{"id":7426,"date":"2018-12-10T07:00:19","date_gmt":"2018-12-10T13:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.senioradvisor.com\/blog\/?p=7426"},"modified":"2018-12-07T15:17:16","modified_gmt":"2018-12-07T21:17:16","slug":"christmas-gifts-for-seniors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/d30braiqprupoq.cloudfront.net\/blog\/2018\/12\/christmas-gifts-for-seniors\/","title":{"rendered":"Christmas Gifts for Seniors"},"content":{"rendered":"

Christmas Gifts for Seniors<\/h1>\n

Last Updated:<\/strong> December 10, 2018<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve ever asked a parent or senior loved one what they want for Christmas, you may have seen that gift-giving for this age group can be particularly challenging. There\u2019s often just not much they want or need. W<\/span>ith a little creativity, however, you\u2019ll be sure to have them smiling as they unwrap their gift this year.\"Christmas <\/span><\/p>\n

Read our suggestions for four of the top Christmas gifts for seniors this year:<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Coffee or tea.<\/h3>\n

If your parent or senior loved one lives alone or in a smaller home, consider a single-serving coffee or tea maker, like the <\/span>Keurig K-Cup Home Brewer<\/a><\/strong>. A single serving of hot beverage is as simple as dropping in an individual pod into the machine, closing the lid, and pressing the brew button. Make sure to thoroughly explain how the device works and remind the senior that it requires special pods (rather than loose coffee) that are easily available at the grocery store. Stock them up with various flavors of coffee and tea to try out as well (this makes an easy repeat gift for later holidays). Once they get the hang of it, they\u2019ll never want to go back to big pots of coffee.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Games.<\/h3>\n

Your loved one might not be quite as active as he or she once was, but keeping the mind physically fit is just as important as exercising the body. Games can be a fun way to work out the brain and can be a great icebreaker with younger generations during visits. If eyesight is declining, you can find a wide selection of\u00a0<\/span>large print playing cards<\/span>, word search puzzle books, and more. You can also find\u00a0trivia\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><\/span>games based on specific decades of history<\/strong><\/a>, a fun way to draw up memories from years past. Also on the market today, you can find helpful devices like automatic card shufflers or cardholders to make playing the games even easier. Games are a great way to spend time together during visits, so consider games that can be played with grandchildren as well, like Bingo, dominos or puzzles.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Gift\u00a0cards to restaurants.<\/h3>\n

Your loved one is most likely on a relatively fixed income and may not have the extra funds to go out to eat often. However, most people do like the treat of eating at a restaurant from time to time, and by giving them a <\/span>gift card to a local eatery<\/a><\/strong>, they won\u2019t feel conflicted about spending the money on a non-necessity. Consider purchasing cards from different favorite locations, and include enough to where they can bring a friend with them to eat. If your loved one no longer drives, make sure they can get to the location via public transportation or services from their senior living community. Or offer to be the chauffeur when the time comes, or accompany them and let them treat you (you might be surprised at how happy it makes them to pick up the tab).<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Gifts of help and time.<\/h3>\n

If you yourself are on a limited budget or are just having difficulty thinking of something for a senior who already has it all, consider the always-appreciated gift of your time and energy. A fun and easy way to give your time is a <\/span>homemade coupon book<\/a><\/strong>, with tickets to exchange for various projects. For example, \u201cThis coupon is good for helping plow over the winter garden and prepare the garden for summer planting.\u201d Be sure to only include things you wouldn\u2019t normally already be helping with, and consider throwing in some fun activities like an afternoon movie or a few trips to the local library followed by coffee.<\/span><\/p>\n

Still looking for the perfect gift?<\/strong> Check out our other articles with ideas based on your senior\u2019s interests, needs, or background:<\/span><\/p>\n