Favorite Gifts for Senior Citizens and People of All Ages

 

When I was a young woman, and my parents and grandparents were still alive, I could never figure out what to give them for holidays and special occasions.  "Not another sweater," they would say to me.  "We do not need more coffee mugs," they commented on another occasion.  So, I knew what they did not want, but had no idea what kind of gifts they did want.  

Now that I am retired myself, with a house full of more things than I really need, I understand why my parents and grandparents did not want more sweaters and coffee mugs as they aged.  I also know what types of items I am more likely to purchase for myself, my friends, and my relatives who are near my age.  I have a much better idea what they will like, and decided to share some ideas.  There are so many gift-giving opportunities during the year, and most of us struggle with deciding what to give someone else, especially if they seem to already have everything they need!  I've included Amazon links (Ad) for all of them, but you can easily find them in person or online at other shops, too.  

Food Baskets and Gifts

Most senior citizens enjoy food gifts for two reasons.  First of all, food is something which can be consumed and there is nothing left to store.  It will not be stuck in a closet for the next five years.  Secondly, many senior citizens are on a fixed income.  Sending them food treats which they like, but may not want to splurge on for themselves, is a thoughtful gift.  Here are a couple of examples.

The Swiss Colony 27 Favorite Foods Gift Box (Ad) with Assorted Cheeses, Chocolates, Candies, Petits Fours, and Summer Sausage Meats from Amazon (Ad)

I recently sent this gift box to my 76 year old brother-in-law, who lives alone, and he loved it.  It was just what he needed to entertain a few of his friends during the holidays, without needing to dip into his own budget.  It was a nice treat for both him and his friends.

Broadway Basketeers Chocolate Gift Basket Tower  (Ad) from Amazon with Mint Chocolate Cookies, Cinnamon Yogurt Pretzels, Gourmet Popcorn, Snack Mix, Peanut Butter filled Pretzel Nuggets, Truffles and Lemon Blueberry Cookies.  This package is obviously for the person with a sweet tooth.  If they love cookies, chocolates, and other treats, this could be an ideal gift for them!  

You'll find a nice assortment of other food baskets if you search Amazon (Ad) and other online shops.  The advantage of ordering online is that you do not have to ship it yourself.  It makes like much simpler for you, and, if you have Amazon Prime, you can even get free shipping. At the current price of shipping, that can be a great deal for out-of-town family members.  

However, some elderly people have problems with certain types of food.  Perhaps they have to watch their sodium or their sugar.  They may have difficulty with nuts, soy or other types of food. As a result, you may decide to avoid purchasing a food basket for them.  What are some other favorite gifts for senior citizens?  Below are a few more gifts they are likely to love!

Practical Gifts for a Senior Citizen

Magnifying Glass with Light from JMH on Amazon (Ad). Many people have trouble reading the fine print on labels, medicine bottles, and the instructions which come with a variety of products.  As a result, they are going to LOVE this magnifying glass. It is able to magnify up to 30 times the regular size.  It is a particularly popular item with people who want to enlarge what they are reading, as well as people who collect coins and stamps, make jewelry, or have other hobbies which require them to focus on something which can be very tiny. 

This is a gift which could help end their frustration and solve a huge problem for many seniors who have given up reading or pursuing their favorite hobbies because of the difficulty they have seeing the work.  Help keep them active and involved with a simple gift of clearer vision!

Higher Torque Electric Jar Opener on Amazon (Ad) can help you easily unscrew almost any jar.  It is promoted as a product for people with arthritis.  However, almost all seniors have weaker hands as they age.  I have even heard of seniors who had so much trouble opening jars that they gave up eating some of their favorite foods.  That is such a shame, and with this jar opener, there should be no reason for anyone to fear purchasing a favorite food that comes in a jar.  

It will open any jar between 1.2 and 3.5 inches.  Just fit the jar opener over the lid, push the button, and it will automatically turn the lid so you can easily open it.  You do not have to press down on it, and it will not cause you to have palm pain.  What a thoughtful gift for a senior in your family!

Mini Exercise Bike from Himalay on Amazon (Ad) is a gift I purchased for myself, after knee replacement surgery.  The surgeon and my physical therapist both encouraged me to use a stationary bicycle in order to move my knee into various positions after the surgery, straightening and bending it repeatedly.  However, I did not have a stationary bike at home, and was not supposed to drive for a few weeks after the surgery, making it difficult for me to get to the gym.  

