What do you give someone who’s lived a lifetime and has acquired almost every gift under the sun? While it may seem your loved one already has everything, rest assured his needs have changed from what they used to be.
The gifts you might have normally given in years past might not be appropriate anymore. Either they may have an adverse effect on your loved one’s medical conditions, or they may take up too much space.
While it sounds cliche, it is true that the value of your gift is not important. Rather, gift giving is a way to show people your love for them, and how thankful you are for them.
With that said, take time to reflect on your senior loved one as each person varies and has different needs. If you’re unsure of their needs, ask a relative, your loved one’s care facility, or visit them and pay attention to what would be useful. Once you’ve assessed their needs, consider the following gift ideas for your loved one:
For the Comfort-Lovers:
Bath Robe- Help your loved one feel cozy all day with a new bathrobe.
Warm Gear- One common thing with many elderly people is that they’re always cold–whether or not it’s winter. If this sounds like your loved one, consider a new jacket/sweater, some gloves, a hat, or a scarf.
Pillow- Getting a good night’s sleep is important. Get a comfy pillow your loved one can enjoy and doze off in.
Blankets- A homemade quilt, a custom photo blanket, or something that will keep your constantly-cold loved one from freezing–an electric blanket.
Footwear- Compression socks, insoles, walking shoes, or non-skid slippers
For the Practical People:
Robot Vacuum- Now that it’s probably harder for your loved one to clean, a robot vacuum can help.
Gift Cards- How about a gift card to their favorite restaurants, salons, or movie theater?
Vacation- A trip or an inexpensive getaway with your loved one is a great way to spend quality time together and build lasting memories. It doesn’t have to be expensive or far.
Books- Collect a series of books or magazines on a subject you know he/she loves. Or get them an E-Reader where they can download their own favorite genres.
Gift Basket- Fill a basket full of your senior’s favorite snacks–hard candies, cookies, jams, crackers, cheese’s, drinks, etc.
For the Sentimental Ones:
Family Pictures- Frame a favorite picture, or upload several pictures to a digital photo frame for them to display in their room and look at often.
Photo Album- Make a photo album of your favorite memories with your loved one and place them in a photo album or scrapbook.
Custom Photo Gifts- Several places like Walmart or Shutterfly offer custom photo gifts such as calendars or mugs.
For the Active Fans:
Games- Jigsaw Puzzles, Sudoku books, Crossword puzzles, and Word Searches are great gifts for keeping the mind healthy and active.
Exercise Equipment- Light weights and stretch bands are great products for helping keep your senior loved one healthy and happy.
Heart Rate Monitor- There are many fitness trackers out there on the market that can monitor heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and sleep quality.
For the Art Lovers:
Music- Find out what your loved one’s favorite genre of music is, or who their favorite artists were. Give them some CD’s to listen to, or upload a bunch of songs on a music device.
Movies- Learn their favorite all-time movies and give them some DVDs, or get them a monthly subscription to a video-streaming service like Hulu or Netflix.
Craft Supplies– Perhaps your loved one has a few hobbies like painting, crocheting, knitting, or scrapbooking. If this is the case, get them some yarn, paint brushes/ paint, crochet/ knitting hooks, scrapbook paper, or some adult coloring books.
At PrimRose Home Care & Hospice, we ensure that the patient’s needs are met, whatever they may be. We hope you’ve found what you need from this gift idea list. Contact us at 435-787-1369 to see how we can meet the needs of your loved one today.