If a friend or family member will soon have surgery, and you’d like to give them a special get well gift, forget about flowers or magazines and think outside the box. After all, presents don’t have to be tangible items. Time and care can mean the world to someone who is recovering from surgery.

Provide food

Anyone who has recently had surgery will probably be in some pain and not feel quite up to par. How about arranging to take food twice a day to the housebound patient? Casseroles, soups, or anything else easy to transport and heat make great choices. Not only will the patient get a healthy meal with no effort on their part, but it may encourage them to eat even when their appetites are less than healthy.

Providing food for the patient who has children also gives them peace of mind knowing that their family is eating healthy while they are unable to cook. If you are not the cooking type, buy two weeks’ worth of gift cards from a variety of restaurants that deliver to the patient’s area. Beyond the benefit of food, taking meals to them also means they get a visit with you every day to combat the isolation and boredom recovery brings.

Clean and do other errands

Housekeeping can fall by the wayside when a patient is recovering from surgery. How about the special get well gift of a twice-weekly cleaning service while they are recuperating? If money is an issue, offer to do the cleaning yourself. Other helpful things you can do are refilling cat litter boxes, feeding and watering pets and plants, taking out the garbage, going to the grocery store, washing their laundry, or driving them to doctor’s appointments.

When looking for a special get well gift idea for a loved one, consider the gift of your time and effort, and be assured that your gift will be appreciated.