This Mini Exercise Bike solved my problem.  I sit in a chair at home and use it.  The constant bending and straightening of my knee for 10 to 30 minutes a day was very helpful in improving the range of motion in my knee.  In addition, it enables me to get exercise, even during those times when I cannot get outside and walk very much.  Although my knee has now healed, this mini exercise bike is something I continue to use at home when the weather is bad and I do not want to go outside or drive somewhere to exercise.  It has been an excellent way to keep me from becoming too sedentary. 

There are many others gifts which senior citizens will appreciate receiving from their loved ones.  These are helpful gifts which are designed to either be consumed (like the food baskets), or to make their lives better.  Getting old is hard, and having tools to make life easier are greatly appreciated. 

I will do another product article in about six months, with new gift ideas for seniors, so follow Baby-Boomer-Retirement.com to get more ideas.

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Disclosure: This blog may contain affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase from an Amazon ad, I'll make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

You are reading from the blog: http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

Photo credits:  Etsy Photo by Author; Pixabay for top photo; manufacturer sites for product photos

Gifts Retirees Will Appreciate - Finding the Right Gift for a Senior

 Buying gifts for retirees and the older relatives in your family can be very difficult and frustrating.  Whether it is for a birthday, Father's Day, Mother's Day, Christmas or another holiday, you may find it extremely difficult to come up with an idea, especially if it seems they already own so many things they are currently trying to give away!  

How can you find the perfect gift for a senior citizen in your family?  What do you think they will want or need?  What can you buy an older relative that will not end up being re-gifted or given away?  Here are some basic ideas to get you started, including links to some of the items to make it quick and easy for you to purchase them.  However, not all the gifts need to be purchased online.  Many of the gifts listed here are things you can purchase locally.

Art and Craft Supplies

Does your family member enjoy painting or making crafts?  Paints, canvasses and other art materials (Ad) can be very expensive. Some people actually give up their hobby because they cannot afford to keep purchasing the necessary materials.  If you know their favorite shop, you may want to purchase a gift certificate to it, especially if it is small, locally owned business.  In this way, you not only help your loved one, but also a small business.  If you know exactly what they want however, you can save them a trip to the store by purchasing it for them and having it delivered directly to their home.

Many seniors also enjoy paint-by-number kits, or adult coloring books, (Ad) as a way to enjoy creating works of art, even if they do not feel they are especially talented.  I have even seen some lovely paint-by-number works of art for sale at the art shows they hold in my retirement community.  Often they are spectacular when they are finished. A final thought in this category is to take one of their favorite finished paintings and have it framed for them, so they can hang it in their home and display it with pride. 

A Shopping Trip for their Favorite Clothing Items

My father only likes to wear long-sleeve Polo style shirts with a pocket on the chest.  Although he owns them in a variety of colors, over the course of a year they begin to wear out.  Replacing them regularly with new ones is a nice way to enable him to continue to wear his favorite clothing item.  Almost everyone has a certain type of clothing which they wear frequently, and needs replacing often.  Do they need new walking shoes, a jacket, a sun hat, gardening gloves, or similar useful items?  Many seniors go without because they do not have a lot of disposable income, or they do not know where to buy these things.  If possible, take them shopping, so they can pick out something they actually would enjoy wearing, and you know will fit them.  This also gives you some special time with them ... a gift they may appreciate as much or more than the actual gift itself.

Sports Equipment

Many retirees are still active and involved in sports for decades after they stop working.  You may need to quiz them a little, but find out if they need a new golf putter, a new tennis racquet, a paddle for the paddleball court, a badminton racquet or some other item they need to pursue their favorite sport.  Even grandchildren can buy grandpa a box of golf balls or a tube of tennis balls.  (Ad)  

Photo Gifts

One of our daughters purchased us an Aura digital picture frame, (Ad) which allows all of our daughters to upload photos directly to it, no matter where they are.  Now, we have a constant display of new and old photos appearing on the frame in our living room.  Our frame includes photos taken over 80 years ago of long deceased ancestors, as well as photos which were taken just a few days ago of our grandchildren.  We could watch the pictures glide by for hours!  We have it set so a new photo shows up every 15 seconds, but you can have your photos stay much longer before switching to a new one.

