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Want to give your senior parents or elderly neighbours the perfect Christmas gift?
Christmas is the perfect time to show someone that you appreciate them. However, picking out a gift for someone in a different age bracket than you can be difficult. Instead of the latest tech gadgets, fashionable clothing, or any other trendy must-have – seniors want something that’s practical and gives them joy.
With Christmas coming soon, it’s time to get brainstorming for some gift ideas for your parents and neighbours. So here are 11 Christmas gift ideas to get your creative juices flowing.
1. Blankets & Pillows
When the sun goes down and the breeze picks up, as a senior, nothing beats getting comfy in your favourite seat and covering yourself with a soft blanket and pillow combo.
If you know they suffer from anxiety, investing a little more money and getting a weighted blanket will show that you truly care for them. They’ll love the relaxation effect it provides and uses it for years to come.
2. Foot Massager
As people age, foot pain becomes a common nuisance. This can cause swelling and discomfort throughout the day. An easy and quick way to alleviate the symptoms is with a foot massager.
Depending on your budget, you can get anything from an affordable wooden roller to a more luxurious electric heat massager.
3. Low-Impact Exercise Equipment
The best exercise equipment for seniors is low-impact with minimal pressure on the joints. An elliptical machine is a great way for the elderly to stay in shape while minimising the risk of injury.
If you’re looking for a more affordable option, a yoga mat along with a few suggestions for the best YouTube yoga channels to follow can be a cheap way to get in some daily exercise.
4. Teas
Sipping on a nice warm cup of tea can be relaxing but also beneficial to a senior’s health.
Additionally, learning how to brew tea and taste the intricate flavours can become a fun hobby for the elderly. There is a huge range of teas including black tea, oolong tea, green tea, and more. You can even purchase a gift set so they can try out a broad selection of teas to find the one they like most.
5. A Personalised Handwritten Letter
An old school handwritten letter that shows your appreciation to your parents or neighbours is something that will be treasured. In this digital age, putting in the time to write something by hand shows sincerity and will be greatly appreciated by seniors especially.
If you want to make things a little more extravagant, you can even handcraft the letter yourself using fun materials from an arts and crafts store.
6. Novelty Cups
A fun cup that makes you chuckle every time you see it can quickly become someone’s favourite.
You can find cups with funny texts, gimmicky designs, and hilarious illustrations. Or you can even take your favourite photo of your parent or neighbour and have a custom made cup that’s personalised with their image (or even an image of their favourite pet!)
7. A Box Of Snacks
What beats a tasty snack? A whole box filled with goodies that offer a variety of flavours and textures. With a curated box of snacks, you can put together their favourites and give them something delicious to reach for at night.
8. Jigsaw Puzzles
As a senior, especially if you’re retired, it’s easy to get bored and find yourself brainlessly watching television all day.
Stimulate their mind with a jigsaw puzzle, but make sure it’s not so difficult that they give up!
You can even get a customised jigsaw puzzle of an image of your own choice. This can be a picture with your parents, a trip taken together, or scenery that you know they love.
9. E-Reader or Tablet
It’s normal for the elderly to have their vision deteriorate and reach a stage where reading physical books becomes extremely difficult. However, with an e-reader like a Kindle or Nook, they can easily increase font sizes to make it easy to read again.
10. Digital Photo Frame
When you get older, you find yourself stuck at home more often than you’d like. Your children have grown up, moved out, and are enjoying their lives with their own families.
But parents still want to know what’s going on and feel like they’re a part of things.
Digital photo frames allow you to email photos to the device and display it on the picture frame. With this in the house, seniors can still feel like they’re part of the action when their family shares their photos.
11. Netflix Subscription With A 1-On-1 Lesson
With nothing to do at home except watch TV filled with ads, it’s no wonder that seniors feel constantly bored.
A Netflix subscription will run you just a few dollars per month but it can provide hours of daily entertainment for your parents or neighbour. However, they might need a bit of teaching to learn how to use it.
