Our parents invest a lot in us. They start out by spending countless sleepless nights, feeding us, bathing us, changing us and rocking us to sleep. As we reach adolescence, they take care of our education, our friendships, our hobbies and our quirks. They guide us towards right and wrong, they teach us values and how to live in a civilized society.
When we grow older – they stand by us through our trials and tribulations. They give us comfort and advice when we are down, and rejoice with us in our highs. So, when there comes a time to celebrate this special bond, we often find ourselves in a fix. What do you gift a parent who has already given you so much?
While no gift in the world can repay the love and devotion with which our parents took care of us, it’s always good to share tokens of appreciation! And really, it’s the thought that matters when gifting.
With that in mind, we have compiled a list of 53 thoughtful gifts for the elderly that they will absolutely love and use in their day to day life.
In this list, we have included practical items that they can use everyday to make their lives easier. We have also included some interesting and “different” gifting ideas for the more wacky parents!
To cover all budgets, we have categorized the gift ideas as under $25, between $25 and $100 and more than $100.
So go ahead and explore some of the most thoughtful gifts for the elderly that will make their life convenient.
Contents
Thoughtful gifts for the elderly – Gifts under $25
We start off with a list of gifts for the elderly that are thoughtful, yet on a budget. They will form great add-ons to your birthday, Christmas or Mother’s/Father’s Day gifts.
#1 Picture Puzzles: Remember When? How Many Differences Can You Find?
Do you remember the “Find 10 mistakes in this picture” puzzles that all of us have done at some point or the other in our lives? Well “Brain games” puts a new twist on that game – the pictures are all late twentieth century photos that bring back nostalgic memories of the golden period of your parents’ lives! Moreover, according to research, playing games can have beneficial therapeutic effects for the elderly.
“Besides their entertainment value, games can have beneficial therapeutic effects for elderly people that improve their health and well-being.” – 50th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (2017)
In this picture puzzle book, each image has two copies – an original, and one slightly modified. The game is to spot the mistakes in the second picture. There are 4 sections of such picture puzzles, with each section becoming progressively more difficult. This not only keeps their interest but also improves mental activity of the elderly.
Apart from reminding them of their youth, this book is great for the elderly. It has large, clear pictures on each page. It is spiral bound (another blast from the past) – which means that the pages never get torn or crumpled, no matter how many times you visit a page. This indeed makes for a thoughtful gift for the elderly!
#2 Foot Massager Roller – Relieves Plantar Fasciitis, Stress, Heel, Arch Pain
According to a study done in 2016, foot pain impacts one out of 4 people above the age of 45. If your elderly parents are also one of those afflicted with foot pain, then this might be the perfect gift for them. Even if they are free of foot pain, this massager is a must-have item for anyone who wants to lead an active life and is interested in an alternative solution to pain killers for treating foot pain after a hard day’s work. Heck, you may consider buying it yourself for a nice foot massage after a hard day at work!
One of the highest-rated massage products, the TheraFlow dual foot massager is known to significantly improve patients with plantar fasciitis (a condition which causes acute pain in the heels with the first steps of the day).
The number of acupressure nubs, arch, elevation and spacing has all been configured through user testing and feedback, giving the user the best experience. The customer service for this product is amazing. The sellers will inform your loved one before the arrival of the product about how to use it best. Another thoughtful gift for the elderly!
#3 Easy Can Opener for Arthritis
Opening a soda or water bottle while cooking is frustrating even to the healthy and able-bodied. But when it comes to our elderly loved ones, especially those afflicted with arthritis and weak ligaments, it can be downright dangerous.
This wonderful and unique device makes opening a plastic and soda bottle cap easy as a breeze! It can be used with a wide variety of products. It can make it really easy to open soda bottles, soup cans, pet food cans, water bottle caps, beer bottle caps and even beer cans.
