What to buy my nan for her birthday

liney

Is she able bodies enough to do any sort of crafts? Like knitting, croquet, Cross stitch gear.

Would she enjoy jigsaws? One of the new versions of Pride and Prejudice type period dramas on DVD?

Photo album which has been started, and you can add too with photos when you visit?

Lillies are for funerals, pearls are for tears, and red roses are not for weddings and signify the Grooms blood... My nan would be your nan's age now if she was alive.

Errata

Many older people have all the material things they need, but what they're often short of is the opportunity to regularly chat with someone - even those with dementia appreciate the presence of another human being and if they can't take part in any kind of conversation many of them love to have a hand massage; something care home staff often don't have time to do. Spending time with someone doesn't have a cash value. It's priceless.

lottee

Slightly worried now after reading this thread - as I had lillies, & lot's of them in my wedding bouquet...

I think Lavender13 has some good ideas - foot stool etc, what about a blanket / fleece for her legs ? The photo thing is a nice idea - BS is her bday before or after your wedding? If it's after, what about a wedding photo? Will there be a lot of family at your wedding - you could get one of all of you together perhaps?

black-saturn

Thanks I like the blanket or cushion idea. I ran the idea past my mum who said that it would have to be fire proofed first though.

I bought her a CD player and audio book last year and according to the people who work in the home she has never used it.

Carmina_Piranha_3

my nan is 87 and doesn't need anything. it's getting more difficult to find gifts for her but she likes to smell fresh flowers. i think that when eyesight and hearing aren't too good the other senses are best to concentrate on when buying gifts.

flowers or toiletries to smell have been mentioned.

taste - my gran was really chuffed at christmas, i bought her some greengage jam. it's something she ate when younger but you don't really see that sort of thing nowadays. is there a local farm shop or somewhere that makes preserves? shop-bought jam tastes different, she might really appreciate the taste and texture of home-made. gooseberry etc.

touch - she has clothes but are they soft? what about blankets? my baby has a lovely soft blanket, my son and i pinch it too if we feel ill. once when my nan was very ill i got her a hot water bottle cover for christmas. she already had one but this was really soft, like a teddy bear.

on my nan's latest birthday i didn't actually get her a gift, just a card. i didn't know what to get her and when i asked if she wanted anything specific i think she was happier to tell me to save my money. a card and a visit are all she needs to make her feel valued.

Heth_2

How about a happy birthday helium balloon? Fun and not expensive. Better than spending money on something that she will never use or won't be able to appreciate. The metallic ones stay up for weeks.

Carmina_Piranha_3

black-saturn wrote: »

I bought her a CD player and audio book last year and according to the people who work in the home she has never used it.

my nan never uses that sort of thing either. i got her a dvd player and 'gone with the wind' once when she was ill and she got her son to put it on once for her, never used it since. the ordinary TV is all she watches.

how far away is she? do you have time to go and read a book to her yourself while the children are in school, or just set the CD running as you leave? (in case she doesn't know how to use it/can't see the controls/doesn't want to be a nuisance to the staff at the home.

pinkshoes

Could you not take her out somewhere and buy her scones and a cup of tea? My gran is 76 and never wants any gifts either! I think she prefers having company and attention than gifts.

Flowers are always a good choice, and something with bright colours if here eye sight isn't so good.

black-saturn

Thanks for the suggestions.

I don't think I'd be able to take her out anywhere, she's just not interested. She won't go out anywhere.

The idea of reading to her is a good one but she can hardly hear so we would have to shout at her!! Even with her hearing aid in she can't hear. She didn't know who I was last week when I went there. She just kept asking who it was and when I said my name she didn't remember who i was.

Carmina_Piranha_3

*HUGS*

she might remember another time, although i don't know her or how she is. the last time i saw my grandad before he died he thought i was my mum as a little girl, didn't recognise my mum at all. i'm sure that somewhere inside she knows you love her.

it doesn't sound like an outing would suit her, no. flowers would smell nice though, and i don't see a problem with lilies (although i was told by my family that i couldn't have them as my wedding bouquet!)