Gifts for Elderly Friends

RE: Gifts for Elderly Friends Post By Serg (Guest Post) (12/17/2007) My elderly parents don't need any more "stuff." I've always looked for gift certificates for services. I gave my mother a gift certificate to a beauty salon and she loved it! Women's hair styling is far more expensive than a man's and can be cost prohibitive on a fixed income. RE: Gifts for Elderly Friends Post By Carrie (Guest Post) (12/05/2007) Great ideas above, thanks for all. For Mother's Day 5 years ago, we got my grandmother-in-law a pair of Parakeets. They were something for her to focus on and take care of. She felt so useless and these birds infused a purpose to her day. (I strongly recommend checking with the potential recipient before buying any live animal gifts though). RE: Gifts for Elderly Friends Post By Joseph (Guest Post) (07/17/2007) If they use a walker, nice walker bags are excellent for the elderly. You can find them at places like www.JeansWalkerBags.com . RE: Gifts for Elderly Friends Post By Trish Canepa (Guest Post) (12/05/2006) I used to get Christmas Cards for my Grandmother and have her name imprinted on them and the envelope. I would put stamps on all of the envelopes and even address as many as I could for her. She loved it and looked forward to them every year. RE: Gifts for Elderly Friends Post By Willem (Guest Post) (06/30/2006) I live 1000 km from my 83 year old mother, who is blind and an invalid. So I knitted her a pair of bedsocks, a scarf (in her favourite autumn colours!) and a dishcloth for her birthday I know she won't be using the dishcloth, but it's something she can hold and think of me! Hand lotions and creams, special soap and pretty linen will also be appreciated. RE: Gifts for Elderly Friends Post by Rebey (3) | (06/27/2006) Contact I found a great idea for my elderly father 90 years old!). He loves watching nature and misses being out in it. I set up a beautiful bird feeder (acutally several) outside his window and he spends hours watching the birds come to feed. The jays love the peanuts and other birds come for the seed. He gets squirrels robbing the jays peanut stashes and gets a big kick out of that. I bought my bird feeders from an online store that delivered quickly and even answered some of my questions through email before I purchased. The site is http://www.backyardbirdsandgardens.com I also bought him a motion sensor parakeet for Father's Day. It sits on a perch, sings and moves. He can hold it on his finger too, if he wants to. No mess, just a little company and fun. I also got that through the same website as above under Breezy Singers. RE: Gifts for Elderly Friends Post By nancy (Guest Post) (04/21/2006) I like the idea about the "Gripper" arm. I am short and I use mine all the time. I think my 89 yr old father in law will like one as well. I'm going out to buy one now! Thanks! RE: Gifts for Elderly Friends Post By ***Guest*** (Guest Post) (02/23/2006) My grandma is 80 in a few weeks so i am getting her one of those weird pillows that are like minature beanbags. Anyone can use those! RE: Gifts for Elderly Friends Post By doebear (Guest Post) (12/11/2005) I am getting my grandfather a head-lamp this christmas. He won't have to try and handle a walker, oxygen tank and flashlight if the power goes out. And knowing my Grandpa, he is going to love using it just for fun!! RE: Gifts for Elderly Friends Post By Ann (Guest Post) (12/05/2005) There is a great magazine by Readers Digest called Reminisce. My elderly in laws raved about it when we gave them a subscription. http://www.reminisce.com/ RE: Gifts for Elderly Friends Post By (Guest Post) (12/04/2005) I print a calendar with the families birthdays and anniversaries on the dates. I use my geneology program. I guess I could get the cards and address them too, but I am not that industrious. RE: Gifts for Elderly Friends Post By Claire (Guest Post) (11/17/2005) if they have a cd player try a CD lots of the elderly like their music if not look for a book about something interesting that has happened in their lifetime! RE: Gifts for Elderly Friends Post by wifeandme (5) | (05/04/2005) Contact If your elderly friend cant do much you should think about getting them ssomething like a hands free faucet or a voice activated switch. This site always has a few of the best gifts and they keep it updated http://buyunique.blogspot.com RE: Gifts for Elderly Friends Post By Cassie (Guest Post) (12/23/2004) I have just found a book that fits the old and young on my list- The Experts' Guide to 100 Things Everyone Should Know How to Do. I bought mine a month ago after hearing the author speak on NPR and the book is a treasure. It is 100 chapters of advice from leading experts like Larry King who writes "How to listen" and Letitia Baldrige on "How to shake hands" it is so much fun and i am learning too. I plan to give it to my mother and my brother-in-law. http://www.theexpertsguideto.com RE: Gifts for Elderly Friends Post by Beckyp (1) | (12/19/2004) Contact But what about the ones who can't? Who can't write any more. Who can't read any more. Who don't like to eat much any more. Who are in a nursing home, far, far away and can hardly remember any more. I write letters and send cards. When I go there, I bring bright things for the walls and go on field trips. RE: Gifts for Elderly Friends Post by beanygurl (135) | (12/19/2004) Contact When my grandmother was still alive, she enjoyed puzzle books... find-a-word type. One year I brought her a few puzzle books and a smileyface pen that she could wear around her neck or hang from a hook/knob. There are also coloring books for adults. Sometimes fighting boredom is a challenge. Another year I made a crochet afghan for her. She proudly showed it off to the other residents in the nursing home and to the staff... she'd tell them "My granddaughter made this for me"! RE: Gifts for Elderly Friends Post by valleyrimgirl (440) | (12/18/2004) Contact I also "clean" for an elderly man and the last time I was there I had asked him what his favorite meal was. "Lamb chops with mint jelly, potatoes and peas", was his answer. So yesterday I bought some lamb chops and the next time I go there to "clean" I will make him his favorite meal as his Christmas gift from me. RE: Gifts for Elderly Friends Post by Grandma Margie (135) | (12/18/2004) Contact A gift I think many will use and appreciate is a "Grabber" or "Gripper". I bought one for my mother-in-law and after "test driving" it with her I went back and bought her another one... plus two for me! It's a gadget about 30 inches long with a handle you squeeze to activate the pinchers. The pincher tips have small rubber suction cups that grip. They are wonderful for retrieving things that fall behind the couch......or under the bed...or in the back of the closet. Also great to get things from the back of your lower kitchen cabinets. Keep one in your car to reach items in your trunk or in the back seat. It can actually handle items that are fairly heavy. It is a great helper for those who are getting a little stiff.......or chubby......or both, like me! They only cost $10.00. I got mine at Target but have seen them other places as well. RE: Gifts for Elderly Friends Post by Mira_one (1) | (12/18/2004) Contact A handmade book of certificates is always welcome by the elderly. Accompany a person to the store, take them out for a simple lunch, or coffee.. help with household chores or yardwork. I work with the elderly and the thing they want most is our time and a friend. Use your imagination to come up with other things you can do FOR and WITH the person. I know it will all be appreciated. RE: Gifts for Elderly Friends Post By Enid (Guest Post) (12/18/2004) Another great gift idea for the elderly is to give them coupons for things they need done. Yard work, grocery shopping, lunch and things like this are great coupon ideas and they love it. They usually don't need another knick nack around the house. Christmas Gifts for The Elderly Post by ThriftyFun (3797) | (12/18/2004) Profile | Blog! | Contact Knickknacks, dusting powder, candy (they usually are on some type of diet restriction) more clothing - don't bother. 2 items that elderly people really appreciate receiving are: 1) a gift certificate to a supermarket (hey, we all have to eat) 2) a book of stamps By joesgirl RE: Gifts for Elderly Friends Post By Paulette (Guest Post) (12/14/2004) I have a large cleaning business and much of it is for elderly people. They don't really need me to "clean" as they are so neat, rarely cook, but what I am actually hired for is to help them with stuff their TOO BUSY kids (neices, nephews grand children) can't or dont want to find time to do like change a light bulb, flip a mattress, move a piece of furniture, rearrange or clean a pantry. The list goes on and on for these people and I ask many of them, "Why don't any of your adult children just come here once a month and do some of these things? So people, they don't want to ask you as you are all so very busy, but the thing they want most is to have you for a day or half day and help them with these very small projects! WHy not give them a sheet of paper with twenty lines on it and tell them to fill in each line with a request for a job or chore and you will knock them all out for them. Now THAT is what would thrill anyone! Try hiring someone to do some of these things and just see what they are paying so they won't "bother" you! RE: Gifts for Elderly Friends Post By guest (Guest Post) (11/24/2004) Thanks from me too. What a great idea RE: Gifts for Elderly Friends Post by valleyrimgirl (440) | (11/07/2004) Contact So many of the elderly get cookies or chocolates and candy for gifts. I think that the stationary and pen and stamps is a wonderful idea. A friend of mine loves to send thankyou cards and still corresponds by letters with many people. The internet and computers are foreign to him. Now I know what to get him for Christmas, thank you!!