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I’m completely lost about what gifts to buy for a few older people that I am buying for this year.


I knew what to buy for my mom, grandmother and godmother because I knew their taste.


Also, what can we do to make the holidays special for the seniors in our community?


Open for suggestions. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a physical gift. Some sort of service would be good too.


There isn’t a good category to select for this thread so I randomly picked senior activities.


Thanks for your feedback.

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My family is older. Daughter is 47. We decided years ago that Christmas is a time fogiving. Make a donation to her favorite or your favorite charity in her name. It's a gift that will keep giving.
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Look at this website

https://www.flintrehab.com/useful-gifts-for-stroke-patients/ -

Here's a couple of their ideas:

* Stronger After Stroke --- This stroke recovery book, written by Peter Levine, is one of the most robust, comprehensive books on stroke recovery. It’s very dense and technical, but that’s the point. It’s the ultimate guide to understanding all the different therapies available for stroke patients.

* Magnesium Oil --- Magnesium oil can be used for self-massage, which improves blood circulation and may help prevent post-stroke complications like contractures. It’s superior to other massage oils because many people are deficient in magnesium, and magnesium plays a role in neuromuscular function.

* Stroke Recovery Vitamins --- Is your loved one getting all their essential vitamins for a healthy recovery from stroke, like vitamin C and DHA? If not, supplements can be a helpful gift for stroke patients. Be sure to check with their doctor first because some supplements can exacerbate preexisting medical conditions. For instance, omega-3’s thin the blood and they should never be taken by someone with a history of hemorrhagic stroke. Always proceed with caution and check with a doctor first.

AND THIS COULD BE VERY IMPORTANT / USEFUL:

Learn more about stroke recovery vitamins » (see website or google).

Gena / Touch Matters
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My mom loves her digital clock that tells not only the time, but also the date, the day of the week, and the time of day.

thank you to all who have given me such great gift ideas!
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Last year for my mother I created a colorful accordion file with everyone in the family’s birthdays. I put birthday cards for all ages in each folder according to how many birthdays that month. I printed labels with everyone address. She has been sending them out all year.
I think this year I am also going to add in Thank You cards as an extra folder.
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NeedHelpWithMom Nov 26, 2023
Love this!
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I normally buy momma either a new robe and nightgown so I can throw away the old one. This year I bought her a warm up outfit. Not the active kind but a dressed up version in a pretty color. I knew she would not care for the active kind but the one I bought is soft material and I believe she will like it. Also bought her a tube of lipstick in her favorite color.
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Need: A gift of service, i. e. a floor swept or a meal prepared is often appreciated by the elder as they 'don't need one more trinket to dust' per my mother and common sense thinking. They often can no longer sweep a floor or prepare a meal.
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I struggled with my mom. She was very practical. I ended up getting her gifts that were related to the things she loved. She was a seamstress and loved to garden. In my case, I could visit every day. I planted fresh flowers outside of her bedroom and we watered them together each day. As her dementia progressed, I had her sort color buttons and roll my yarn into balls. It reminded her of her profession and she was good at it.

She loved her nails painted. I bought nail files and polish for her. As she declined, I would do her nails for her. Love the ideas about a pedicure and day spa.

I found that if you understand their history you can come up with great gift ideas that compliment their favorite things,
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If she is mobile take her for a manicure and pedicure and hair style. SPA DAY
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Amazon and Walmart has Jean Nate.
I just googled Jean Nate .
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Hot,
I’ve seen Jean Nate at The Vermont Country Store.

I loved that scent! My mother used it. 😀
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NeedHelpWithMom Nov 25, 2023
Vermont County Store has lots of retro stuff! Forgot about them. Thanks for the reminder!
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A birdfeeder. One that hooks onto the window or sits outside. So enjoyable to watch!
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graygrammie Nov 25, 2023
But only if there is someone who will keep the feeder filled.
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if They live at home with caregivers, see if their yard needs mowing or cleaning up. A free housecleaning. Go pick up the groceries. Take a senior with you while you run your or their errand. Take the pet to the vet for routine shots or whatnot. Helping the elderly person’s caregiver helps the elderly person indirectly. Maybe the caregiver could just visit with them instead of having to manage all the errands and housework. Thanks for asking.
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Hand held toys, blocks, cubes,fidget wheels. We had an octagon shaped block with different types of attachments and it kept my husband fascinated.
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Lap blankets are good. Shawls for the ladies. Audio books. MukLuks. Offer to Ghostwrite her memories. Banana bread, Bath salts, Read aloud sessions. Small pointsettia. deck of cards, weekly dog visit. pretty tissue box. wall clock. Wipes.
Placemat size tray. Dish garden. organize a collection (maybe family photos, cards, quarters, recipes) Prayer book. Ugly Christmas sweater. Gift card and trip to Fantastic Sam's etc.
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RedVanAnnie Nov 25, 2023
What wonderful ideas. Maybe not the ugly Christmas sweater, but I like your suggestions.
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Copy and paste into your search bar these helpful things.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=gifts+for+stroke+patients&crid=GYUMYD3CXUVE&sprefix=gifts+for+stroke%2Caps%2C99&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_2_16
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NeedHelpWithMom Nov 25, 2023
Thanks!
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Both my parents are in a NH this year. Years ago my mother loved Jean Nate body splash. I'm looking to see if it's still on the market. My dad I haven't a clue. I'll probably buy him new polo shirts. The ones he has are getting a bit ratty looking from overwashing.
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My mother found grasping a dishcloth or washcloth difficult after her stroke. She figured out that her oldest raggiest cloths worked best, so we provided her with baby washcloths. They were perfect for her to be able to hold on to while doing dishes, wiping down the counters, and taking baths.
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NeedHelpWithMom Nov 25, 2023
It’s interesting how many people prefer the tried and true methods that work best for them. It really is a personal preference.

