Christmas Gift Ideas for Older People

Christmas is an ideal time to give older people gifts that are practical and useful, or something they 'need' that they might not buy for themselves.

If you want to give your loved one something useful, you can choose a gift that assists with their everyday life. This could be a mobility assistance gift or something to help with life organisation and daily admin.

Here are some top practical and useful gift ideas for older people:

• Walking stick – available in all colours, shapes and sizes to suit individual needs.
• Walking frame – ideal for individuals who are less mobile, and available with adjustable and temporary seating options.
• Half steps – these provide an extra step half the height of a normal step to help less mobile people move around with ease.
• Garden kneeler or knee pads – the perfect gift for green fingered older people.
• Magnifying glass – help your loved one read with ease.
• Pill organiser box – ideal for keeping track of medication.
• Key/wallet finder – help your loved one keep track of essentials with these handy gadgets.

It might be useful to have a discussion with the intended recipient first to get an idea for how they might feel about a mobility or assistance tool – as useful as these gifts are, your loved one may not be ready to accept that they need a walking stick yet!

Technology is a great way to help older people stay connected. Don’t forget to spend time teaching your loved one how to use their gift so that they get the most out of it.

Here are some technology gift ideas for vulnerable people:

• Large digital calendar clock – help your loved one keep track of the date and time.
• Mobile phones with big numbers – make it easy for them to stay in touch.
• Tablet – for more technologically advanced seniors, an Apple iPad or similar large tablet can enable your loved one to video call friends and family, as well as giving access to endless games, TV and information.
• Voice operated devices – gadgets that boast voice control features, like the Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, are easy-to-use and helpful for older people.
• E-book reader – reader tablets like the Kindle are the ideal gift for bookworms.

Older people appreciate nostalgic gifts that transport them back to the ‘good old days’, or sentimental gifts that remind them of loved ones.

Here are some nostalgic and sentimental gifts ideas for elderly loved ones:

• Their favourite music – this could be in the form of a record, CD, iPod download or membership to a music streaming platform like Spotify (provided that they have a device to listen with).
• Food from the past – gift their favourite edible treats from the past, such as a sweet selection box from the 1930s.
• Photos – these could be frames or albums filled with photos from the past, or more recent memories of family and grandchildren.

It’s important for older people to stay active mentally as well as physically, so some mind-stimulating presents can boost mental health as well as providing entertainment.

Here are some mind stimulation gift ideas for older people:

• Activity books – these could be sudoku, colouring in, quiz or puzzle books to provide your loved one with hours of fun.
• Puzzles – keep your loved one entertained with a puzzle, and choose from endless pictures such as international scenes, nostalgic memories or animal images.
• Board games – gift a fun board game that your loved one can play with friends and family.

Gifts appreciated by people of all ages, personal care presents help your loved one take care of themselves and live comfortably.

Here are some personal care gift ideas for older people:

• Toiletries – gift a luxurious bubble bath or shampoo to take bathing to the next level.
• Clothing – thick socks, a soft jumper, warm scarf or fluffy slippers will help your loved one get cosy and stay warm in winter.
• Blankets – gift a blanket to people who are prone to getting cold. You can even get a heated blanket or a personalised one with a printed image, such as a family photo or image of a beloved pet.