Other photo gifts a retiree might enjoy is a Polaroid camera (yes, they have begun making a new, improved version again) (Ad), or a photo album, especially if you give it to them already preloaded with a few pages of favorite family photos.  You can even send companies like Shutterfly a photo of a beloved family member or pet, and they can turn it into a special photo gift which they will cherish! 

Check out some of the photo gifts from my Etsy store, and see if one of them would be a good gift for someone in your family.  Here is a tote bag designed with a photo of the Canadian Rocky Mountains from Banff National Forest in Alberta, Canada.  

This is just one of the many gifts available for retirees and others on my Etsy store. You can find it here:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/DeborahDianGifts  

Books and Magazines

Does your family member enjoying reading?  You could always purchase them the latest book (Ad) from their favorite author.  

However, has reading become more difficult for them because of vision problems?  Why not purchase them a membership to Audible? (Ad) For about $15 a month, they can download one book a month to their cell phone, laptop, tablet or similar device and listen to the books!  Many of the women in my book club use Audible and enjoy hearing their favorite books read by professional actors and actresses.  No one needs to give up reading, anymore, even if they have vision problems! Our daughter even listens to Audible books during her long commute. It is a terrific way to pass the time.

Consumable Items

Everyone has items which they love to use, but need to replace periodically.  This can include perfumes, after shave, make-up, face creams, favorite candy, wine, bourbon, and similar items.  Some of these items can be expensive to replace, so receiving them as a gift can be very meaningful to a retiree.  You might ask them, first, the brands of their favorite products, so you purchase them something they will actually enjoy. 

If they live in an Assisted Living community where their meals are provided, they still might want to keep a few favorite snack items in their private room.  Put together a care package of their favorite treats, including small boxes of cereal, bags of chips, fun size candy bars, and similar items.  They will love having something to snack on between meals!

Gift Cards

Gift cards to a favorite business can be a greatly appreciated gift.  Is going to Starbucks or some other coffee shop a special treat they often skip because they cannot afford it?  A gift card may be something which makes it easier for them to socialize with their friends.  Many senior citizens enjoy meeting friends at Starbucks, and other coffee shops like Coffee Bean, to get out of the house and chat.

Amazon cards (Ad) not only allow them to purchase whatever they want for themselves, but it also enables them to buy groceries in many parts of the country, by using Amazon Fresh or one of the other services they offer.  For a person who is skimping just to get by, this can be a greatly appreciated gift which enables them to buy their favorite foods.  If they are nervous about shopping for groceries at Amazon Fresh, help them get started.  It took me a couple of attempts to feel comfortable shopping for food online, but now I realize how much easier it has made my life!

Gifts to Avoid

Unless specifically requested, it is best to avoid things which most seniors do not need.  This would include decorative items for their home, such as new vases, dishes, picture frames, candles, collectibles, and any other items they have not specifically requested.  

In addition, do not give a gift of anything living which an elderly person may find challenging to take care of, unless they ask for it.  This means do not give them a plant, puppy, kitten or parakeet, unless they requested one and are involved in selecting it.  

Other things to avoid would be items which could involve using unfamiliar technology they are unprepared or unable to learn how to use.  A new cell phone, tablet, digital camera, computer game, or similar item might seem like a great idea to a young adult, but can end up being left in a closet or re-gifted to someone else by a senior who feels that using it will be too challenging.  

Technology Gifts Which Might Be Helpful

If you do purchase a technology gift, make sure it is something the recipient wants and will be able to use, with a minimum of assistance.  There are some "senior friendly" phones and other types of technology which can be a good choice.  

It took us a while to become accustomed to talking to our "Alexa" devices, (Ad) but now "she" turns on some of our lamps, reminds us when to take food out of the oven, and answers questions about the weather and other things.  Many seniors would enjoy having one, but be prepared to help them learn to use it. 

If you know someone who loves to garden, they might appreciate this lovely t-shirt with a photo I took of hydrangeas and the words "Happiness Blooms in my Garden."  There is also a matching coffee mug.  

You can find more gifts for retirees and others at my Etsy Store, DeborahDianGifts:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/DeborahDianGifts

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.  You will receive one weekly email containing the most current post. 

If you are interested in learning more about financial planning, Social Security, Medicare, where to retire, common medical issues as you age, travel and more, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of the page to find links to hundreds of additional helpful articles.

Disclosure: This blog may contain affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase from an Amazon ad, I'll make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

You are reading from the blog:  http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

Photo credits:  Morguefile