really want to show the love, bring a blooming onion (#pdlink) too!
Another well-received idea is the gift of tasty snacks – I like the Crave Box(#pdlink). These are such a cute and fun idea, and there are a variety of boxes to match different cravings. Filled with 50 salty and sweet snacks, there’s always something good to snack on! And it’s very affordable too.
If you are short on time, headed to the hospital, and don’t have time to pre-order something, run into the closet grocery store and grab a candy bar bouquet. Always a hit – I promise!
Of course, a supply of his favorite coffee(#pdlink) might be the smallest gift that packs the biggest punch!
Gift Summary List – Food
- Steak (#pdlink)
- Uber gift card
- A complete dinner
- a blooming onion (#pdlink)
- Crave Box (#pdlink)
- a candy bar bouquet
- favorite coffee (#pdlink)
Get-Well Gift Basket for Man
It’s no secret being in a hospital or care facility is boring.
If you’re wondering what to send a man (instead of flowers), bring something for your male friend to do to fill the time.
Pre-Made
A great way to put some great little gifts together is to make a get-well gift basket for him. Of course, you can order pre-made get-well gift baskets for men (#pd link) in the hospital. Here’s another option below.
- BRIGHTEN YOUR LOVED ONE’S DAY with a luxurious, HANDSOME GET WELL GIFT SET he’ll love – and don’t waste your money on OVERPRICED gift baskets for men with GENERIC ITEMS you could find in any dollar store. At Giftier, we CURATE our Men’s Get Well Care Package with ELEGANT, QUALITY-CRAFTED comfort gifts he’ll use every day during recovery, from our relaxing neck pillow to our brain-stimulating puzzle book.
Do it Yourself (DIY) Gift Basket
Or you can make it more personal, and make your own. Here’s how to make a DIY gift basket for a man in the hospital:
- Start with an empty basket (#pd link) and fill it with fun or useful things.
- The more you know about your male patient, the easier it will be.
- Focus on his hobbies or favorite brands.
- For example, you can get him stocked up and ready to return to the golf course with tees(#pd link), golf gloves(#pd link), balls(#pd link), and golf ball candy(#pd links).
- Or, he might enjoy a little pampering. You can find some good shaving cream (#pd link), an old-fashioned-looking razor (#pd link), or if needed, an electric razor(#pd link), and a thick, soft washcloth (#pd links).
- A complete spa set (#pd link) with a men’s nail set (#pd link)will also be well received as get-well baskets for men.
- Finally, something simple and surprisingly well-received by men is a set of colored pencils (#pd link) and coloring books(#pd link).
- Anxiety is a common emotion experienced by long-term patients, so a calming activity is a good idea to add to the basket. Just the thought of dealing with the insurance company can create anxiety.
Gift Summary List – Get-Well Gift Baskets
- get-well gift baskets for men (#pd link)
- empty basket (#pd link)
- tees (#pd link)
- golf gloves (#pd link)
- balls (#pd link)
- golf ball candy (#pd link)
- shaving cream (#pd link)
- razor (#pd link)
- electric razor (#pd link)
- washcloth (#pd link)
- spa set (#pd link)
- nail kit for men (#pd link)
- colored pencils (#pd link)
- coloring books (#pd link)
Clothing – More Gifts Men Actually Want When Stuck in the Hospital
Clothing can be an excellent gift for hospital patients. But the best clothing gift for a person in the hospital may not be what you’re thinking of right now.
While your friend might like to wear official sports team gear or brand-name clothes, these are not what should bring a man to the hospital right now.
Have you ever tried eating while sitting in a bed or reclined chair?
No, the get-well clothing-related gifts that men appreciate during a long stay are clothing basics that are stretchy, soft, and comfortable (and easy to put on or take off).
Non-skid socks are a priceless gift during recovery and are especially helpful if the patient is doing physical therapy. They keep the feet warm and prevent them from sliding while walking around.
- Premium Material & Breathable Comfort : Made from 97% Terylene + 3% Spandex, these non slip socks are soft, breathable, and quick-drying. The high-quality knitted fabric ensures durability and retains its shape even after machine washing.
Also, helpful pocket t-shirts are a great gift. First, it’s not a hospital gown! Second, a little pocket is handy if he has little items to keep track of while navigating medical equipment while he walks.
- Eversoft Cotton Men’s Pocket Undershirt, 6 Pack
Underwear. Enough said.
- Soft, breathable cotton
Finally, not really clothing, but a bag with a zipper is a helpful and convenient way to keep things together, close by, and safe while stuck in a small hospital room.
- PACKAGE: You will receive 4 pieces security bank deposit money bags in black.
Gift Summary List – Clothing
Printable List of the Best Get-Well Gifts Men Want When Stuck in the Hospital
In closing, staying in a hospital or facility for a long time is never fun or pleasant.
But great gifts for patients can help make their stay more enjoyable – or at least bearable. I hope you now know what to get for someone in the hospital.
And don’t forget, as I said at the beginning of this post, that an in-person visit is the most priceless gift.
When it’s possible, I recommend you start with that!
Before you go, if you struggle with having me-time for your self-care, grab your copy of my FREE Self-care Starter Guide! Click on this link here to grab it now.
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Post originally published October 29, 2019
Be sure to grab your FREE Self-care Starter Guide! Lisa Kimrey is a 33-year veteran registered nurse (RN), speaker, and author of the Bible study, The Self-care Impact: Motivation and Inspiration for Wellness. At Mylifenurse, Lisa combines her nursing expertise with Scripture-based encouragement to show readers who serve and care for others how to begin and maintain their self-care journey – without feeling guilty or overwhelmed – to feel happy, healthy, and rejuvenated.