This device is really easy to use, even with the weakest of hands. There is no risk of hurting either your fingers or nails with it. To top it all off, you can hang it in your utensil’s drawer or even off the refrigerator due to its magnetic backing, where it makes for a pretty looking refrigerator magnet.
#4 Sock & Stocking Aid Kit for Elderly
With age, the body loses the flexibility to be able to bend down, twist and turn and haggle with your socks, all at the same time. Pulling on one’s socks, therefore, becomes a major challenge for the elderly. This is exactly where the sock auxiliary tool from Fanwer comes in handy.
First, put the sock on top of the slider kit It is made of terry cloth, which gives a gentle yet firm grip on your sock. Then, you can pull up the sock using the stirrups attached on either side of the slider kit. While pulling out the socks, you can apply the same method in reverse.
The device works on any size of socks and shoes, and it is very easy to use once you get a hang of it.
#5 Clamp-on Tub Rail
If your loved ones are ageing-in-place or are living in any place where they have limited assistance available to them, then this will really make for a thoughtful gift. It is a complete no-brainer and an absolute necessity for the bathtub.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than a quarter of million people are injured in bathrooms. Bathroom accidents lead to tens of thousands of people visiting the emergency room, some of them even in critical condition. The elderly are a large proportion of those people. The primary source of these bathroom accidents is slipping in or near the bathtub while bathing.
The Drive Medical Tub Rail helps prevents just such accidents. It is a grab bar for support in sitting down or getting up from a bathtub. This grab bar is attractively designed in a pure white steel frame, with clamps near the base for attaching to the bathtub. There are rubber pads on the clamps which ensure a secure fit and avoid scratching the bathtub. The width of the guard rail adjusts between 3 to 7 inches and has a weight capacity of about 300 pounds.
To top it off, you can be even more thoughtful and install this grab bar in your elderly parents’ bathroom. Its installation is pretty easy and does not need any special tools.
#6 Button Hook – Zipper Pull Helper
Loss of dexterity and vision is a common problem with age. Many small daily activities which we consider ordinary in our youth become excruciatingly difficult as we grow older. One such activity is doing our buttons, which requires hand-eye coordination and patience.
The Vive Button Hook is an easy to use device. Attached to a solid easy-grip handle it helps you to button the most difficult of pants and shirts buttons. It has a slim but durable wire loop which slides easily through the smallest of buttonholes while making sure that your fabric is not harmed in any way. After passing through the hole, the narrow end of the loop narrows at the tip, helping to lock the button in place.
There is also a zipper hook which is useful for doing zippers on pants and jackets.
The Vive button hook comes with a 60-day guarantee, and makes for quite a thoughtful gift for the elderly. Here we have a Youtube video that shows how to use it.
#7 Adaptive Utensils for Elderly with a Weak Hand Grip
The ability to have a dignified meal is an important part of being a human being. Old age tends to rob us of even these small mercies. Diseases such as Parkinson’s’ or arthritis cause our hands to tremor and lose the ability to grip. Holding utensils properly, cutting food with a knife or picking it up with a fork or even having soup with a spoon may become a difficult and embarrassing task.
The BUNMO adaptive utensil set is a convenient set of 4 utensils – tablespoon, teaspoon, rocker knife and fork that has been designed keeping in mind adaptive needs. It has large, easy to grip handles which are lightweight and are easy to hold up. For people who find gripping their fork and knife difficult, these are the perfect size, shape and weight.
These utensils are not just a utility, they are a gift item that gives independence and dignity to our loved ones. If your parents are in a position where they require adaptive utensils, these will make for a very thoughtful gift for them.
#8 Reacher Grabber Tool
A simple gift for anyone who finds it difficult to bend down and pick up things, the reacher grabber performs its function without any fuss and with complete efficiency. It is versatile enough to pick up items ranging from a coin up to an envelope and strong enough to grab the household trash for the week (up to 3 to 5 pounds). It has an extra-strength gripper and is made of premium lightweight aluminum alloy.
