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

Savvy_Sue

Errata wrote: »

The feeling the cold moment: I wouldn't mind a hottie if it was a funny or glamorous one, any other sort would go straight in the bin. I have my standards

:rotfl: I have a pink heart-shaped hwb with a fluffy cover, and a pink fluffy cushion, and a pink fluffy throw, which are not things I would ever have asked for, but which I do use now I've got them!

I haven't worked out exactly how to say this either, but I sometimes buy gifts which I know are duplicates, but the one I'm getting is nicer / funnier / more upmarket. So if I saw a particularly amusing mug, for example, I might buy that. I saw one not long ago which I would have had to buy for Dad, had he still been alive.

pineapple wrote: »

Once again we are stereotyping people by age. Here's novel - why not look at the person? I know one elderly lady who would be thrilled by a ride in a hot air balloon. Oh sorry, she doesn't fit the spec because that's what younger people do. Maybe a nice vest from Damart?

To be fair ...

jap200 wrote: »

Active (in mind and body) seniors are a breeze to buy for (relatively speaking), but it's those with the more limited (in mind and body) capacities that are the challenge!

Although I agree that this can apply to both young and old ...

BTW, that reminds me that I must get the boys to buy me and their grandparents a calendar from the city they now live in.

jap200

pineapple wrote: »

Once again we are stereotyping people by age. Here's novel - why not look at the person? I know one elderly lady who would be thrilled by a ride in a hot air balloon. Oh sorry, she doesn't fit the spec because that's what younger people do. Maybe a nice vest from Damart?

Please don't take offense at this thread. I was careful in my OP not to sterotype actually. However, the fact that there is even an 'over 50's' MSE board indicates that people do have something in common based on their age.

Of course everyone is an individual no matter what their age, but my experience also tells me that those who were born in or lived through the Second World War often have a common outlook based on having lived through times of austerity etc. Also, it is a sad fact of life that we are more likely to experience mental and/or physical decline as we get older - although it's not inevitable of course!

Many of the suggestions offered here would be of no interest to the people I had in mind in my OP, but they might spark an idea for someone else, so I think the thread is useful.

I am personally particularly interested to hear what others have chosen to give to frail friends or relatives and also those suffering from dementia. However, I am not suggesting for one minute that any gift suggested would automatically be suitable for any elderly person!

Oh, and just for the record - I'm well under 50 and own a few Damart vests - and very handy they are too - although I wouldn't want one as a Christmas present!

Avocado

pineapple wrote: »

Once again we are stereotyping people by age. Here's novel - why not look at the person? I know one elderly lady who would be thrilled by a ride in a hot air balloon. Oh sorry, she doesn't fit the spec because that's what younger people do. Maybe a nice vest from Damart?

This to me raises some interesting questions...

I've just read the Christmas Gift Guide which came with December's Cosmpolitan. It is divided into Male and Female sections. I saw a couple of thing's I'd really like in there actually, several I wouldn't too. Perhaps they shouldn't publish it though, it's stereotyping by gender.

Actually on that point... Perhaps they shouldn't publish Cosmo at all? It's pretty stereotypically aimed at women.

What about the newspapers? I think we can all see where the Sunday Telegraph and the Sunday Sport are aimed; there must be widespread stereotyping underpinning that or we'd not consider them differently. Since all newspapers and magazines (and many books) have a target audience do we need to stop publishing at all in order to avoid stereotyping people?

I personally think the answer is it's equally possible to read a thread about gifts for the over 50's without disregarding the individual as it is to read the gift guide without becoming a mindless fashion victim and wanting all in sight.

How do you fare with shopping out of interest? Can you pick from the products aimed at you or must you consume all before you? I think most people can discern a good buy for a distinct individual from an inappropriate suggestion. I would worry if you can't.

babyblooz

My mum and dad love their garden but are getting on a bit so find it difficult to do a lot. One gift that went down really well was some solar string lights that they looped in an around the specimin tree just outside their conservatory. They look really lovely and don't need any attention. They use their conservatory a lot and the lights look really pretty when they sit in there on an evening.

babyblooz

And another one that went down well was a nice quality fleece in a damask kind of pattern. It lived over the back of their settee and was regularly used to cover their knees when they felt the cold. They liked the fact that it washed and dried really quickly and because they don't go out that much they didn't really know about the benefits of a nice bit of a fleece lol!

big5

This year I'm giving my granddad a biography of Winston Churchill. He enjoys reading and is into history and politics, so that ticks a few boxes. I'm making a blanket for my grandmother. She has dementia and her eyesight is very poor, so things that she used to enjoy such as books or puzzles aren't much use any more. She likes to touch things that are soft/textured, so I'm hoping a crocheted blanket will be a good gift for her even if she won't be aware of who made it, etc.

jap200

big5 wrote: »

This year I'm giving my granddad a biography of Winston Churchill. He enjoys reading and is into history and politics, so that ticks a few boxes. I'm making a blanket for my grandmother. She has dementia and her eyesight is very poor, so things that she used to enjoy such as books or puzzles aren't much use any more. She likes to touch things that are soft/textured, so I'm hoping a crocheted blanket will be a good gift for her even if she won't be aware of who made it, etc.

The blanket is a lovely idea - sadly I'm so slow at that kind of thing that I would need to start making one now for next Christmas!

sparrer

Over the years I've bought most of the above for my DM - though God forbid I'd ever buy her a thermal vest! She's had clothes, jewellery, subs to a magazine, books, weekends away etc etc. Last year the family clubbed together and I took her on a Med cruise, something she's always dreamed of. That was for her 90th birthday. As a previous poster said Boots vouchers are always good as they can choose what they like and my DM buys lots of things there.

For Christmas she gets a stocking with all the things she likes best, Ol@y products, a small jar of specialist honey, clip-on earrings (so hard to find, they all seem to be for pierced ears these days), stuffed olives, perfume, lots of other bits and pieces I find throughout the year, and of course the Boots voucher. If she comes to me she loves to go out for lunch every day, except Christmas Day which we spend with my DD and family. It's easy to find inexpensive carveries and pub lunches for over 55's, we go Dutch so it doesn't hit my purse too badly.

I'm not wealthy, far from it, but thanks to Martin I manage to save a little each week throughout the year by living very frugally, for just such an occasion. I appreciate my DM is 'unusual' in being 90 going on 50 but imho I do think with a little thought chocolates and pot plants could be replaced with something more appropriate to the recipient.

maxwellhouse

I usually put together a hamper of nice things to eat and drink for my elderley relatives -they are always well received!

blossomhill_2

For anyone looking for a present for someone with dementia - I was surprised to see recommendations for them to have soft toys and dolls, for mental stimulation, but having seen an old lady absolutely adoring her doll and putting it to bed, I have mixed feelings, but she was way way happier-looking than some of the distressed-looking people in the home so maybe it was best for her
So maybe a relaistic looking toy dog for someone who used to have pet dogs, in the right breed