’Tis the season for family, friends and gift-giving. It is one of the loveliest times of the year. However, people often wonder, “What should I give to the seniors in my life?”
To make your holiday season as stress-free as possible, we’ve provided a few ideas to get your shopping started.
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Blankets
You can never have enough warmth during the cooler winter months. Blankets and throws are the perfect gift for seniors who often complain of a chill or spend a lot of time on the couch reading. There are a lot of options for the perfect, fluffy gift. Children can help make a homemade blanket or you can customize a throw with your loved one’s favorite photo. Whichever option you choose, the senior will be thankful for the warmth. Some of our favorites are available on Amazon, which makes gift giving a breeze.
Gift Certificates to Favorite Dining or Activity
Gift cards can be a very thoughtful gift—especially for seniors who are constantly stressing about money. Plus, it is easier than ever to buy gift cards right off the web. For seniors living in Independent and Assisted Living communities, consider giving a gift card that links to the community’s outings. Many senior living communities offer transportation to the movies, dining, shopping malls, and more. By giving a gift card that can be used during these excursions, your loved one can easily enjoy the gift. If you aren’t sure of the specific outings, consider giving an American Express gift card that can be used at multiple locations.
Photo Gifts
Sites like Shutterfly.com and Artifact Uprising offer let you make customizable photo gifts. You can give a mug with grandchildren’s faces on it or a calendar filled with photos of your loved one’s favorite activities and memories. The sites offer a plethora or options and show you really put your heart into this holiday’s gift.
Magazine or Newspaper Subscription
Even though most reading material is available digitally, many seniors enjoy print versions of newspapers and magazines. Gifting subscriptions to your loved one’s favorite publication is a thoughtful way of gifting joy all year round. An added bonus would be for you to read the same publication. This enriches the conversations between you and your loved one by giving you something a shared topic talk about whenever you visit or call.
Amazon Echo
Depending on the age and cognitive abilities of the senior, gifting technology can come with a lot of learning. For someone who doesn’t want a complicate phone or new computer, the Amazon Echo is a great alternative. This allows your loved one to easily do things like check the weather and play music. Some models will even read books aloud. Read all about the wide-array of features here.
Company
Often, seniors want nothing more than to spend more time with you. Life can get distracting and cause us to push off our visits. Gifting your company and time is a promise to follow through with visits. Mark a calendar now for certain days in the year that you and your loved one will spend together, and then gift that calendar to your loved one. This is truly one of the most precious gifts you can give.
Visits From a Therapy Dog
Who doesn’t love a visit from a furry four-legged friend? There are numerous organizations that can work with you to arrange therapy dog visits for your loved ones. These programs provide a variety of options to bring dogs into hospitals, homes and residential care facilities. If your loved one is in a senior living community, make sure to check with the staff before arranging visits. However, your up-front work will provide endless joy.
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In summary, know that there are many options for which the senior in your life will be thankful. While holidays can have hard moments with aging seniors, there is still a lot of joy to be had.
Have more gift ideas? Comment below.