The reacher grabber significantly eases reaching out for things for those suffering from arthritis or carpel-tunnel syndrome. The unique foldable design which allows you to shorten the length makes it extremely portable and handy to carry around. The rubberized jaw is fully rotatable up to 360 degrees (in increments of 90 degrees). This makes it easier to reach difficult places while grabbing.
#9 Pill Pro – Weekly Pill Organizer
This handy little pill organizer and cum medicine cabinet is a beautiful way to organize your medicines so that you never forget to take your medicines again. It has 7 portable trays, one for each day of the week, and each tray is divided into 4 sections. There is one section each for the morning, afternoon evening and night.
The trays stack one up over each other so that once the day is done, you can put the tray back in the queue and the next day’s tray automatically becomes the next one to come out.
This medicine organizer is extremely useful for people with dementia and memory loss. It makes for a very thoughtful gift for the elderly who struggle to keep their medicines organized and are prone to missing their medication.
#10 LongBay Women’s Furry Memory Foam Slippers
LongBay women’s shoes are great for the elderly. These slipper-shoes are comfortable for people suffering from arthritis, diabetes, edema, neuropathy and plantar fasciitis. They have a soft wool-like knit upper and High-density 80D memory foam cushions under the feet. The easy to put on hook and loop closure mechanism provides relief for tired and swollen feet.
The sole is made of non-slip rubber to reduce the likelihood of slip and fall accidents. Their insole supports your feet and provides relief from common foot pain due to long periods of being on one’s feet or walking.
These shoes are available in 3 color choices – grey, pink and burgundy, for the aesthetically discerning. They are also machine washable, making them a practical choice for daily wear inside the house. All in all, they will make for quite a thoughtful gift for the elderly.
#11 Universal Big Button TV Remote
The Universal Big Button TV remote is another very helpful device for seniors struggling with poor vision, reduced dexterity in the hands, dementia and confusion. By limiting the number of buttons to just 6, this beautiful remote limits the amount of confusion most TV remotes these days create by providing 100s of options. The 6 buttons are large and easy to operate.
The remote is powerful enough to control both your TV and your cable box simultaneously, and it works well with all major TV’s and set-top boxes that accept infrared input.
It has a nice, petite handheld design and the buttons are backlit so that they can be seen even in the dark. The remote also has a sturdy wrist strap, that prevents misplacement. The remote also features a universal library, which will scan for all your TV codes in a few seconds. The remote even has a learning mode where you can customize the remote key as per what I have.
This remote has a 90-day money-back guarantee, so it can be purchased without any fear of losing money on the device.
#12 HealthSmart Swivel Seat Cushion
Knee or hip strain due to twisting and turning while getting up is a major cause of leg injuries for the elderly. The HealthSmart Swivel Seat helps to avoid these injuries by converting any and every seat to a 360-degree swivel chair.
The cushion itself is made from high-quality foam, and the outer covering is made from premium designed fabric. The exterior look is elegant and can be used anywhere, including your car, van or even home and office space. The cover is machine washable, so it can retain the premium look with regular washing and cleaning. The bottom has a non-skid, flexible base which can swivel up to 360 degrees.
The cushion is only 15 X 15 inches in size and adds about 1.5 inches in height to the seat. It is lightweight (only 2.4 pounds), which makes it easy to carry around with you to your car, home and office. The cushion supports weights of up to 300 pounds and makes for a very useful gift for seniors..
#13 Moen 24-Inch Bathroom Grab Bar
Grab bars play an important role in preventing washroom related accidents, which is one of the major causes of home injuries. Seniors are typically a large proportion of those who suffer washroom injuries.
The Moen 8724 is a basic, sturdy, stylishly designed grab bar that supports a weight of up to 500 pounds when installed on a stud or on secure mounts.
While you may think this is not the most glamorous of gifts, grab bars are one of the most sensible and useful items in a loved one’s washroom, and they are also one of the most easily ignored items. So, go ahead, gift a set of grab bars, install them in your parents’ washroom and be safe today rather than sorry tomorrow!
