Job Discussion Forums

[mimimimi]

I'm going to visit an older Japanese woman in the hospital. She has advanced-stage cancer. I'd like to bring her a gift. I was thinking of flowers which is traditional back home. Food items are not an option. Is there a more appropriate gift I should be giving or is pretty much anything okay? Thank-you.

[Glenski]

Be careful with the flowers.

Nothing in a pot. That suggests the patient will stay there a long time. Even if this is going to be true, don't emphasize that with a potted plant. Get cut flowers.

Nothing strong-smelling. This may offend the patient (normally and when they are on certain medicine or in their medical condition) or others nearby.

Nothing that dies easily. Consult the florist.

Any color is ok.

[mimimimi]

Thank-you very much Glenski! By the way, do you happen to also know if the patient's rooms in most hospitals are usually quite warm or cool? If the latter, I was also thinking of giving her some comfy socks. Thank-you.

[Glenski]

They are usually warm enough. I can't say for people with late-stage cancer. I've visited people in just the regular wards, the elderly care facilities, and the maternity wards. I suppose short socks would be all right.

[mimimimi]

FYI, I went to visit the lady in the hospital. I gave her a bouquet of cut flowers in an oasis and some fluffy socks. She seemed to really appreciate them both.

I was impressed with the university hospital, which is only about 10 years old. It had a Doutor Coffee shop, Lawson convenience store, flower shop, hair salon, restaurant, coin internet stations, and a grand piano in the lobby, which in itself looked like a hotel lobby with high ceilings and a double escalator. . . pretty much one-stop-shopping.

She shared a partitioned room with three other ladies. Each area had a mini fridge, mini flat-screen TV, mini dresser and a wooden safety-deposit-box-type cubby for her valuables which she could open with an electronic key card. She also had a large locker for her belongings.

[Khyron]

[mimimimi]

The hospital I visited was in Inba Village (near Narita, Chiba). It is called Nippon Medical School. I was once in another hospital with similar facilities in Gifu (but the piano was bigger!). It too was in a rural area, but was shiny and new.