Introduction to the Thoughtful Christmas Gift Guide for Those with Chronic Illness and Disability
Welcome to our 2023 Christmas gift guide! The holiday season is a time of joy and togetherness. But for those living with chronic illness and disabilities, it can also bring unique challenges. Choosing gifts with care and consideration can bring joy and comfort to recipients during the festive season and beyond. In this guide, we focus on individuals with chronic illnesses and disabilities by offering a curated selection of thoughtful gifts that cater to their unique needs and interests. The guide is organised into five themes with a wide range of ideas. Partnering with brands who stand out for the quality of their products and their brand ethos. At RR we champion sustainability and social enterprise. Items have been gifted by brands in exchange for honest reviews and social media PR. We also have some exclusive discount codes. We hope this guide inspires you to find the perfect gifts!
The gift of Self Care
Self-care is a trend which isn’t waning post-Covid. It’s especially vital for those with chronic illness and disability because it serves as a lifeline to manage symptoms, reduce stress, and maintain overall well-being. It empowers individuals to regain control over their lives, fostering resilience and improved quality of life despite the challenges they face.
Self care incorporates a huge variety of practices, with popular options including relaxing with a face mask or mindful colouring. Here, we bring you two unique options: breathwork cards and worry dolls. Both are distinctive for their many health benefits and are beautifully made to boot.
Breath Practice Cards by Rebecca Moore
Breathwork offers a multitude of physical benefits, including improved oxygen flow, reduced tension, and enhanced lung capacity. Mentally, it’s a powerful stress-reduction tool, promoting relaxation, focus, and emotional balance, making it a valuable practice for overall well-being.
Why I love this gift:
If you have never tried breathwork then these cards are the perfect introduction. If your a regular practitioner, you’ll enjoy them because they freshen your routine and spark new ideas. The box contains a small book with background to every card and 50 unique breath practice cards. Each card has a different style of practice and is also beautifully illustrated. Whether you’d like to focus, relax, elevate, release, connect, and more, there’s a card for you. Priced at £16 and available from all good bookshops.
Worry Dolls from Rex London
Worry dolls, originating from Mayan Guatemalan culture, have a rich tradition of providing comfort through storytelling. When the Mayan people of Guatemala have worries, they tell them to worry dolls and then put these under their pillow at night. By morning, the worry dolls have taken all the worries away. This provides a cathartic release, reducing emotional strain. For those housebound or isolated due to chronic illness or disability, this practice fosters mental well-being, offering relief and solace during challenging times.
Why I love this gift:
Rex London has a wide variety of worry dolls which cater for all concerns. Each one is handmade in Guatemala and they are gorgeous. My favourites are the self affirmation dolls, which come in six varieties at £2.95 each, and the Love Yourself doll at £5.95. Self affirmation boosts self-esteem and self-confidence which is ideal for those challenging days. The Love Yourself doll is a lovely pick me up when symptoms are making life difficult and helps with resilience and self acceptance.
The gift of Personal Security
Personal security is vital for those with chronic illness or disability, ensuring their safety, peace of mind, and independence. It empowers them to navigate daily life with confidence, especially in situations where they are more vulnerable or additional support may be required. We feature two great items; a personal alarm for use outside the home and a door handle lock for use at home.
Ashley Personal Safety Alarm
A personal alarm is designed to deter attackers and provide security. Alarms are also invaluable for individuals with chronic illness or disability. They offer immediate assistance, a sense of security in emergencies, and enhance safety and well-being. The Ashley alarms are reliable, durable, small and stylish. Ashley donates 5% of profits to Operation Underground Railroad and other charitable causes to accelerate the rate of change in the world.
Why I love this gift:
The Ashley alarm features a loud 130db siren and a 200-lumen strobing LED light. This guarantees it’ll attract attention! Once activated they can run for an hour (unless you switch them off before then). I often clip mine to my mobility scooter key, in case I get into difficulties out and about. It can also be clipped to a wheelchair or worn on a lanyard so that if a disabled person needs assistance, they just pull the alarm. You can attach them anywhere that’s handy. Priced £24.95 each, they’re available in 4 colours and have a 2-year warranty. We’ve obtained an exclusive 15% discount with the code SABINAROSE15
Defender Swiftlock
The Defender Swiftlock is a self-adhesive internal door lock, designed to secure entry points to properties or specific rooms. It prevents any lever handle from being pushed downward, effectively securing the door and preventing it from being opened. During everyday use you can move the jammer upwards within the ratchet, so it sits flush below the door handle lever. To remove the lock just press the release button and slide the lock down. The key safe from Defender Security is also a great product, see my review here.