#14 MagniPros 3X Large Ultra Bright LED Page Magnifier
This is one of the best over the counter vision aids available on the market. It is very helpful for patients of macular degeneration. It has 12 LED lights on the body of the magnifier to enhance readability, all covered by anti-glare reflectors (thus protecting the reader’s eyes). It has a large magnifying lens which provides magnification in a 4.5 X 7-inch space, increasing the size by up to 300%.
The LED bulbs are energy-efficient and come with a dimmer switch to save energy when not in need so that batteries last twice as long as they ordinarily would.
The unit itself is ergonomically designed weighing only 6 ounces, therefore it is easy to hold in the hand and carry around in a purse or pocket. Due to the strong LED lights, it can also be used as a flashlight in the dark. Indeed, a thoughtful gift for the elderly!
#15 “Senior Driver” Car Magnet
Everyone loves a good joke, even our parents. This little “Senior Driver” Car Magnet is a fun gift to give on the occasion of birthdays or over the hill celebrations.
You can put it in your parents’ car or even inside the house, and it can be a source of fun conversation and jokes. It is small in size (8 X 8 inch) and easy to put up.
#16 Brain Games – Bible Find a Word – Large Print
This spiral-bound, large print, puzzle book is a perfect gift for seniors with a religious bent of mind. There are over 80 bible-themed puzzles and word searches in this book. Each puzzle contains verses from the bible that can be found inside the word search puzzle. The complete solutions are also part of the book which is just a little under 200 pages thick.
The spiral binding makes the pages easy to visit and revisit without fear of damaging or tearing out any part, and the puzzles are done beautifully in different shapes – hearts, crosses and other shapes. It will make a great gift for the spiritually inclined.
#17 Adult Bibs for Eating with Crumb Catcher
We have already mentioned a set of adaptive utensils in our list of thoughtful gifts for the elderly. This is another product that helps seniors with conditions such as Parkinsons’. It helps seniors eat with grace and dignity without having to be embarrassed every time.
This 3 pack of adult bibs are a practical solution to the inevitable spill and mess that can happen. They are eye-catching and unique, provide grace to the person wearing them and protect clothing. These adult bibs are 18 inches wide and 30 inches long. They are made of polyester microfiber with a water-resistant backing, which makes them easy to wash and reuse. They also have an extra-long 2.5 X 6 cm neck strap.
This adult bib is also equipped with a crumb catcher (an optional item with adhesive strap and buttoned closure).
#18 Mesh Puff Bath Sponge
Bathing can be an exacting task. Trying to reach all the nooks and corners of our body requires quite a lot of flexibility, something that we do not realize as much during our youth.
However, for seniors and people with conditions such as arthritis, bathing can become a difficult daily chore. They may even start ignoring to clean areas which are more difficult to reach, which can be very dangerous since it could lead to the growth of bacteria or infections in these areas.
It is here that Mesh Puff Bath Sponge comes in. it is a sponge on a handle, that can easily reach spots that are difficult to reach because of all the twisting and turning that is needed. The sponge installed is a soft one, which does not cause any skin abrasions or damage. The handle is 7 millimetres wide and easy to grip and control even for people with limited dexterity.
The bath sponge comes along with its hanging hook, which can be installed in the bathroom by sticking it up using the double-sided tape provided. It will make for a nice gift for elderly who are struggling to clean themselves during a bath.
#19 Water Resistant Tote Bag
This beautiful, water-resistant tote bag can be affixed to easily to most walkers, rollators, wheelchairs and scooters. It adds extra space to carry around your essentials and gives the mobility device a colorful look.
It has two large mesh pockets in the rear to carry bottle waters or for extra storage and 1 8-inch-wide pocket in the front for carrying your phone. The main interior pocket has a large storage area, which comes with a handy key ring holder and a space to put in your cards and ids.
