Christmas hamper goods for the elderly?

PasturesNew

pigpen wrote: »

Most of the older people I know have more disposable income than I do with a brood of children to feed!!

One of the things in life is we only know the people that are "just like us".

The people you describe are the sort organising the giving of the hampers, not the receivers of them.

Lynplatinum

Hiya

It is nice as a single person to get things that would last - that you could have later in the year. So 2 packs of posh biccys so that they could keep one for visitors later in the year (or as a treat for themselves ) A tinned pudding or two. Savoury biscuits as well - perhaps posh crisps T1rels??.

Single sachets of interesting coffees/chocolate/teas?

Also some non food things - a small wheat bag (which they can warm in a microwave and sit with arthritic hands wrapped in) - scarves and gloves they may already have. A nice pen and writing pad. IF you know what 'flavour' folks like soaps/hand gels/bubble baths which are usable later in the year.

I dont wish to be rude but a few folk on here sound quite patronising - not all older folk only like bland stuff - some of my older friends were around in the 60s and the early days of curry houses and Chinese food! So some small quantities of spices/herbs/pickles might be good. (which again can be used later on in the year - it bring to mind the person who gifted it to you!) :A

Hope this helps
Nite all

wanderingwondering

I would donate nice quality tinned soups, nice crackers/oat cakes, hot chocolate, jam, maybe some fudge? Toiletry items like nice soap/handwash. Just similar to what you would want to receive in a 'treats' hamper yourself!


The idea of putting in just one cracker nearly broke my heart reading and I would definitely avoid doing that - what if they have no-one to pull it with or share the joke with? How lonely.

[Deleted User]

As a 'Little old lady' myself I am lucky enough to have family close by and so am never alone over Christmas.In fact from Christmas Eve until after New Years day I am never at home anyway as I shuttle backwards and forward between my family.
Very nice and I do enjoy it ,but I also enjoy getting back to my own home and bed and just pottering around :):)

I have friends who are sadly on their own at Christmas for various reasons and we were talking about this 'hamper' idea the other day .One lady said its nice to have 'Christmassy things, but it also enforces the idea that you are on your own.
I could see her point of view as she said

"I like Christmas pudding but would never cook even a mini one just for me,its like having a single cracker and sitting with a funny hat on by yourself".

She said what is nice (I actually do a shoe-box for her for Christmas) is finding odds and ends inside that she will appreciate during January and the following months I usually get a small jar of nice coffee,some tea bags,a packet of her favourite biscuits ,some decent jam,a nice bar of soap I usually make several boxes up for friends and buy a triple box of Yardleys Soaps and split the box up.and I try to think of the person I am doing it for .One friend likes doing crossword puzzles and Sudoku so I put a small book of those in as well.Another likes a good mystery book and I can usually find something in the CS in good condition.Someone els enjoys a jigsaw (she is housebound and has a big fold out table that she spends hours on and can easily enjoy a 1000 piece one) this I do have to wrap separately along with her little box of goodies but it gives her hours of pleasure during the cold months of January and February.These I will often find also in a CS .In fact I always keep an eye out for them during the year as I know she enjoys them .Our local library have a jigsaw section and when she needs a different one I will often go and change it for her.
By the way if you buy someone writing paper and envelopes stick half a dozen stamps inside with them as older folk don't like queuing for hours to buy a stamp

But these are things I do because I know the persons likes and dislikes. A nice box of peppermints go down well .Older people, as said, are not a different race we are just people who have lived longer

My DGD Holly buys me lots of nice shampoos and shower stuff bless her and I really appreciate having nice 'smellies' in the shower.
Another friend will buy me a really good pot of my favourite jam. My sis -in-law always makes me a mini-Christmas cake which I take to my DDs and share with her ma-in-law as we are the only ones who like Christmas cake in the family. I think the best thing is to think of what you would appreciate and enjoy if you were in their shoes ,as one day, God willing, you will be
JackieO xxx

mumps

Lance_De_Boils wrote: »

Just asked dad (late 70s) what he would like.
He said booze, fancy coffee, packet of long rizla.
Licorice all sorts, jelly babies. For after he has used the rizla.

How old are the Rolling Stones now? Can't imagine them eating wherthers originals.