Why I love this gift:
Being disabled comes with added vulnerability in the event of an intruder in the home. The Defender Swiftlock can effectively turn any room into a safe room (sometimes called a panic room). It’s super easy to install; it comes with adhesive to stick it in place, or you can use the screws provided. I also love how quick and easy it is to deploy. A twin pack costs £17.95 so you can install on two doors with lever handles. Don’t forget to check out the full range of Defender Security products.
The gift of a Beautiful Home
A beautiful home provides comfort, boosting mood and motivation for those with chronic illness or disability. A soothing environment, enhancing overall well-being and reducing stress is important for individuals facing chronic illness or disability, especially when housebound. On average, disabled households (with at least one disabled adult or child) need an additional £1,122 per month to have the same standard of living as non-disabled households (Scope). In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, beautiful homewares are likely to be seen as unnecessary luxuries in household spending, making them a thoughtful gift for disabled people. We feature two brands which create products which draw on the beauty of crystals, and French style, respectively.
Crystal Suncatcher
A crystal suncatcher is a beautiful way to decorate the home. Essential a collection of crystals which you hang in your home, they catch and reflect sunlight. Regular readers will have seen my crystal healing feature and know I love crystals in my home. I’m a fan of Xander Kostroma crystal jewellery and homewares, as all UK and overseas staff are paid a living wage (XK is part of Living Wage Foundation). Xander Kostroma has a wide range of styles of suncatcher, so you can choose based on a favourite crystal, arrangement, or colour. All of the homewares and jewellery and accessories are handmade using genuine crystals.
Why I love this gift:
Dysautonomia includes conditions affecting the autonomic nervous system (e.g. diabetes, MS, Parkinson’s, ME, POTS) Light sensitivity is a common symptom of dysautonomia leading to discomfort/overwhelm in response to bright light. No one enjoys being in the dark day after day (well, vampires maybe). As crystal suncatchers work in both low and bright light, they’re the perfect solution! They don’t need much light for the crystals to reflect a gentle light and sparkle and when I can, I love to watch the wall of rainbows my suncatcher creates in a brighter light.
My favourite is the XL raw quartz suncatcher (pictured above) which costs £48, it features both polished and raw statement pieces of genuine quartz on gold tone plated alloy. Quartz is great for amplifying energy, clarity and enlightenment; it corresponds to the crown chakra, supporting an open mind and higher understanding of self. You can save 10% on all future purchases when you sign up to the XK mailing list.
Stylish French Kitchenware
Maison Cherie curates from the best traditional French producers to offer stylish homewares. From French linen tea towels made by Coucke and Le Jacquard Français to porcelain match strikes and La Rochère glassware. There is also a selection of other items including toys, picnic baskets, antiques and subscription boxes. For this gift guide we chose a tea towel and a glass goblet.
Why I love this gift:
The Parisian skyline tea towel, from Le Jacquard Français comes in a selection of jewel toned colours. It’s 100% cotton and a generous size at 60×80 cms, making it ideal for use in the kitchen or as a mini table cloth/clothing protector when eating on the sofa/bed, at a picnic or in a wheelchair. It’s currently on sale at £7.80.
Many spoonies take regular medication, it can feel less like a chore if you use gorgeous glassware such as this La Rochère stemmed wine glass which is £8. La Rochère (est. 1475) is France’s oldest glassware company and the bee or Abeille design is inspired by a famous pattern belonging to Napoleon, evoking the rural landscape of the South of France. There is a range of different glass types in several colourways as well as a jug, carafe and candles.
The gift of Festive Decoration
Festive decorations are an integral part of the holiday season. They create a vibrant, uplifting environment that can significantly improve the quality of life of those with chronic illness and disability. These decorations empower even the sickest individuals to participate in and enjoy the festive spirit. This inclusivity and joy contributes to a sense of belonging and well-being during the holiday season.
Paper Star Lights
Paper Star Lights produce an ambient glow in an array of colours which softens the light, creates a gentle radiance and subtly transforms a space. They can be used as Christmas lights, a feature lampshade or party decor both indoors and out. Each starlight is made by hand following traditional methods. It is hand screen-printed with plant-based pigments, then hand punched with tissue inserts added to create an atmospheric stained glass glow. Paper star lights come in a wide variety of colours and designs. They tie over an existing light source e.g. bulb (40W max), fairy lights, and light kits are also available.
