Gifts for Seniors

Gifts for seniors! I have worked with groups of seniors and have actually posed the question, "What would you like as a gift from friends or family?" The resounding message I got was that seniors appreciated time with loved ones above any other gift. One elderly lady said, "I don't want to be forgotten" and mentioned how much she appreciated her extended family remembering her birthday and anniversaries.

Now, since it was my grandmother's birthday, and I wanted to send her a physical gift, I pushed the group for more concrete answers. At this point, Ralph told me he'd like a red truck.. he always wanted a red truck. I laughed and re-phrased again, "If I was going to spend between $20 and $100 and you HAD to name a gift you'd like, what would it be?"

The group still maintained that above all else, they value time with family, but they were able to give me some ideas for gifts for seniors. They were all very clear that they have enough "stuff" and, most often, knick knacks are less enjoyable than other gifts. Though, again, just being remembered is more important than the gift itself.

I'll share some of their gifts for seniors ideas with you:

• **Number one: spending time with loved ones
• Simply remembering birthdays and other important dates and calling or coming to visit
• Taking them out for dinner or lunch
• Flowers
• One single rose
• Time: in the form service such as offering to do chores around the home, sitting and talking, going out together, having a coffee, go to a ballgame, etc.
• Digital picture frame
• Nice socks (but the group made sure to let me know to mention that some people can't wear nylon); warm socks are often a nice treat
• Books - large print or books on tape may be necessary
• Silk scarf
• Gym registration
• Gift certificate to a store (the example given was the Bay) or their favourite restaurant
• Calendars with pictures of you and your family. This is fairly inexpensive idea and one of the ladies in the group loved this gift so much that she brought it in to show us all.

Some other gifts for seniors that I've thought of are:

• Making meals and freezing them in portions so they can take them out easily and re-heat them, particularly if they live alone
• Taking them grocery shopping, particularly if they do not drive any longer
• Games such as Rummy-O tile game, Fishin-opoly, Rummoli
• Mental Aerobics books, a good author is Nancy J. Lewthwaite
• Crossword or Sudoku books (may need large print copies)
• Jigsaw puzzles
• Subscriptions to magazines that are of interest, ie. gardening, cooking, hunting. This is also a monthly reminder to your loved one that you are thinking of them.
• Nice decks of cards: may need large cards for people with decreased sight
• Nice pen and paper sets
• A subscription to something like Netflix or Sirius Radio
• Personalized notepads from your family with pictures or cute stick people and your families names above
• Care products such as long-handled aids that you can refer to at Elderly Care Products
• If your loved one likes to be pampered, you can consider pedicures, manicures or other spa treatments
• Nail care products
• Gift certificate for a night away in a hotel (and if oneÕs family and friends have the means, you can include meals as well)
• Gift baskets of their favourite goodies
• Cell phone or portable house phone, you can consider ones with large numbers/ buttons if necessary
• Nice pair of mittens or gloves for colder climates
• Chair exercise videos
• Supplies for any craft, sport or art interest
• Make up a memory scrapbook for them or give them the supplies to make one themselves if they would enjoy this
• Make up a simple photo album
• Nice fleece blanket or sweater
• Chocolates (mmmhmm.. who doesn't love chocolate?)
• Jewelry
• Music

Of course, if you can drop off whatever gifts for seniors you've purchased in person and stop in for a few minutes for a visit.. that would mean more than the gift itself. If you're away from your loved one, think of writing a letter to accompany your card or gift. Most seniors would appreciate someone taking the time to put pen to paper in our high tech world. Or taking time to sit down and call them on the phone, with no need to get off the phone in a hurry. But if you are in a hurry, I'm sure a phone call would still be very appreciated.

In the end, it seems that spending time with their loved ones is the most precious gift of all.