DECATUR - We've all got those people on our holiday gift lists for whom it is particularly difficult to shop. It could be your techno-geek uncle, brainiac dad or raw vegan sister who eschews all things commercial.

But shopping for someone who has recently fallen ill or is going through a life-altering health change also can be a tricky and delicate task. Area experts offered their gift ideas for people with a variety of special health considerations.

Peggy Moffett, activity director at Imboden Creek Health Services, said residents of long-term care facilities might appreciate some of the simpler, more practical things in life.

One gift her residents can always use is bath and body stuff such as lotions, soaps and perfumes. A new scent and a little bit of pampering is good for just about anybody, she said.

Sweaters, warm pullovers and sweat suits can help keep residents comfortable when visiting different areas of the facility, and they're comfortable and easy to get on and off, Moffett said.

Books or stories on CD help keep the mind active and engaged, she said. And one gift she's really seen her residents enjoy is a digital photo frame that can be loaded with dozens of family pictures, which are displayed on a cycle.

"An album is great," Moffett said, but the frames provide lots of diverse images for those who sit and watch the show.

Homemade cookies or candy can remind residents of traditional family holiday celebrations. Just be sure to inquire about any special dietary restrictions, Moffett said.

"They'll have a certain recipe that they used to make," she said, adding that gifts that remind them of special times in their lives often will have residents talking for weeks.

But material gifts aside, Moffett said, the most precious thing a person can give is his or her time.

"Just plain visit," she said. "You don't have to stay long, but come and visit. That would be the best thing that they would enjoy most of all."

Val Jordan and Dr. Renata Moore of the Cancer Care Center at St. Mary's Hospital offered gift ideas for people going through cancer and their families. For those in treatment, Jordan said, a gift basket can be a wonderful way to pass time spent sitting at home, in chemotherapy or waiting for doctor visits.

"You can personalize it," she said, suggesting music, books on CD, snacks, gas cards and gift cards as ways to customize the basket.

Top on Jordan and Moore's list of gift ideas were everyday items and services - things that could make a person's day a little easier. Jordan said the gifts don't have to be material things but should require a little more thought.

Be creative by offering to do things around the house and yard such as making dinner once a week, doing lawn services, shuttling the kids to school activities and just being there for the person, she said.

"People always say to patients and to other people, 'Let me know what you need,' " said Jordan. "But for me to say to you, 'I need that,' that's a hard thing for a lot of people to do."

Do someone's Christmas shopping, Jordan suggested. If they can't get out of the house, help them feel part of the season.

Gifts and services that can help ease some of the side effects of cancer and its treatments also send thoughtful messages, said Jordan. Massages, pedicures and spa days can help people feel special, she said. Soft blankets and hats can be especially handy in the wintertime, Moore said.

"People don't realize how much they miss them until hair loss, they're getting chilled because they're sitting in one place for a long period of time, and they really appreciate those things," she said.

Don't be afraid to give to those who might be in the end stages of their illness, Moore and Jordan said. Offering to write down their memories or other messages for their family members can be a great giftd.

"I've had people that have done like birthday cards for somebody for the next 10 years," Jordan said.

Helping someone else to give of him or herself is an unforgettable way to spend the holiday season.

"Even tape recording somebody is a great way to keep the legacy," Jordan said.

If it does your heart good to give, consider gifts that will keep your loved ones' hearts strong. Supporting a friend or family member with heart disease through a difficult lifestyle change is an important task, said cardiologists Drs. Luis Caceres and Tansel Turgut.

"The best gift for somebody with heart disease is the gift of knowledge," said Caceres, with Prairie Cardiovascular Consultants.

The more that people know about their disease, he said, the more they know about what is important in controlling it, and the more they pass the message to their friends, families and kids.

"They have to understand how they acquired heart disease," Caceres said.

Prevention is key for someone who might be at risk for cardiovascular illness, he said. People can think of creative ways to help loved ones foster positive lifestyle modifications with gifts that encourage healthy eating and becoming more physically active overall.

"I think, at the end of the day, you do more for somebody preventing them from having a heart attack rather than treating them when they are in the emergency room," Caceres said.

Turgut, of Illinois Heart Specialists, and his office team offered a few suggestions for gifts to give those with heart disease.

A membership to a local health club or some home exercise equipment could help a person get the 30 to 60 minutes of regular exercise he or she should get three or four times a week. And for those who like to walk, tennis shoes and a pedometer can help a person get motivated to start a fitness regimen.

"(Exercise) makes a big difference," Turgut said.

Monthly fruit and vegetable membership clubs will keep healthy food options coming in the mail, Turgut said. Relaxation time has been proven to aid in stress reduction, which also is important in managing heart disease.

A blood pressure cuff can help those with hypertension monitor their illness, which he suggested doing about once or twice a day.

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