Hunting for holiday gifts for your older friends and relatives can be tough.
You want to remember them with something special. Yet the seniors in your life may be trying to downsize.
It’s possible to give a gift that will be both memorable and useful. The following thoughtful and handy ideas are suitable for anyone, but might especially please the older folks on your shopping list.
1. Digitized photos
If the elderly loved ones in your life have boxes of photos, negatives, slides or video they can no longer easily enjoy, help them send those images off to a photo scanning service like ScanCafe.
With photos, for example, ScanCafe will hand-scan images, manually color-correct or otherwise retouch them as needed, and send back the digital versions along with the originals.
2. Easy-to-grip kitchen gadgets
Is that tiny little carrot peeler or grater getting tough for Mom or Dad to use? Replace those old kitchen gadgets with the Oxo Good Grips 6 Piece Kitchen Essentials Set.
As Oxo describes it:
“This set includes 6 of the most important tools for preparing and serving food: Swivel Peeler, Can Opener, Grater, 9″ Locking Tongs, Ice Cream Scoop and 11″ Balloon Whisk. Each tool has been specially designed for ease of use and comfort, with durable stainless steel heads and soft, non-slip grips.”
You can find this set at various retailers, including:
3. Amazon Echo
Grandma may not have the same musical tastes as you do, but with an Echo “smart” speaker and a little explanation, she can play DJ in her own home. The recipient just commands, “Alexa, play Elvis Presley,” and soon, she’s “All Shook Up” and on the way to “Heartbreak Hotel.”
Amazon’s Echo devices are powered by Alexa, which is what’s known as an intelligent personal assistant — just like Apple’s Siri, for example. Alexa’s many capabilities include giving you the local weather forecast, making phone calls for you and checking your bank and credit card balances.
Amazon’s Echo devices include the:
4. Plastic-packaging opener
Ripping into plastic clamshell packaging can be even more frustrating for those with arthritis or reduced hand strength. The battery-powered Zip-It Opener mows through the thick wrapping and frees the articles inside.
The Zip-It Opener is sold at:
5. Personalized tea box
If your gift recipient is a fan of tea, help him or her organize tea bags — or craft or sewing supplies, even — with Lillian Vernon’s elegant hinged bamboo box. It will be laser-etched with your recipient’s initial for that personal touch.
6. Automatic salt and pepper grinders
Replace those old salt and pepper grinders that may be a pain for arthritic hands. The iTouchless Electronic Stainless Steel Pepper and Salt Mill/Grinder is battery-powered, so it works at the touch of a button. It even features an automatic guiding light to help the user see how much spice is being used.
Find it at:
7. Personalized photo ornament
If your gift recipient decorates a tree, help warm up the boughs with a personalized photo ornament. Many have multiple sides, so you can use multiple photos or put a photo on one side and a meaningful message on the other.
You’ll find a variety of ornament shapes, sizes and materials as well as price points at:
What inspired gifts have you given or received that are especially useful for an older person? Share with us in comments below or on our Facebook page.
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