The Ultimate Guide To Christmas Gifts For The Elderly

Christmas gifts for elderly people can be hard to choose – it may feel as though they’ve already been gifted everything you’ve thought of in the past, and it can be hard to know what they need if they live in a care home. What’s more, you might want to avoid stereotypical gifts for the elderly that draw attention to their age, such as pill organisers or large print books.

With this in mind, we’ve put together the ultimate guide to Christmas gifts for elderly people that are both practical and luxurious, so you’ll have plenty of ideas for what to buy for elderly parents or neighbours, and for what to get grandparents for Christmas. Read on to discover our top gifts for elderly loved ones for Christmas 2022.

1. A Gift Hamper 

First on our list of ideas for Christmas gifts for elderly loved ones is a gift hamper. Whether you choose to buy a ready-packed hamper from somewhere like Fortnum & Mason, Marks & Spencer, Hotel Chocolat, or to put your own together, receiving a basket full of their favourite things can be a real treat. 

If you’re looking for inspiration on how to put your own hamper together, consider the following Christmas hamper themes:

• Food gifts for seniors, such as cheese and biscuits, chocolate treats, brownies, festive mince pies, jams and chutneys, and fruit cakes
• A pamper hamper – put in a face mask, some bath bombs, a nice bottle of bubble bath, some bars of soap, and a pillow spray
• An activity hamper – fill the basket with a puzzle book, a jigsaw, and a couple of books to keep your loved one occupied, and some nice teabags and biscuits to enjoy while they’re reading or doing their puzzles

2. A Monthly Subscription

One of our favourite gifts for the elderly – and for people of all ages – is a monthly subscription of some kind. Subscription boxes really took off in lockdown, and there are now so many different ones available, from flowers to sweet treats and from books to stationery. 

Gifting a subscription box to someone who lives in a care home makes a really thoughtful present, as it means they’ll have a little something to look forward to in the post each month, and the gift will last much longer than just one bunch of flowers or box of chocolates.

If you’re looking for gifts for elderly people who live independently and enjoy cooking, you might like to think about setting them up with a meal box delivery service. With these services, they’ll receive all the ingredients they need to make different nutritious meals already weighed out, and you can select quick, easy-to-prepare meals from a weekly menu. This means your loved one will need to spend less time food shopping, and you can rest assured that they’re eating well. 

3. A Luxury Advent Calendar

For something a little bit different that’s to be enjoyed in the run-up to Christmas, a luxury advent calendar would make a wonderful gift idea if you’re struggling to know what to get grandparents for Christmas, or any other elderly people in your life.

Having something little to open every day can keep the Christmas joy running throughout the whole of December, and there are so many options out there. Some of the best advent calendars for seniors include:

• Beauty advent calendars, which feature miniature beauty products behind every door, encouraging them to indulge in some self-care
• Luxury chocolate advent calendars – treat them to the joy of unwrapping a gorgeous chocolate truffle every day throughout December
• Tea advent calendars – if you’re looking for gifts for elderly people who love nothing more than a good cuppa, there are some great advent calendars featuring different flavoured teabags to try; they may even find a new favourite brew

4. A Retro Record Player

Next on our list of Christmas gifts for elderly people is a retro record player – in fact, there are some brilliant modern ones available these days, many of which pack up into the size of a small carry case, so they can be easily stored in space that’s limited, such as in a care home bedroom.

If you’re buying for someone who loves their music but can’t get to grips with streaming, a record player and a few of their favourite albums on vinyl would be the perfect gift for Christmas. In addition, building out their album collection provides you with plenty of gift ideas for future birthdays and other special occasions.

5. A Smart Speaker

One of the most practical gifts for the elderly on our list is a smart speaker, such as an Amazon Echo. If your loved one lives independently, this would be a brilliant Christmas gift idea, as they can speak to the voice assistant Alexa and ask her to turn off the lights if they have smart lighting, set their alarm, or even add items to a shopping list.

A smart speaker can also play songs they request or their favourite radio station, so it’s an incredibly useful gift – just make sure you spend some time with your loved one helping them feel confident using it.

