Useful Gift Ideas for Seniors and Aging Parents

Choosing a gift for an aging patient or loved one can be a challenge when their wish list is short, or when you’ve run dry of unique and useful ideas. Seniors and aging family members are often difficult to shop for, but there are several options for gifts that are both useful and thoughtful. Giving the gift of improved daily living can be a benefit to aging loved ones, as well as the caregivers, friends, and family who care for them.

Gift Buying Tips When Shopping for Seniors

Shopping for seniors doesn’t need to be challenging despite their usual assurances that they have everything they need and want. Here are a few questions to consider when brainstorming useful or thoughtful gifts for the seniors in your life:

What do they enjoy doing? What did they enjoy doing in younger years?
Are there any daily tasks that they have trouble doing these days?
Do they enjoy new experiences or learning opportunities?
Is there a specific aspect of independence that a gift might help them to regain?

See Holiday Gifts for Seniors

Gift Ideas for Seniors

If the perfect gift idea eludes you, we have a list of hand-chosen items that would make the perfect holiday or birthday gift for an aging friend, family member, or patient. Check out the ideas below and consider choosing one that will benefit their daily living:

Daily Living Aids

A change in the ability to complete daily tasks can be frustrating, but these items can make a positive difference.

Non Slip Safety: Dycem Non-slip Material has a variety of uses, but at its core is made to add confidence to the user’s daily life. Use under items that easily slip and slide, under the feet, or on the chair to help with positioning and posture while sitting.
Reach and Bend Aid: A variety of helpful tools like those included in the FabLife Hip Kit are sure to add some ease to many challenging daily activities. Those who struggle to bend at the hip will find these tools are useful around the home.
Meal Time Confidence: Enjoying a meal without worry of making a mess could be an excellent gift to the elderly person in your life. The FabLife Scoop Plate and other tools make it easier to use utensils with confidence.
Improved TV Experience: For those who find it difficult to enjoy watching TV, the Sennheiser Hearing Care products may be the answer. Rather than turning up the TV volume, elderly users can use the wireless system to intensify and clarify the TV audio experience.

Exercise & Fitness

For the aging friend or family member who is able to and enjoy the challenge of maintaining healthy fitness habits, there are a few age-appropriate fitness gifts to consider.

Exercise DVDs: As a classic option for a senior who would like to work out conveniently at home, exercise DVD’s make an excellent gift. Not only are the exercises developed and demonstrated with senior-specific needs in mind, but can also be a fun way to stay active.
Low-Impact Exercise: Any activity is worthwhile, and many seniors can enjoy the benefits of physical activity at home with a low-impact pedal exerciser. The useful tool makes exercise more accessible for those with limited mobility.
Simple Exercise Tools: Building and maintaining muscle strength is important for seniors, and these Aeromat Elite EX-Core Fitness Tubes offer versatility between upper and lower body exercises, without the hassle of bulky equipment. Medicine balls like these Sportime Dual Grip Power Balls can add a sporty, fun element to important physical activities. Seniors interested in healthy exercise and fitness can use these to maintain muscle strength.

Home Supplies

Home supplies as a gift might not seem exciting, but to the elderly loved one in your life, they could make a positive difference in their feelings of independence while at home. Take a look at these ideas and consider how a home supply gift could be the perfect fit.

Comfortable Writing Tools: Writing supplies like a comfortable pencil grip can make simple tasks like creating a grocery list or writing out a personal letter easier for the senior in your life. This simple item can be beneficial for those affected by struggles with dexterity or arthritis.
Unique Seating Options: Versatile seating options can be an excellent way to improve the home of an aging parent or family friend. Options like the Safco Zenergy Ball Chair are unique and can help seniors to maintain core and back strength with improved posture.
Health Technology: If checking blood pressure is a common and important event in the home of the senior you care for, why not make the process easier with a new blood pressure monitor? Choose from the classic pump and arm cuff or an electronic wrist monitor.
Fluorescent Light Filters: Few things make a place feel less homey than white, cold lights. Cozy Shades light filters are a great option for seniors living under fluorescent lights. Not only do they make the room feel warmer, but come in fun seasonal colors for an added homey feel.
Handy Tools: Instead of squinting to see the numbers on a clock or phone, give the senior in your life the gift of an amplified corded phone and large digital clock for easy reading and use. Decreasing the stress of keeping track of time and calling friends and family could be a great gift option.

Recreation & Leisure

Life for an aging parent, friend, or patient is often filled with free time, and spending that time staying active mentally and physically is important. Consider one of these gift ideas to encourage creativity and fun:

Adult Coloring Books: Getting out the colored pencils or crayons to color is not just for small children, as adults and seniors alike can benefit from the mental and physical challenge of using a coloring book to make a previously colorless image their own.
Simple Games: There isn’t a lot of competition involved, but the fun and physical activity makes things like the Sportime CatchPads and Balls, Ring Toss, and Putt-O-Cups games the perfect way to add some enjoyment to free time in a senior’s day.
Mess-Free Creativity: Keeping the creative spirit alive is simple with the Buddha Board that uses only a board, brush, and water to create temporary artwork. The reusable board makes for unlimited hours of creativity, without the hassle of having to replenish supplies.

Sensory Processing

For many, aging brings with it a range of challenges and struggles, some of which being memory loss, confusion, and loneliness. If you’re looking for a comforting and soothing gift to offer an elderly loved one, consider these sensory processing ideas:

Baby Dolls: For seniors experiencing Alzheimer’s or dementia, a weighted baby doll could be a great way to improve their ability to relate to the surrounding world. Role-playing a caregiver has been shown to have a positive impact on cognitive and emotional well-being.
Snuggly Friends: Weighted animal friends can provide a feeling of comfort, and also give aging loved ones a creature to snuggle. The adorable, soft, weighted Abilitations animals may be a soothing gift option for the senior in your life.
Weighted Blankets: When the weather gets chilly a weighted blanket can offer cozy comfort and warmth. The added weight can provide a calming touch, potentially easing anxiety.

Resources for Seniors and Caregivers During the Holidays

The most important factor in the care of seniors and the elderly is honoring who they are and who they were, while helping them to live as safely and comfortably as possible. If you’re looking for more resources to help with caring for seniors and encouraging healthy physical and emotional choices during the holiday season, check out the following blog posts:

Useful Gift Ideas for Seniors and Aging Family Members

Gift Buying Tips When Shopping for Seniors