I was feeling terribly depressed as nothing anyone has mentioned would tempt me in the slightest but then you mentioned licorice all sorts :T Bloody depressing getting old and people think you will like some weird stuff.

freezspirit

I know it may sound daft but you could use some of the money to purchase some gadgets some its easier for them to open jars, bottles and tins, eg:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Safe-Easy-Ring-Opener-Mobility/dp/B004P336PE/ref=pd_bxgy_201_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1QYE8CSP4JQDQ68BYB3F
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Multi-Jar-Bottle-Opener-JO100/dp/B0018PWOOG/ref=sr_1_4?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1448015589&sr=1-4&keywords=Jar+%26+Bottle+Opener
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Excellent-Houseware-Heavy-Duty-Opener/dp/B00LFPI560/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1448015788&sr=1-1&keywords=tin+opener

I only say this as a few Christmas' ago, we were walking in the village while waiting for the lunch to be cooked to be met on the main road by an elderly woman using a zimmer frame in the snow and 2 tins in her handbag trying to find someone to open them for her. We helped her back home and even just had trouble opening the tins with her old tin opener, the 2 tins were new potatoes and I think salmon that she will have over 2 days. Until her neighbour came back to help her. She said she would have it for tea as she was exhausted from trying to find help. We returned home and once our food was cooked dad went back with a plate of our Christmas dinner, cake and our spare working tin opener as a gift.

Suggestions for food instead of 1 jar of jam go for the mini selection box (usually 5 small jars in various flavours). It then means they have a choice and won't go bad before they can finish it.
Tins of vegetables - potatoes, carrots, peas and green beans
Tins of fish or ham
packets of pasta and sauce
microwave rice
mince pies, short bread and small cake
carton of custard or cream

Pollycat

Lordy!
That can opener is cheap!

Arthritis Concern sell some similar aids in their charity shops if there's one close by.

System

meritaten wrote: »

hmmm trying to think what mum would have liked - she used to 'treat' herself with Posh Biscuits from M&S a couple of times a year. but Aldi have very similar for about a third the price.
tinned red salmon - you wouldn't dream of using the cheaper 'pink' salmon at special occasions or for guests.
a box of dates.
real 'tangerines' as opposed to clementines or satsumas (they really don't taste the same) - and my OH picked up what he thought were satsumas in Aldis and guess what? they were Tangerines!!!!!! I couldn't believe it - they smelled and tasted exactly like I remembered!
as others have said - one portion packs of Christmas pudding. and don't forget the 'tinned cream' to go with it! many of my mums generation prefer tinned cream.
a good local cheese - even a small amount would be appreciated. its really hard to find good Caerphilly cheese - and guess where I live? right! Caerphilly! or near enough!
a really nice fruit cake - don't worry about the size - oldies know how to keep it fresh for days - and within days it will be eaten! again, aldee do a lovely fruit laden Christmas cake (its the one I buy as soon as they stock it, cover it with marzipan and ice it and pretend I made it). its about £3 but you could cut it into quarters and cling wrap it well.

You're a fellow Walian as well! I'm from Newport :cool: i didn't even consider cheese for a hamper. My parents are close friends with a farmer who makes Caerphilly and loads of other cheeses. I often nick some from my mums fridge to put on my chips :rotfl:

Thinking of that, i could probably get some cheese at mates rates or even free!

System

Thanks to everyone else for all the suggestions. We'll be able to donate much better hamper items now. A lot of the foods mentioned never even came to mind!

I posted the same question on facebook and i'm glad i asked here! This place has much more sensible ideas :beer:

That tin opener at 85p :eek: if i could negotiate cheaper P&P for say 15 that would be an awesome gift!!

jackieblack

freezspirit wrote: »

a few Christmas' ago, we were walking in the village while waiting for the lunch to be cooked to be met on the main road by an elderly woman using a zimmer frame in the snow and 2 tins in her handbag trying to find someone to open them for her. We helped her back home and even just had trouble opening the tins with her old tin opener, the 2 tins were new potatoes and I think salmon that she will have over 2 days. Until her neighbour came back to help her. She said she would have it for tea as she was exhausted from trying to find help. We returned home and once our food was cooked dad went back with a plate of our Christmas dinner, cake and our spare working tin opener as a gift.

How lovely, this really sums up what Christmas should be all about.