Gift Ideas for Elderly People

With the festive season nearly upon us, it’s time to start looking for the perfect Christmas gifts for our loved ones. A gift is the perfect way to show someone how much you care for them, and how much you love and appreciate them. Looking for that perfect gift can, however, be quite hard work, especially when you’re shopping for someone in their senior years of life. The best advice we can give is to think about what your loved one or friend truly enjoys or has an interest in. Everyone in their golden years loves and appreciates different things and so it’s not always easy to find the perfect gift.

Need some more inspiration? We’re going to take a look at some of the best gifts for elderly people, whether you’re buying for your friend, parent, or grandparent.

Wonderful Gift Ideas for Senior Women

We have found a range of gift ideas that are perfect for the elderly women in your life, from practical items they need to activities they’ll really enjoy. Whether you’re shopping for your mum, auntie, or friend, there’s something for everyone. Let’s take a closer look at some gift possibilities.

1. Gift cards for their favourite restaurants or activities 

Gift cards are a great option if you’re unsure exactly what to get someone. If you pick a gift card for their favourite shops, restaurants, or activities like the cinema, they still remain an incredibly thoughtful option. Maybe your loved one enjoys going to the theatre. If you know what type of show or play they enjoy you can buy them the tickets straight away. However, if you’d rather let them choose, you can opt for the gift card option. Theatre’s like The Royal Exchange in Manchester have gift cards from £10.

2. Tote bag for daily shopping  

A tote bag is a wonderful gift if your female loved one is always out shopping or out and about on errands. This gift is more of a practical option that they’ll use everyday. You can inject more thought into this purchase by buying a bag which features something they are fond of. If they like dogs or books, you can get bags decorated with them.

3. Stylish clothing and fashion accessories

Getting older certainly doesn’t mean people have to retire from fashion trends. In fact, senior years are a prime time to embrace your body and adopt new clothing and accessory styles. There’s no better way to do this than by adding some new accessories to the wardrobe and they make a perfect gift. If you’re looking for accessories for women over the age of 60, opt for simple, elegant, and classic choices. Single stud pearl earrings are great choices, as well as a silk patterned scarf to add a bit of colour to their outfits.

Some more clothing accessories for older women include: 

• Earrings, bracelet and necklace 
• Winter gloves and hat 
• Stylish belts
• Sunglasses 
• Broches  

Perfect Gift Ideas for Senior Men

Maybe you’re fed up with buying the senior men in your life the same pair of socks every year and you’d like to get him something a little different. Well, It’s time to think about what interests your dad, friend, or uncle have before you start buying. Some great gift ideas for elderly men include:

1. Gifts that entertain and engage

Everyone has different interests so this kind of gift will depend entirely on what your loved one enjoys most. If they like taking part in quizzes and learning about fun facts, consider getting them a trivia board game to keep their brain active. Another good option is to get them something to look forward to. If they are massive football fans, buy them a ticket to support their favourite club.

You can also get them something new to keep them entertained during the winter months. Why not think about a Nintendo Switch Lite? This is a perfect console to get the whole family involved and it offers a range of games from puzzles to problem-solving. 

2. Garden wear or activewear 

We all know an elderly man who takes pride in keeping his garden in supreme condition. In that case, garden wear is the perfect option. If they haven’t already got them, consider buying a solid pair of boots for the mud or a sun hat to protect against UV rays in the hotter months. If you know a man over the age of 60 who still enjoys keeping active by power walking or playing golf, you can buy them specific clothes for that.

3. Men’s accessories 

Wave goodbye to the Christmas socks, it’s time to wow your dad or grandad with some fancy male accessories. We’re talking about wallets, luxury fragrances, comfortable dressing gowns, and smartwatches. You can add these kinds of gifts as a stocking filler too.

Great Gift Ideas for Grandparents

The best gifts for grandparents are those that come from the heart, ones they’ll always remember. More than anything these kinds of gifts should be meaningful and thoughtful. Imagine the complete joy of your grandparents when they see how much thought you’ve put into their gift this year. You can opt for a joint present for your grandparents or get them individual ones. Some wonderful gift options include:

1. A photo album or keepsake box 

Name a better way to surprise your grandparent this year than by adding all their favourite photos to an album. Another good idea is to create a memory box with all their favourite pictures and memories from significant events in their lives. You can include memories from their wedding day, their first house, or holidays together. You can also include letters, CDs and DVDs, awards, or anything related to a hobby they have. 

Both luxury photo albums and memory boxes can be picked up at an affordable price in almost any homeware store. If you want to make them more personalised you can also opt to engrave a message onto them.

2. Family name art

Grandmas and grandads are the heads of any family, they’re the ones we look up to and cherish being around. A wonderful way to show them how proud you are to carry their family name is by some framed art with the family tree or name on. It’s also a great way to inject something a little different into their home. If you’re interested in buying some family name art for your grandparents, try Not On The High Street for an unusual gift. These wonderful gifts range from £20-£100 depending on the style you go for.

3. Homemade gift basket with their favourite treats 

Homemade gift baskets and hampers make a great gift option. Not only are they a delight to open but they contain many sweet, savoury, or luxury treats that everyone loves. They’re also really simple to make. Does your Grandma have a sweet tooth? Make a box filled with sweet treats. Or, maybe your Grandad loves cheese and crackers? Try making your own gift box with all his favourite cheeses in. Decoration is key here, so make sure to buy ribbon and add your very own note inside.

Technology Gifts for Seniors

Technology is great for us all, and can be especially useful for older people. It’s important to remember that it can be more difficult for elderly people to understand and use technology, because they haven’t grown up with it, so choose technology which is simple to use and has a clear purpose. Some great technology gifts for seniors will help them keep track of their daily tasks and activities or play their favourite music and games. Let’s take a look at some great technology gifts for seniors:

1. Video doorbell 

A video doorbell is a camera placed outdoors on someone’s front door. When there is motion detected at the door, or someone presses the bell, you are notified via an app. Not only is this technology new and exciting, but it also provides a range of benefits for elderly people. They are also great for added security, which is likely to make seniors feel more comfortable in their home. They are on average £90, but range from £40 – £140. Some other benefits of this technology includes: 

• You can see who is at the door without answering it 
• It offers high quality surveillance
• Track who came whilst you were out

2. Amazon Echo or Alexa 

Both of these devices make home life a lot easier as they allow you to access any information you’d like immediately. Whether you want to know the weather forecast, confirm a fact, listen to your favourite music, or set up home automations like thermostat or light control, these devices have a lot to offer. You can also get them in a range of colours to match home decor. They range from £39.99 to £189.99 depending on the generation you’re looking for.

3. Tablet, iPad, or Kindle

A tablet or Kindle device is great because they’re portable and great for using at home or when out and about. Seniors can download their favourite games or read new books which allows them to keep their mind active in an enjoyable way. When choosing a tablet device or a Kindle for seniors, it’s a good idea to think about some challenges elderly people face. Look for devices that accommodate poor eyesight by increasing text size and impaired hearing by offering different notification sounds and volumes. These devices are a little on the expensive side with kindles starting at £59.99 and iPads starting at £149.

Celebrating Christmas With New Care Homes

We hope you have found this guide to Christmas gifts for seniors helpful and you’re now excited to start gift hunting. Remember, when looking for that perfect gift think about what your loved one or friend has an interest in, their age range, and what they truly need. Keep this in mind and you’ll be well on your way to giving the best gift possible.
If you have any questions about our living experience or events we hold during the Christmas period, please feel free to get in touch with us for more information. We would be delighted to hear from you this Christmas!