Try Something New This Holiday Season: Unique Gift Ideas for Seniors
It’s not always easy to come up with unique gift ideas for seniors. After all, most older adults have accumulated a lifetime of knick-knacks and collectibles, and often are downsizing – so more “stuff” may not be welcomed. There’s only so much delight to be obtained from a pair of slippers or sweater. What can you give to a senior you love that will provide the joyful response you’re hoping for?
We have several options for you to consider.
Technology
New tech tools to make life more enjoyable, safer, and easier are emerging seemingly every day. We learned during the pandemic how invaluable technology is in keeping us connected with each other. Older adults, especially if they’re homebound, can continue to benefit from gifts of technology, such as:
- Smartwatches: Smartwatches can be used for so much more than simply telling time. They’re great for monitoring vital signs like blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature, for navigation, fall detection, texting, and calling for help in an emergency, regardless of location.
- Tablets: With a larger display than cell phones, tablets make it easy to enjoy video chats with family and friends, utilize apps to play games, do puzzles, listen to music, learn online, and so much more.
- Virtual assistants: With Amazon’s Alexa or other platforms, seniors have assistance at their fingertips to receive appointment reminders, control home smart devices, find directions, listen to the news, weather, music, or an audiobook, shop online, and much more.
Be sure to help the senior with setting up and learning how to use any new tech gift.
Comfort
Gifts of comfort can be highly personalized according to a senior’s particular interests and needs, making them all the more special and appreciated. Several options to consider include:
- Weighted blankets. Weighted blankets are clinically proven to soothe irritation, anxiety, and distress. They can be highly effective for someone with dementia, for someone who has trouble sleeping, or anyone who might want to feel more relaxed.
- An experience. A gift certificate to the spa for a massage and day of pampering, especially if you provide transportation and join in the experience with the senior, will provide comfort as well as the chance to create new memories together.
- Home cooking. Nothing says comfort like homemade soup! Make up a batch of the senior’s favorite recipe and package in smaller containers that can be frozen and reheated whenever the person chooses.
Memories
Create a memory book for a senior with dementia to help prompt reminiscing and to strengthen cognitive skills. Include pictures and mementos from:
- The person’s childhood, including family and friends, the home they grew up in, the family’s pets, etc.
- Their young adult life, from their career, military service, wedding, children, etc.
- Any hobbies or interests
- Special milestones
If there’s anything in particular that the person speaks or asks about repetitively, including it in the memory book provides a tangible and tactile way to respond with more than just your words. It also allows for distraction to another topic of conversation. After reviewing together the topic the person seems to be stuck on, you can turn the page to something new to discuss.
Care
A gift certificate to a professional home care agency provides the perfect opportunity for a senior who could benefit from a little support to make life easier, safer, and more comfortable. Let the senior know that they can choose from a wide range of types of assistance, such as:
- Meal planning and preparation
- Light housekeeping
- Transportation
- Errand-running
- Companionship
- And more
Where Can I Find More Unique Gift Ideas for Seniors?
As one of the leading home health agencies in Sarasota County, our care team understands the needs and desires of older adults, and we’d be happy to help you brainstorm ideas for gifts that would be especially meaningful for a senior you love. It’s our goal to ensure that seniors are living the highest possible quality of life, and our caregivers are instrumental in helping those we serve to truly thrive and enjoy life to the fullest.
Right at Home, an award-winning home care provider serving all of Sarasota County, provides professionally certified senior care services. Contact us at (941) 929-1966 for a free in-home consultation to discuss your care needs or concerns.
