Shopping to find the perfect present for the older adults in your life can be tricky, whether it’s for a holiday, a birthday, or other special occasion. Seniors have diverse and evolving needs, so simply browsing store aisles or searching the internet for a gift sometimes isn’t enough to spark inspiration. When it comes to buying a gift for a senior in your life, think about their favorite forms of entertainment, practical objects, and technology that can make their lives easier. You can also consider their health and fitness goals, hobbies, and gifts with a personal touch.
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Practical gifts for seniors that simplify daily tasks, provide knowledge, or promote relaxation are a great option. You’ll want to consider your loved one’s needs, abilities, and daily routine when shopping for practical gifts.
If your elderly relative lives at home and wishes it was simpler to make their morning coffee, they might appreciate a new, easy-to-use coffee maker. Or, if your senior loved one lives in a senior living facility or nursing home and is an avid reader, a dedicated reading lamp or adjustable book light would make a great gift. The goal when shopping for practical gifts is to find something relevant to their lifestyle and current abilities.
If you’re still not sure what to shop for, or if you feel like the senior in your life already has everything, gift cards are a great practical gift. Think about their favorite shops and restaurants, or find a gift card that offers them a unique experience, such as the ballet or their favorite sporting event. The Goldbelly gift card in particular is ideal for seniors who love trying unique foods and visiting popular restaurants. It provides both an enriching experience and a chance to enjoy a delicious meal.
Entertainment is an important part of daily life for all seniors, whether they live at home or in an assisted living or other community with structured activities and events. Keep your elderly loved one’s preferences in mind as you shop, and make sure that their gift is something they can fully access and enjoy.
If the senior in your life has their own television or tablet, you can gift a video-streaming subscription that lets them watch all of their favorite movies and shows. There are also many magazine and book subscriptions to choose from. Signing them up for a couple months or even a full year will give them something to look forward to regularly.
Puzzle books and jigsaw puzzles are excellent ways for seniors to stay entertained while keeping the mind sharp. Shop for challenging crossword or Sudoku puzzle books, or opt for an adult coloring book that seniors with a range of abilities can enjoy. If your loved one has Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, you can browse dementia-friendly puzzles that they’ll love solving with you.
Board games are another fun and engaging form of entertainment. Not only do they keep seniors’ minds at work, but they also lend themselves to memorable experiences with family and friends. This vintage bookshelf edition of Scrabble is a nod to the 1948 version of this popular board game. If your loved one played this as a child, this gift is sure to bring a smile to their face, especially if you make time to play a round with them.
Whether your loved one is a tech-savvy senior or someone who could benefit from a new gadget, technology gifts can make seniors’ lives easier. Keep in mind that it’s common for technology to be challenging for seniors at first, so you’ll likely need to help them set up their new device. Find a gift that you can teach them how to use, and make sure it’s one that will simplify daily tasks and experiences, such as checking the weather or listening to music.
A charging station is something that any senior with a cellphone can appreciate. Cordless options are compatible with certain cellphones, so seniors don’t have to mess with tangled cords. There are also options that can charge multiple devices, such as headphones and smart watches, all at once.
E-readers and tablets for seniors help them access their favorite books, podcasts, and music. These are particularly helpful if the senior in your life had to part with their collections after downsizing or moving. Some offer features that help them stay connected with family and friends. Seniors in assisted living communities or nursing homes might also appreciate wireless headphones. These can help them enjoy their favorite music and podcasts without disrupting their neighbors or roommates.
The Echo Spot by Amazon is a small device that boasts the ability to enhance your elderly relative’s routine. This device has many capabilities. It can be an alarm clock that allows the user to play their favorite music, check the weather, and listen to audiobooks or podcasts. Ideal for seniors who live at home, the Echo Spot can also control smart home devices, such as thermostats and lightbulbs.
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You can support your aging relative’s well-being by gifting something that promotes their health and fitness. These gifts can be as simple as a new yoga mat for your parent who wants to get back in the habit, or a handy pill organizer to help your elderly loved one stay on top of their medications.
Seniors living in a house or apartment may appreciate an assistive device if they need a bit of help with physical mobility. For example, if your loved one has chronic pain, they might get a lot of use out of a bed handle or stand-assist device.
There are plenty of technological health and fitness gifts for seniors, such as wearable medical alert devices and fitness trackers. The Amazfit Band 7 is a fitness tracker seniors can use to monitor certain health stats. Worn like a watch, this tracker features 24-hour blood oxygen and heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, workout modes, and Amazon Alexa.
It says a lot when you give a senior a gift related to their hobbies — you took the time to notice their interests and recognize the joy hobbies bring to their life. Plus, research shows that seniors who have hobbies are happier, have fewer symptoms of depression, and report better overall life satisfaction than seniors who don’t.[01]
Before you start shopping, pay attention to what your senior loved one gravitates towards. Maybe the two of you often talk about their vinyl collection, or perhaps they share frequent updates on the newest birds that visit their yard. You can also chat with their friends and other family members to get the latest scoop on what your elderly relative’s hobbies are.
For seniors who love to garden or cook with fresh herbs, an indoor hydroponic garden may be the perfect gift. A compact, easy-to-set-up garden allows seniors to grow plants inside any time of year. Most come with everything your loved one needs, including LED lights and several pods to organize their crop. They simply need to choose their desired seeds and watch their garden grow.
Many seniors enjoy listening to music to help them relax and recall favorite memories. Plus, music therapy for seniors with dementia offers proven positive effects. You can purchase your loved one’s favorite artist’s music, merchandise, or a DVD featuring their live performances. A record player is another way to spark nostalgia, and this timeless technology may be easier to use for some seniors.
If your elderly parent loves bird watching, a window bird feeder can be a great gift whether they own a house, rent an apartment, or live in a senior living community. This clear acrylic feeder attaches to the outside of any window with damage-free suction cups. Seniors can use this gift to bring a touch of nature to their home and enjoy their bird watching hobby all year round.
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Personalized gifts add sentimental value to an already meaningful gesture. They can be as simple as a handmade decoration or as complex as a customized scrapbook. The goal is to incorporate personal touches that will remind your senior loved one of family and fond memories.
Sending a gift basket is a great way to add a personal touch. You can include your loved one’s favorite books, snacks, tea, candles, or family photos. Consider including other family members and grandchildren when making the gift basket. Each person can add a small gift, which is a lovely way to show your senior relative just how much they’re appreciated. This is especially true if they live far away or have moved into a senior living community.
Another personalized and family-oriented gift idea is an Ancestry DNA test kit to help them learn more about their origins and history. Or, you can consider a digital photo frame. This gift lets your senior loved one view hundreds of family photos that can be easily uploaded by anyone from their phone.
Even if you do opt for a digital photo frame, the senior in your life likely still appreciates displaying printed photos. Gifting a custom photo calendar makes it easy for them to do just that. They’ll get the chance to display and appreciate a new photo each month. You can also add custom messages and special dates, such as birthdays and family reunions, to the calendar.
Wan Mak, H., Noguchi, T., Bone, J., Wels, J., Gao, Q. Kondo, K., Saito, T., & Fancourt, D. (2023, September 11). Hobby engagement and mental wellbeing among people aged 65 and older in 16 countries. Nature Medicine.
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