Why I love this gift:
As mentioned above (The Gift of a Beautiful Home) light sensitivity is a common symptom of dysautonomia. So a beautiful, subtle light is a game changer! Paper Star Lights have a soft glow which doesn’t set off symptoms but allows me to see well enough not to bump into furniture. It’s so pretty it’s definitely something to use year-round. The wide range of colours and styles means there something for every taste and decor. The Damask Aquamarine is picture here for £16.95. It has a rich turquoise background with tissue paper inserts in green, pink, blue and yellow. We have a 10% discount code for you: MakeMagic10.
Hallmark Themed Ornaments
Hallmark have a wide range of ornaments for fans of Harry Potter, Star Wars, Peanuts, Lego, Nintendo and DC Comics. Not only do these bring festive spirit to interiors, they’re also a great way to enjoy a favourite franchise.
Why I love this gift:
Christmas is always a busy time and those with an energy limiting chronic illness need to pace themselves carefully. It can be difficult to go all-out on decorations; putting them up and taking them down is energy-intensive. It can be easier to focus on a few key pieces and enlist help if even those are too taxing. These Harry Potter ornaments are perfect as they are richly detailed and Christmas at Hogwarts is a beautifully festive time. I’ve picked the trolley with trunk and Hedwig which costs £8 and the golden snitch which is a premium online exclusive at £15. They can also be displayed at other themed events or you can leave them up and enjoy the Harry Potter magic year-round.
The gift of Cosmic Creativity
For those who are housebound it can be easy to lose sense of time. Days and weeks merge together. And those too sick to work, quickly realise how artibrary days of the week are when they’re all the same. Fundamentally, time passes differently when you’re sick. Often it’s the constant power of change in nature which grounds us in time; moon phases, seasons etc. Here we’ve selected two cosmic themed gifts to harness that power: an astrology almanac for 2024 and the Moonology diary and card deck.
Moonology Diary and Messages Deck
In the Moonology diary award-winning astrologer Yasmin Boland shows us how to work with the rhythms of the lunar cycle to unleash our power and create positive change. Every week includes information about key events and energies, as well as rituals, tools, and techniques to help us work with each New and Full Moon. The Moonology Messages deck helps us tap into the Moon’s ancient and modern lunar wisdom, which beams down on us every night. These 48 divination cards embody the Moon in all Her glory. Ask a question and you will (almost always!) get a firm answer based on lunar symbolism. These very intuitively led cards will help you to access your own wisdom and knowledge.
Why I love this gift:
I sometimes find it hard to keep up with one month changing to the next. But I love to spot the moon at night with it’s ethereal glow. As lunar cycles are roughly monthly, seeing what phase the moon is in helps me feel more aware and grounded. Whilst I live in my own lunar dimension, I still need to know what the actual date is for medical appointments, repeat prescriptions etc. The moonology diary helps me make the best of both worlds; calendar time and lunar phases. The lunar message cards are a great way to access the moon’s energy and maintain awareness that like the moon I too will have periods of waxing and waning. Both are available from publisher Hay House with reduced prices, the moonology diary is now £8, whilst the message deck is £11.
Astrology Almanac 2024 by Emma Howarth
Cover blurb: “Astrology affects you every day, not just when it’s the season of your star sign (although this is your most powerful time to shine!). Divided into the 12 zodiac signs and detailing every major astrological event, follow the planets and zodiac signs as they shift throughout the year, and learn how to live your best life in every sign.” This is a great guide for both beginners and seasoned practitioners. It is also beautifully illustrated.
Why I love this gift:
I was lucky enough to receive a proof of this book in the summer. It was my first foray into astrology and I fell in love with it! Those who follow my bookstagram will know I gave it a five star review. It’s ideal for beginners as the intro points to free online resources to help find your sun, moon and rising sign so you can follow the yearly events. And also for those with greater knowledge as towards the end is a section on deep diving into houses. If you’re looking to learn more about astrology and mark the passage of monthly signs this is for you. Available in beautiful hardback, currently reduced to £13.20.
Conclusion to the Thoughtful Christmas Gift Guide for Those with Chronic Illness and Disability
In conclusion, this Thoughtful Christmas Gift Guide for Those with Chronic Illness and Disability offers a curated selection of meaningful gifts catering to unique needs and interests. These thoughtful presents bring joy, comfort, security, beauty, and creativity to individuals facing chronic illness or disability, making their festive season and beyond brighter and more enjoyable. We hope this guide inspires you to find the perfect gifts and spread love and warmth during the holiday season!
Lovely range of gifts and I love how they’re themed.
I love the moon set for my gf she’s really into new age stuff