Christmas gifts for the over 80's inc. care home residents with/without dementia

jap200

Does anyone have any unusual, useful suggestions for gifts likely to be appreciated by the over 80's age group?

My family is very fortunate to have a large number of elderly relatives including several in the 80-95 age group, but I always struggle with Christmas presents for them.

The seniors that I have in mind range from physically and mentally fit to those of more fragile mind and body.

Any suggestions gratefully appreciated!

tanith

How about pots of Hyacinth bulbs already planted . My guess is you've already done the smellies, gloves and scarves, slippers etc... I bought bulbs for an elderly friend and she loved them, she gave me a report on how there were doing whenever I rang her and she told me they were still flowering well into January and the smell permeated the whole house, she got a lot of pleasure from them in fact I might do it again this year now I've reminded myself how much she appreciated them..

John_Pierpoint

Amaryllis ?
I love those Triffids, and they will do it again next year if a bit of TLC is given in a conservatory or even out of doors in a warm, drained southern spot.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&channel=s&hl=en&biw=1257&bih=828&q=anarillis&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi

http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/lidl_uk/hs.xsl/offerdate.htm?offerdate=25941

jap200

The bulbs in pots are a good idea and would be appreciated by the ladies that I have in mind. What about those hard-to-buy-for men though?

ariba10

Chocolate or Chocolate or Chocolate?

pollypenny

I'm sure the men would like a good whisky or cognac. (Judging by my dad)

Errata

jap200 wrote: »

Does anyone have any unusual, useful suggestions for gifts likely to be appreciated by the over 80's age group?

My family is very fortunate to have a large number of elderly relatives including several in the 80-95 age group, but I always struggle with Christmas presents for them.

The seniors that I have in mind range from physically and mentally fit to those of more fragile mind and body.

Any suggestions gratefully appreciated!

What about a book about the town they were brought up in as it was then? Local tourist offices or newspapers often have them for around a fiver.

Tigsteroonie

My Nan (90 and still going strong) has got bored with flowers, random smellies, CDs ... She now asks that we buy her a Boots voucher so that she can spend it on stuff that she will definitely use and not just put away in the drawer

luci

Last year I got MIL a 2 night DB&B break in a hotel in the town where she was born and brought up. A bit expensive, but might be suitable for someone special.

The year before I got her a perfumed and waxed teddy bear from Dippity Doo Dahs.

Running out of ideas now, but so far this year I've ordered a photo calendar with photos of holidays we've taken her on and other special occasions. A photo book is another idea.

There is an offer at the moment of a free A4 photo calendar with £3.99 P&P until 15 November

http://www.photobox.co.uk/landing/free-wall?channel=3145&cid=taemam3

JosieJump

For the last 4 years I've been getting my Mum a subscription to 'Yours' magazine. She loves it - lots of reminiscing, practical advice and adverts for walk-in baths!

valk_scot

I sponsored a cat at our local cat rescue in my mum's name one Christmas. Best present she'd ever been given, apparently. She adored getting the letters about the cat and I even had to take her to visit it once.