6. An Audiobook Subscription

Signing up an elderly relative to an audiobook subscription service such as Audible is a Christmas gift idea that will keep on giving, as new titles and even podcasts are added all the time. 

Gifts for elderly people don’t have to be something they can physically unwrap; if they used to love reading but their eyesight isn’t what it once was, listening to audiobooks can be the perfect alternative, and a good source of company if they live alone. Take a look at our list of top audiobooks with senior protagonists for some inspiration of where to start. 

7. Luxury Slippers

A pair of luxury slippers or cashmere socks can be a great gift for elderly people who spend a lot of time indoors, helping them to feel wonderfully cosy and stay snug on cold winter days. 

No one will complain about receiving socks for Christmas when they’re such a beautiful, thoughtfully chosen pair. Find cashmere socks at The White Company, or treat them to a gorgeous cosy pair of luxury slippers from UGG®. 

8. Personalised Gifts

If you’re struggling for ideas for what to get grandparents for Christmas, personalised gifts are always a great choice. Many photo printing shops – and even supermarkets that offer this service – allow you to put your own photos onto items ranging from mugs to cushions and from calendars to fridge magnets. 

If you’re buying for an elderly person who lives in a care home, gifting them a personalised present featuring a picture of their grandchildren means they can see their faces every single day, even when they’re not able to see them in person or catch up over Zoom or FaceTime.

Another lovely personalised option in our list of Christmas gifts for the elderly is to put together your own scrapbook or photo album. Stick in tickets, photos, and little mementoes for days out you’ve enjoyed together for a one-of-a-kind unique gift that your loved one will treasure.

9. A Favourite Fragrance

Fragrance is always a good present idea, whether you’re looking for gifts for elderly women or gift ideas for senior men. Perfume or aftershave can be an especially thoughtful gift if you’re shopping for someone whose partner has recently passed away and previously bought them this fragrance – it can be lovely and comforting to know someone else is continuing this tradition for them.

If you’re worried it may be too emotional to buy them an old-favourite fragrance, there are always new scents being released, or choose a different perfume or aftershave by their favourite brand to symbolise the start of a new chapter for them. 

10. Give The Gift Of Quality Time 

If none of our recommendations for gifts for the elderly are standing out to you, why not think about planning something you can enjoy together in the new year? You could book theatre tickets to a matinee for the two of you, get them a voucher for afternoon tea, book a spa day for both of you, or plan a day of shopping followed by a nice dinner. 

Spending quality time together and making new memories can be much more valuable than having something to unwrap on Christmas morning, but if you’re worried about this, consider presenting them with the tickets or voucher in a nicely wrapped gift box. 

11. Homemade Gifts

Homemade gifts for elderly people are guaranteed to be well received – they can be a good budget-friendly option, but of course that doesn’t account for the time, effort, and love that’s poured into the gift. Ideas for homemade Christmas gifts for elderly relatives include:

• Jams or chutneys
• A cross stitched picture
• Homemade cakes or biscuits
• Homemade chocolate truffles
• Homemade fudge
• Christmas decorations made by the grandchildren

12. Gifts To Personalise Their Care Home Bedroom

If you’re looking for Christmas gifts for the elderly for someone who has recently moved into a care home, gifting them something for their new care home bedroom would be a lovely way to help them to settle in. The transition from living independently to becoming a care home resident can feel unsettling for some people, but it’s the little things like knowing their loved ones want them to be comfortable and surrounded by beautiful items that can make the process easier.

Good gift ideas to help someone personalise their care home bedroom include:

• A new vase
• A luxury throw
• A premium reed diffuser
• A beautiful photo frame

Discover more ideas for how to personalise a care home bedroom. 

New Care Homes At Christmas

At New Care, many of our care home residents celebrate Christmas with us, while others choose to spend the day with their families. Friends and families are always welcome for visits to see their loved ones at Christmas time, to exchange gifts and make new memories together.

Learn more about what it’s like living in a care home, or contact us here if you have any questions about our care homes across the UK.