With Christmas right around the corner, it’s not too soon to start thinking about gift-giving, and what you’re going to buy for all the important people in your life.
That includes your senior loved ones, who can sometimes be the most difficult people to buy for since presumably they’ve already been given practically every kind of gift in existence. If you ask your senior loved one what they would like for Christmas, chances are you’ll get a response in the vein of them not needing anything.
It can be a challenge to come up with just the right present. Generally speaking, you should be on solid ground whenever buying a senior something they need or they’re interested in, and it can be either something very simple or something that makes use of the latest technology. If you’re senior loved one has any kind of issues with cognition or mobility, there are plenty of thoughtful and helpful gifts that will increase the quality of life for your loved one.
Here are some ideas you can use the next time you go to the mall, or when you have an online buying session.
Gifts that provide mental exercise
Scientists tell us that some kinds of activities are good for keeping mental abilities healthy and fine-tuned. The gifts on this list are all suggestions that will provide enjoyable mental activity for your senior loved one:
- large-print books – some older people stop reading because the print becomes too difficult to recognize and it’s less enjoyable for them to read. By purchasing a large-print book, you might help them re-discover the joy of reading.
- indoor recreation – games like bean bag toss or indoor ring toss can provide physical exercise as well as mental stimulation to keep your senior active on both fronts.
- personalized puzzles – there are lots of companies that will convert a personal or family photo into a unique puzzle, and the number of pieces in the puzzle can be customized to the abilities of your senior.
- brain games – games like Scrabble, crossword puzzles, word searches, or Dominos will all be a good mental exercise for your senior loved one.
Gifts for seniors with dementia
It can be a little more difficult trying to find an appropriate gift for a senior loved one afflicted by dementia. Gifts on this list are all intended to help stimulate memories of happier times and provide entertainment for your senior loved one:
- window bird feeder – this kind of bird feeder encourages birds to get up close and personal for easier viewing and greater interaction. Bird feeders stimulate cognitive abilities, and provide hours of entertainment for seniors.
- music memories – consider getting your loved one a CD player and a CD playlist from their teen years or possibly their twenties.
- skylight photo frame – it’s very easy to set up a skylight photo frame so that your senior loved one can stay in touch with friends or other relatives. Old pictures and new pictures can be scanned in and can be connected by Wi-Fi with a unique email address. This allows anyone to email pictures instantly into the frame, and the photos will provide a source of fascination for your loved one.
- handheld massager – many older adults have aches and pains that can be satisfied with a handheld massager, and many of these come with accessories that make them even more effective.
Gifts for adults with mobility issues
Anyone who has a mobility problem will be somewhat restricted in their movements, and that means gifts that help alleviate these restrictions might be great ideas:
- medical alert devices – when you purchase a medical alert device for your senior loved one, you will be providing both yourself and them with peace of mind that any kind of emergencies they might experience can be quickly handled.
- Uber or Lyft gift cards – ride-sharing is one very good way for older adults to get where they need to go, and once they learn how to use the apps for either of these companies, they’ll be able to go whatever they want.
- non-slip slippers – non-slip slippers are a great idea for seniors because they can limit or eliminate falls and severe injuries. If you’re senior loved one were to have a bad fall, any mobility issues they had will be much worse.
- offset walking cane – these types of canes have a unique handle which makes it easier to grip and provide stability for the user.
- speech recognition software – this is a great gift for seniors who have arthritis in their hands since it will allow your elderly loved one to use their computer as often as wanted without feeling any kind of pain.