The bag has adjustable straps to affix as per need and is made from high-quality polyester, which can easily be machine washed.
#20 Folding Cane with LED Light
The Ohuhu folding cane is a wonderful device to provide mobility to the elderly who may have issues with stability and balance while walking.
The walking stick stands on its own (it has an anti-slip pivoting base). It is foldable into 4 easy parts, weighs only 1.5 pounds and can support a weight of up to 250 pounds.
The height is adjustable in 5 stages, between 33 to 37 inches, and the walking stick has 6 LED lights built-in, which can guide your loved one during a late-night walk or coming home in the evening.
The stick is ergonomically designed for best comfort and the handle has a contoured shape which easily fits your fist.
#21 Vodeson Key Finder
This is another great little gadget for the elderly, making it a thoughtful gift for those suffering from dementia, Alzheimers’ or poor memory. The Vodeson key finder consists of 1 radio frequency remote control and 4 key fobs, which can be connected to anything such as car keys, home keychains etc.
The fobs and remote are all lightweight and easy to carry. After pressing the RF remote control button, you will be able to hear a loud beep in the range of 75-90dB, in a range of up to 130 ft.
Apart from the sound, the receiver also starts flashing lights (each one has a different colour) which can be seen from a distance. The flashing lights are a boon for those who may have difficulty listening to the alarm. It’s difficult to miss any object when you have this great key finder!
#22 360-Degree Toenail Clipper
This is a toenail clipper which is useful for people who have lost dexterity in their hands or have trembling hands, such as people with Alzheimer’s disease or arthritis.
The clipper has a 360-degree swivel action, which eliminates the need for twisting and turning yourself to clip your nails. It also has an ergonomic clipper handle which has been made keeping seniors in mind. The handle is large and easy to grip.
The EZ Grip 360 has a large grip on the back that makes it easy for seniors with arthritis to hold and use. It is only about 4 inches in size, hence it is portable and can be easily stored anywhere.
#23 Universal Multi Purpose Handle for Better Grip
The Maddak universal built-up handle is a multipurpose handle which creates a large grip for most common utensils such as knives, forks and spoons instantly. It is ribbed on the sides and is soft to touch, with a 4.4 cm diameter, large enough to be easily held by hand even for patients with Parkinsons’, arthritis or other conditions which impact grasping ability.
One side of the handle has a singular slot which should be used for your spoons or forks. The other end can be used to insert a butter knife. The kit comes in a convenient pack of 4 so that you can make a whole set of utensils in one go. The handle fits conveniently with most other standard flatware such as pens, pencils, toothbrushes etc. It is safe for use in a dishwasher. All said, it is a thoughtful gift for the elderly.
#24 Personal Security Alarm Keychain with LED Lights
The KOSIN safe sound personal alarm is an emergency alarm which can produce a sharp noise of up to 140 dB that can be heard from as far away as 600 feet. It is the size of a key chain and can be used as a night light as well.
These alarms are made from high-quality ABS plasticin which is resistant to falling, crushing and high voltage. They use 3 AA batteries for extended life, with a battery life of up to 365 days.
This is a must-have product for seniors when walking alone or at night time, as they are particularly vulnerable to being accosted by unruly elements. It can also be useful to alert people near them in case of a fall or emergency.
The product comes with a no questions asked lifetime guarantee.
#25 Foldable Garden Seat (Garden Stool)
Gardening can be a fun activity but requires a lot of patience and the ability to kneel for hours at a time. With growing age, this once loved activity can fall by the wayside because of the pain and inability to kneel.
The TomCare garden kneeler and seat can be a solution to bring the joy of gardening back into our parents’ lives. It is not just a kneeler, it can also be used as a seat. You can kneel when weeding and sit when fishing or resting.
The seat is easy to fold and store, and can be carried around the house with ease. It supports a weight of up to 330 pounds. The seat has a high-quality foam cushion cover for comfort. It has bags and pouches on both sides for tools and equipment, making it one thoughtful gift for the elderly.
