Receiving Get Well Flowers

We have absolutely no idea when the first floral arrangement may have been offered from one person to another and whether it was an assortment of flowers or a single stem with its subtle petals of color at the tip. Neither do we know the occasion prompting the offering. These questions remain after considerable searching for answers.

We do know, however, that the tradition crosses cultures and geography and even gender and age. It seems everyone gives flowers to everyone else at one time or another.

We also know, due to some very impersonal and objective science, that the giving and receiving of flowers of virtually any type is a very personal and subjective action driven by a variety of motivations with the singular result being an immediate expression of true pleasure by the receiver and gratitude in the giver for having been so generously received.

There are some traditional flower types and colours loosely tied to specific occasions and these definitions of tradition date to the historic antiquity of Egypt, Rome, Greece, Mesopotamia, China, and even in the highlands of Neanderthal culture. In the latter case, we know only that flowers adorned the graves of the departed. In all other cultures, all other traditional purposes abounded, for romance, friendship, sympathy in loss, victories and for get-well wishes when ill.

This last purpose is curious because while the others have significant emotional impact with a purpose, such as red roses given in hopes of acceptance of a romantic offer, or white lilies offered in sympathy for the loss of a loved one, receiving flowers when ill in hopes of a quick and full recovery would seem to have no allegiance to the flowers to help in the healing effort. We expect medicine and rest to accomplish the healing.

However, back to the science, briefly, it is known without doubt, by objective observation, that the receipt of flowers when ill has the immediate effect of a buoyed spirit and happy countenance.

Medical experts must bow to the added benefit, after all of their professional ministrations in the attack and defeat of disease, of the improvement of well-being and self-worth brought on by the introduction of happy news to the ill patient.

It is more than the visual impact of the variety of colours, and the fresh, vibrant appearance of the petals, the life-giving accent of green, and the most immediate sign of life in a barren landscape, and even the simple vase containing the flowers.

It is also more than the delicate aroma many flowers offer that permeates the room where the patient languishes while healing.

It seems to be an added, unknown third influence felt after the visual and olfactory senses are satisfied that uplifts the mind, body and soul of the ill to receive a bouquet of flowers with well wishes for a quick recovery, as if the flowers, themselves, would command healing by their very presence.

The joy of receiving flowers when ill is measureable and priceless.

Why Flowers are the Best Gifts to Send to Hospitals

Floral gifts make wonderful presents for many occasions. Mother’s Day, wedding anniversaries, and Valentine’s Day are all holidays that are commonly associated with flower arrangements. With that said, “get well soon” gifts have a special connection tied to flowers. As a friend or family member to someone who is ill, there is usually not much you can do to make the person heal from their ailment. What you can do is lift their spirits. A floral arrangement lets those who are sick enough to need to stay in a hospital have a little window to the outside world.

Plus, there are sometimes links between an improved mood and the speed at which a body is healed. It may not be significant, but it is scientifically proven. Speaking of being scientifically proven, it was recently shown in a series of double blind studies conducted by a top university that gifts involving flowers tend to make patients happier for a longer period of time than any other gift! The studies were conducted by Jeannette Haviland-Jones and Terry McGuire, both of whom are professors at Rutgers University.

Sending Flowers to Hospitals is a Heartwarming Tradition

Many countries have traditions of sending flowers for hospitals to their ill loved ones. It is such a common part of life in these countries that it seems like it would be typical in all others! But it isn’t, and for people from those countries, seeing people in hospitals who are given flowers for their rooms is a joyful experience. Stories like this remind us of just how meaningful flowers in hospital rooms can be: Pauline W. Chen, a medical doctor and columnist for the New York Times, was raised by a mother who did not grow up in the same country Dr. Pauline Chen did. When the elder Chen needed to stay in a hospital, she took immediate notice to all of the flowers in the rooms of her fellow patients. This was in the United States of America, where sending flowers to hospitals is a long-standing and major tradition.

The elder Chen woman said to her daughter that the flowers held a deep emotional meaning for her. They had never been a part of her country’s traditional practices for hospitals when she was growing up. No matter what kind of flowers were in the patients’ rooms or how they were arranged, they meant that somebody loved the patient that they belonged to. Someone was thinking of them.

Can I Really Send Flowers to a Hospital?

In some rare instances, hospitals may not allow flowers. This usually only applies to certain units. The units where this may be the case are intensive care wards, burn recovery wards, and maternity wards. However, flowers are usually allowed in all units of all hospitals. After all, who hasn’t seen a room in a maternity ward completely overflowing with flowers shortly after the birth of a new baby? The only thing you need to do to be completely sure that a hospital allows flowers is give a quick call to the front desk. They should be able to inform you of any policies.

What Precautions Should I Take When Sending Flowers for Hospitals? 

Generally speaking, flowers pose little risk to others. If you want to be doubly sure that no one will be uncomfortable around your recipient’s flowers, consider buying hypoallergenic flowers. These include any flowers where the pollen is not out in the open. Some examples of flowers that are hypoallergenic are roses, chrysanthemums, and carnations.

How to Send Flowers to a Hospital

Once you’ve established that the hospital your friend or loved one is staying at allows flowers, it should only take a moment to get the information you need. Perhaps you have already gotten their room number and other necessary information from a family member, but if you are a distant relative or far-away friend, it is sometimes quicker to call the hospital. This way, you don’t need to worry about getting in touch with family members if you’re in a different time zone from them. Hospitals are always open, with phone lines that are picked up for major and minor questions twenty four hours a day and seven days a week.

The receptionist who picks up your call may know the rules for sending flowers, including any requirements or lack thereof for allergenic flowers, and be able to tell you them right off the bat. At the very least, he or she will be able to connect you to the burn recovery unit, new parent ward, or intensive care center. They will fill you in from there. (If your friend, family member or other acquaintance is not in one of these wards, it is even more unlikely than usual that there will be restrictions on flowers at all.)

These bits of information should supply you with everything you will need to know in order to send flowers to a hospital. As we’ve seen through the stories shared and the experiences of those who have been in hospitals and received flowers, sending flower arrangements is a great idea.