2017 Gift Guide for Seniors

As the holidays approach one of the most difficult gifting decisions is what to get for aging seniors who need little and have room for less. Whether the senior is aging in place or living in long term or nursing home care, family and friends want to acknowledge the importance of their relationship but in meaningful ways. For many years we’ve published a list of suggestions and it’s always a tremendously popular article. This year, as always, we’ve taken a few items off the list and added others. We’ve linked to online stores for some items and left others free for you to source in your region. There are a few items in the list that are homemade or very low cost so everyone should be able to find inspiration in our 2017 gift guide! Here we go:

• Time… the number one thing seniors want is to spend time with you – it’s the number one request so it stays atop our list
• Puzzles– either jigsaw or crossword … both are available in larger sizes to save eye strain
• Digital picture frame loaded with family pictures and holiday memories – be sure that it’s easily operated as complicated things can be terribly frustrating
• Subscription to satellite radio
• Gift certificate for a favorite restaurant
• Low vision playing cards
• Playing card holder
• Membership to senior’s exercise class – think Tai Chi, low impact water exercise, lawn bowling or senior group fitness
• Memory or Legacy Book that asks aging seniors for stories about their lives – a great project for families to get seniors talking about their lives and creating lasting legacies for the family
• Favorite music downloaded onto an iPod – for a senior challenged by dementia music from their youth and courting days can bring back beautiful memories
• Wander, safety or fall alarms with subscriptions, downloadable apps for caregivers and emergency notification systems
• Back scrubber for those with limited range of motion
• Cane tip for winter snow and ice
• Hip protectors for those at risk of a hip fracture – available in discreet styles for those who are continent and lots of styles for those who are incontinent
• Tablet with apps such as Skype/Facetime, Scrabble, Solitaire and email pre-loaded – don’t forget to teach them how to use the apps
• Subscription to a favorite magazine
• Shawl for extra, but stylish, warmth
• Automatic night lights especially for lighting the path between the bed and bathroom
• For seniors with early stage dementia items such as magnetic white board for the fridge and Post-It notes to label cupboards and drawers
• Coupons for rides to the doctor, mall or community event
• Bed ladder for aging seniors who have difficulty sitting up in bed without assistance
• A selection of greeting cards to have handy including birthday, anniversary and condolence cards – don’t forget a roll of stamps
• Slippers with tread to replace those decades old house slippers that now have a shiny sole making them slippery and dangerous for seniors
• Frozen single serving meals with warming instructions written or taped to covering
• An early gift of a plate of Christmas goodies to offer holiday visitors – a package of refills would be nice to include
• Adult coloring book and crayons – very popular and calming not to mention creative
• Oven Rack Guards for seniors who are constantly burning their arms on oven racks
• Gift card to the local coffee shop
• Touch lamp to make turning on the lights easier for seniors who have arthritis in their fingers
• Tickets to an upcoming concert or play
• Non-breakable water bottle with attachment for wheelchair/walker – the more colorful, the better
• Large button TV remote or telephone
• Swivel seat for car entry/exit will be a helpful tool for seniors who have difficulty getting into or out of a car or dementia patients who may have forgotten how
• Calendar for upcoming year with family/friend birthdays, anniversaries and events noted
• Warm, cozy blanket
• Cell phone with large keys specifically for seniors, prepaid if you can manage it
• New winter coat, scarf, hat or mittens
• Easy Daysies My Day is a task calendar for seniors who are aging in place and may be in the early stages of dementia and needs cues to complete daily tasks
• Grab bars installed in bathrooms, along hallways or by the bed or favorite chairs
• Able Life AutoCane is a handle that slips into a car door striker/latch to provide an assist getting out of a car
• Medication organizer
• Garden kneeler– many are reversible, meaning that in an upright position they are seating platforms while turned over they are kneelers with bars to aid in getting up and down
• Boot jack to aid with getting shoes and boots off
• One cup coffee or tea brewer
• Comfy new sweat pants or bathrobe
• Gift certificate from Silvert’s Adaptive Clothing
• For later stage dementia patients, a stuffed animal or doll to cuddle
• Day Clock that indicates non-abbreviated day of the week, time, period of the day and date

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