My grandmother had an old robe that she wore all the time. My mom bought her a new one that she never wore. She told mom thank you and thought it was pretty but she felt so comfortable wearing her old robe and never got rid of it.

In fact, she was wearing her old robe when she died. Mom understood that she was most comfortable wearing her old one.
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Pull on elastic waisted pants and pullover blouses ….no snaps , zippers or buttons to deal with.
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A long handled shoe horn .
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NeedHelpWithMom Nov 25, 2023
Mom has one of those.
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Nice looking long handled back brush for shower & a nice, but mild soap?
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At home spa foot bath , although would need help to use it.

Put nail polish on fingers .
Take out to get hair done and lunch .
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NeedHelpWithMom Nov 19, 2023
My mother loved when my youngest daughter polished her nails. Brings back sweet memories of them together. Mom appreciated that her granddaughter was a diva because she was a bit of a diva herself!
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How about decorating a room for the holidays for an elderly person
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NeedHelpWithMom Nov 19, 2023
I love that idea.
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If she is frequently cold, I suggest a 5 lb. weighted blanket
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NeedHelpWithMom Nov 19, 2023
Always cold! I did think about a blanket. I keep a throw on my sofa for myself because I get chilly all the time too.
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I got my mother good fancy Slip on sneakers after her stroke . Not having to tie them was great for her .

Homecooked meals in meal portion containers for the freezer/microwave .
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ElizabethAR37 Nov 25, 2023
Old Lady here: I just bought my 2nd pair of Skecher's Go-Walk slip-ons! IMO, they're terrific for elders (actually for anyone). Meals are a great idea, too, as are yard cleanup/housecleaning and gift cards.
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My mom loves Amazon gift cards. She can use them to buy other people gifts or for her own needs.

We used to send my husband's elderly relatives Walmart gift cards. They all shopped at Walmart and they could use them for holiday food, or a gift for themselves or someone else.
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Another idea—take their car to an automatic car wash and run it through. The very idea can be daunting for a senior citizen with mobility or other issues. Some elderly ladies don’t know how to do it because their deceased husband always took care of it.
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As someone who is 74 I don't need much materialistic wise. I would love homemade cookies. Maybe a gift certificate to clean my house. One year for Christmas my grandson made me a coupon book. Can't remember what was in it but could be a coupon to wash a car, clean snow off the sidewalk, do dishes, run an errand, take to an appt, a free meal. Maybe a pretty handmade throw blanket. If in a NH or AL, a nice quilt for their bed, especially in a NH since they are not supplied.
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NeedHelpWithMom Nov 18, 2023
All good ideas!
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Thanks!
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I have ten-foot ceilings. I change all the recessed bulbs myself and have a utensil to use for unscrewing old bulbs and screwing in new ones, but it would be wonderful if someone would volunteer to do it for me. Maybe your friends need help like that!

Elderly people love it if someone runs errands around holiday time. Pick up the cooked turkey at the grocery store so they don't have to leave home to do that while cooking the side dishes and expecting family to arrive any minute. My mom, who had arthritis, used to hire a helper for wrapping Christmas presents. What if a friend had done it for free? Would have been nice.

A booklet, homemade, with coupons good for transportation to several doctor appointments, gift of a friend.

Come and see me over the holidays and bring the snacks so I don't have to go out of my way to make something nice. Eggnog from the grocery store. Cookies from the bakery; I don't care if you bake them yourself.

Help me take down my easy-to-put-up spiral Christmas tree and put it in its box. Help me store it for next year. Thanks!

Things like that could make a merrier Christmas.
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NeedHelpWithMom Nov 18, 2023
Great ideas!
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Will sound odd but... Maybe a muff re: the stroke. My father’s stroke affected his right side and he often commented that his right hand felt chilled. So he wore a mitten if he was sitting still, like while watching tv or reading.

My husband has taken to wearing measuring tape suspenders and older men often remark that they’d love a set. My grandfather always wore suspenders.

Music cds? (if, like me, they still use a player, not a streaming service) Hits of the decade of their youth. Or dvds. We have boxed sets of Carol Burnett, Get Smart, The Munsters, Addams Family, etc. Our kids loved watching them with us.
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MargaretMcKen Nov 19, 2023
This prompted discussion with DH about trouser suspenders and why they have gone out of fashion. Conclusion is that they used to be common before elastic became the normal way for holding up (and in) trouser waists. Everyone wore them. Now they are not common enough to be an obvious choice, but they still work well for men who have developed a pot-belly and the waist band slips down the lower slope of the pot. Also for men who don’t like a tight band around the waist. DH says he can see one coming (like with his old friend who was here yesterday), but not quite yet!
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