Thoughtful Sympathy Care Basket Ideas for Someone Who is Grieving
"Grief is the last act of love we have to give to those we loved. Where there is deep grief, there was great love" - Unknown
Losing a loved one is an incredibly difficult experience, (one I’ve unfortunately had to deal with myself) but it’s one we’ll all go through at some point in our lives.
Finding ways to support someone in grief can feel very overwhelming, and you may feel like there’s nothing you can do.
While nothing can take away their pain, a thoughtful sympathy care basket can offer some comfort, and remind them that they’re not alone at this emotional and unpredictable time.
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What Makes a Sympathy Care Basket Special?
A sympathy care basket is more than just items, it’s a heartfelt way to offer comfort, love, and support to someone going through a very hard time.
The most meaningful care baskets are those that are thoughtful, personal, and tailored to the grieving person's needs.
Here are the ways I think you can make a sympathy care basket truly special:
Make it personal - have things which reflect the person’s personality, and the relationship they had with their lost loved one.
Emotional and Practical items - Choose items which offer both emotional and practical support.
It can be DIY - you don’t have to spend a fortune to show your support. Simple words of love, or a homemade item can mean the world.
During times of grief, it’s the small comforts that can make a huge difference.
So let’s look at the meaningful items that you can include in a sympathy care package:
Comforting Ideas
Sometimes, all a person needs during a time of grief, is some comfort. The following items can be great to put in your care basket.
Soothing eye mask - for puffy eyes, a calming eye mask will do wonders.
Soft blanket - all you want to do is curl up during grief, therefore a soft, cosy blanket or throw would be a perfect comforting gift to add.
Cosy socks - warm, fluffy socks can make someone feel better.
Aromatherapy candle - a lightly scented candle can create a calming atmosphere, to help unwind and relax.
Pyjamas - sometimes a comfortable pair of PJs is just what a person needs to snuggle up in.
A heartfelt message - writing a little note can be the most meaningful part of the basket. Offering words of love, support, and reassurance show them they are not alone.
Food and Treat Ideas
Taking care of themselves at this difficult time can be exhausting, and often, eating is the last thing on their mind. Offering easy-to-enjoy foods can be an amazing way to help someone who is grieving.
Nourishing soup or casserole - a homemade ready-to-eat meal can be the perfect way to support a grieving loved one. Soups and casseroles are very comforting foods.
Oven-ready meal - think lasagne, cottage pie or a hot pot. These quick, easy meals can be pre-cooked by you, and are ready to reheat when they don’t have the energy to cook.
Chocolate - their favourite chocolate bar can be a lovely treat to cheer them up (and who doesn’t love a little chocolate)...
Favourite Cookies - Buy or bake their favourite cookies, and when they’re feeling down, they can grab a cookie for a moment’s smile.
Healthy Snacks - comfort eating chocolate isn’t ideal all the time, so putting some healthy snacks in like some dried fruits, or granola bars to give a boost of energy, will do wonders.
Sachets of herbal teas - adding in a box, or a few sachets of their favourite herbal tea will show comfort. Think lemon balm, or calming, night-time sleep teas.
Self-Care and Relaxation Items
Grief is both emotionally and physically exhausting, so add a few relaxing and soothing items into the basket:
Sleep Aids – a sound machine can really help to aid better rest. Waves or rain noises have been known to relax the mind.
Bath Salts or Essential Oils – a warm bath with a swirl of Lavender or chamomile oil, or some soothing bath salts can help to relax.
Adult Colouring Book – this is great for a quiet distraction, and a way to keep the mind occupied.
Lavender Pillow Spray – A lavender mist will help promote a restful night's sleep.
Gift Card for Audiobooks – Listening to an audiobook can encourage moments of escape, so give them a gift card to purchase a couple of books.
Sentimental Ideas
It’s a lovely touch to add something sentimental into your sympathy basket. Here’s some ideas for you:
Photo Frame - giving someone a photo of their lost loved one can be a wonderful reminder.
Jewellery - memorial jewellery items can be a lovely keepsake. It could be a small photo necklace, or something as simple as an angel wing charm.
Journal - purchasing a beautiful journal or notebook can be a wonderful idea, so they can write down how they feel, or add in memories of the person they’ve lost.
So they are all the ideas of things you can include in your sympathy care baskets, but I also wanted to share a quick note of the things “not” to include.
It can be very easy to go too far, and include items which could cause more upset than comfort:
What Should Be Avoided in Sympathy Care Baskets?
Alcohol - could be problematic if the person grieving is struggling to cope.
Inspirational Books - these could present a “moving on” too quickly approach, therefore avoid any items which are overly cheerful, as this is not the time.
Items requiring a lot of effort - things like jigsaw puzzles, or elaborate meal kits can often be too much, due to the motivation needed for them.
Insensitive sympathy cards - oftentimes, the wording inside of bought sympathy cards can be impersonal, therefore a touching note can be a lot more sensitive.
How to Present your Sympathy Care Basket
Although the person grieving is not going to be paying much attention to how a gift is given to them, it’s still nice to present your basket in a beautiful way.
All you need to remember is, the goal of your sympathy basket is to make it feel like a comforting gift, not something that requires effort to unpack.
Here are five thoughtful ways to present your sympathy care basket:
Reusable Basket or Gift Box – a simple and elegant basket or decorative box is ideal, and it can be reused at a later date. You could also line it with soft tissue paper, which will add a warm touch.
Wrap with Care – Use soft, neutral-coloured wrapping materials, such as cellophane, and tie it with a ribbon, to give a gentle feel. It’s best to avoid any bright colours.
Thoughtful Presentation – Arrange items neatly, placing the most comforting or meaningful ones on top. Maybe you could add a sprig of lavender, for that extra special touch (and a gorgeous, soothing aroma).
Handwritten Note – Attach a little heartfelt, personal note expressing your sincere condolences. This one touch can provide more comfort than any item in the basket.
Deliver with a Gentle Approach – If delivering in person, let them know that you care, and that there are no expectations to chat. If you are shipping, or leaving the basket at the door, make sure to include a kind note explaining your intention.
I hope this post has shared some insight into how you can offer someone love and support, in a time when they’ll need it most.
For a person who’s grieving, a self-care sympathy basket is not there to “fix” grief. It is a way to offer small comforts, to make the hard days just that little bit easier.
It is a thoughtful way to show you care, but the most important gift you can offer someone is your presence and support.
Grieving can be a very lonely place, therefore a simple text, call, or visit can mean the world to someone.
Sometimes, no words are needed, just hugs xoxo
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