2020 Holiday Gifts Treating Clinicians Will Love

By Megan Mitchell, PT, DPT, Kelsey Swope, MOT, OTR/L, BCG, and Maureen Colket, MA, CCC-SLP

This year, especially this year, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists deserve something that will help lighten their load. We know that you may not have the time or the energy to come up with the perfect gift, so we did it for you.

Expanding on last year’s popular list, we’ve updated our three categories (clinical, functional, and fun) to ensure the clinician in your life starts off 2021 on the right foot.

The items on this list will help make their life a bit easier and their day a bit brighter. These are truly the gifts that will keep on giving.

Clinical Tools your SLP, OT, and PT will love

EnnoLogic Decibel Meter and Recorder. This lightweight, portable gadget is essential in providing voice therapy, particularly for LSVT LOUD treatments, to record vocal intensity. Take your therapy game to the next level with this accurate, easy to use meter.

Sharpie Permanent Markers. Whether it’s for memory cues or adding something to a home exercise program, a Sharpie within reach is always needed by SLPs! With their wider stroke weight, messages written with a Sharpie marker can be more easily seen by those with vision impairments. The trusted Sharpie brand won’t let you down!

Gait belt. When you need something to grab onto to keep your patient safe. Whether it’s during toileting, showering, meal preparation, or functional mobility during ADLs and IADLs, a gait belt always comes in handy! It’s easy to roll up and keep in your bag for whenever the time is right.

Electrical Tape. All sizes and colors can be used for labeling, increasing awareness, decreasing distraction, taping up new signs or instructions; you name it. Always have a permanent marker handy for it, too. Favorite colors include white, black, and neon yellow!

Goniometers. These clear plastic measurement devices, though simple in design, are incredibly useful for the treating clinician. However, despite their utility, they are very easy to misplace. Therefore it is important to put a few of these in your basket at checkout!

Balance Pods. Small, lightweight, and versatile. What more could a house call clinician ask for? Balance pods are great for challenging proprioception, reactive, and anticipatory balance. They can also be used in the replacement of cones for obstacle courses and agility drills. Trust me, the physical therapist in your life will love it!

Functional Gifts Your Clinician Will Appreciate

ZOMAKE Reverse Umbrella. When it rains, it pours. But that doesn’t mean you and your belongings have to get soaked. Every clinician providing house calls would love this inside-out umbrella designed to keep those inside the car splatters from happening. The fun designs inside the umbrella are sure to brighten any rainy day!

FiveJoy Car Cleaning Gels. Calling all Type A therapists! These cleaning gels will be your new magic wand to keep your mobile office clean and dust-free. This combo pack includes four fun colors and can be used on laptops as well as in various car crevices. Enjoy the satisfying look of your perfectly cleaned surfaces!

Rolling Briefcase. Whether you’re looking for cute, fun, or professional, there is a rolling briefcase that’s right for you. Most have handles that you can use as an over the shoulder bag but also allow you to roll it for the days when you may have more items to carry or want to take it easy on your back. Put all of your supplies in separate sections to make it easier to find your keys, pens/markers, fine motor activities, and computer!

Mounted car phone holder. While driving throughout the day, it’s important to know where we are going and do it safely. Kill two birds with one stone by getting one that charges your phone, too.

Packing Cubes. When it comes to treating patients in their homes organization and efficiency are key. Packing cubes are a great way to help your clinician group their essential tools together and ensure they aren’t wasting time rummaging through their bag. Make sure you get the ones that are transparent (like those linked above) so they can easily pick the right cube.

Blue Light Glasses. We all spend time looking at our devices, but clinicians, in particular, get a lot of screen time. This can lead to eye strain, headaches, and fatigue. Blue light glasses are the perfect gift to help reduce some of those symptoms and make their day just a bit easier!

Fun Gifts To Brighten Their Day

Burt’s Bees Hand Repair Gift Set. Winter is rough on hands anyway, and this year is shaping up to be even more challenging for those dry skin woes! Send a little self-care hint to your favorite therapists and help them combat the drying effect of endless hand washing and sanitizing!

When Life Gives You Pears: The Healing Power of Family, Faith, and Funny People by Jeannie Gaffigan. A fun and insightful read for all, the SLP in your life will especially enjoy reading this story of Jeannie Gaffigan, comedian Jim Gaffigan’s wife, and her battle with a brain tumor. Gaffigan provides a personal, patient’s view of the rehabilitation process. This will make a great addition to that clinical book collection!

Water Bottle. We stress to our patients the need to drink, drink, drink, and stay hydrated. But, are you doing the same? Get a big water bottle that you can carry around with you or keep in your car and make sure you are staying hydrated! Many bottles are insulated and will stay cool throughout the day, no matter the temperature.

Words of affirmation notebook. There are so many times where we can say “Wow, I just did a great job with my patient and really made a difference in their life!” or even better, your patient tells you something similar! Write these down in a planner or notebook and look back on them when you’ve had a challenging session or difficult day.

Personalized Appointment Book. Who doesn’t love a good planner? Clinicians look at their planner at least three times a day, if not more! So why not treat the therapist in your life to a personalized appointment book? There are plenty of vendors to choose from on Etsy (we linked the one we liked)- plus you’d be supporting a local business. Win-win.

Hand Sanitizer Holder. Here’s a way to keep your clinician safe while sprucing up their bag and showcasing their personality. We all need to be diligent about washing our hands, but when soap isn’t around why not use hand sanitizer in style?