Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or holiday, finding the perfect gift for the senior in your life can be a challenge. They may have everything they need and don’t want any more “stuff” to clutter their living space.
So, what do you get them? Review our curated list of senior gift ideas in this blog from The Bristal Assisted Living to get you started in the right direction.
Best Gift Ideas for Seniors
Before you begin, try to remain sensitive to your loved one’s individual needs & capabilities. For example, if your senior loved one doesn’t want a physical gift, consider an experience, like a day trip or a private fine dining reservation.
It’s also helpful to be practical yet thoughtful when choosing a gift. Think about items that can make their daily life or a difficult task easier, like paid housekeeping services for a year or an annual subscription to their favorite streaming platform.
Review our ideas by category to find the right one for your loved one:
Thoughtful Gifts
- Framed family photo or digital photo frame
- Gifts to keep warm, such as a handmade quilt, blanket, or pair of slippers
- Games and puzzles
- Lap desk to hold a phone or tablet, meals, drinks, or books
- Paid housekeeping, meal delivery, lawn care, or errand services
- Independent living aids to help your loved one maintain their independence, including grab bars, reachers, shoe horns, or adapted utensils
- E-readers or tablets for reading online
Related: 30 Ideas for Random Acts of Kindness That Will Make You Smile >>
Creative Gifts
- Personalized gift baskets filled with their favorite things
- Gift cards or gift certificates to their favorite places, stores, or restaurants
- Supplies for hobbies, like yarn, paint, or scrapbooking paper
- Donation to their favorite charity, made in their name
- Homemade meals or goodies, like candy, cookies, and bread
- Old home movies transferred to digital formats from pictures or slideshows
- Keepsake scrapbook with photos of loved ones
- Audio or video of grandchildren reading a book
- Paid annual cell phone plan or cable/internet services
- Monthly flower bouquet or fruit basket delivery
- Personalized calendar featuring pictures of grandchildren and other loved ones
Related: Holiday Gift Ideas for Adults With Alzheimer's Disease >>
Experience Gifts
- Paid class registration fees for something that interests them, like computer coding, dancing, yoga, writing, or music
- Tickets for movies, plays, concerts, the symphony, opera, or other production they’d enjoy
- Gift certificate for a massage or spa day
- Tickets to a sporting event
- Tickets for a weekend getaway or cruise excursion
- Train or plane ticket to visit a long-distance relative or friend
- An annual membership to a local zoo, aquarium, or museum
- Trip to a local botanical garden
Related: Benefits of Hobbies for Older Adults >>
Intergenerational Gifts
- Coupon book for a year of monthly lunch dates with children, grandchildren, or other loved ones
- Foreign language app purchase so your senior loved one can learn a new language with their grandchildren
- Family-friendly board games or puzzles
- Ingredients for a favorite family recipe everyone can make together
- Fishing trip or other family-favorite activity
- Materials to start a collection with grandchildren, like rocks, shells, or coins
- A scrapbook or photo album so children and grandchildren can help organize loose photos
Related: Creating Joyful Moments >>
Remember that your presence is often the most invaluable gift you can give your loved one. Spending quality time together may be the best gift of all.
Find More Lifestyle Tips in Our Blog
Looking for additional lifestyle tips and stories? Read our blog to discover walking tips for seniors, texting safety, music therapy, and more.
This blog was originally published in November 2018. It was updated in December 2023.