Thoughtful gifts for the elderly – Gifts between $25 and $100
As we work through our list of thoughtful gifts for the elderly, we will now have a look at gifts that are priced between $25 and $100. Depending upon the occasion and your budget, these can be a stand alone gift or something that you can combine with a lower (or higher priced gift).
#26 Electric Heating Pad for Neck Shoulder and Upper Back Pain
Aches and pains are part and parcel of growing old. With age, many parts of our body start feeling these minor niggles, which, if left unchecked, can become larger problems.
This Electric Heating Pad addresses one of the most common pain area – the neck and upper back. Lack of good posture, little or no exercise and poor diet has led us all to a point where neck and back pain has become common, especially amongst our elderly. Which is what makes this one of the most thoughtful gift ideas in the market.
The device uses heating therapy through a contoured pad to relieve pain in the neck and shoulders. It comes equipped with a digital LED controller which has 4 settings for the heating to be applied. There is a dry as well as moist heating effect. The moist heating effect is most useful for arthritis patients.
The product is made from high-quality micro mink fibre and is machine washable. It has a long (9 feet) wire cord and a 2-hour auto cutoff function that is useful for elders who may no longer be as good as remembering things.
Amazon#27 Digital Calendar Alarm and Clock
This digital calendar + alarm clock is an ideal gift for elderly parents. Everything about it is custom-designed for seniors, such as:
- 8-inch, high-resolution large screen for easy readability
- Multiple alarms (2-5) to put in reminders for medicines throughout the day
- An auto-dimming option which dims the backlight on the product to protect the eyes during night time
- Large, easily readable characters
- All information in one place – Day, Date, Month, Year and Time (very useful for people with dementia)
- Simple, interactive controllers for setting date and time options
- Grooves to hang on the wall
#28 Portable Vehicle Support Grab Bar
The HandyBar is essentially a portable grab bar meant for carrying in your car. It can be fitted into a U-shaped car door striker or latch. This grab bar provides independence and balance to your loved one when trying to get in or out of a car.
The best part about this portable grab bar is that it does not require any installation or modification. It fits easily on both the driver and passenger side of the car and can supports weights up to 350 pounds. But that’s not all! The HandyBar is also a 3-in-1 tool for car safety in case of an emergency. It has a built-in window breaker and a seat belt cutter.
The product weighs only 1 pound and is easy to carry in your car or purse.
#29 Avantree Digital Wireless Headphones Set
This device is specifically designed for seniors who may be hard of hearing or who want to watch television at their own volume, and prefer neck style earphones rather than over the ear ones. It is a digital wireless earphone, configured to work with any kind of television set in the market. It combines perfectly with your existing wired headphones.
It is also compatible with telecoil hearing aids and helps to amplify sounds going to the hearing aid. It has multiple useful functions for the elderly – left/right ear balance control (for people with hearing disability in one ear), Enhanced high volume control, Preset audio profiles for easy configuration, Mono and stereo mode and no audio delay mode.
It comes with its own rechargeable batteries which have a 6-hour battery life on every recharge for 1 battery. There are 2 batteries are included in the pack.
There is an ambient mode as well for picking up conversations nearby without having to turn off the device, making it a thoughtful gift for elderly.
#30 Carex Upeasy Seat Assist Plus
The Carex Upeasy Seat Assist is a boon for people with low body strength, such as those who suffer from Arthritis, Parkinson’s or Muscular Dystrophy. If your loved one has lost the strength to stand up comfortably or takes a long time to get up from their seat, then this is the perfect gift for them.
The device is built using hydro-pneumatic gas springs, which slowly release the seat upwards as the person sitting starts to get up, giving them up to 70% support and helping them to stand up easily. There is no need for any batteries or electrical connections for this device to work.
As far as comfort is concerned, the seat itself is a foam cushion covered by a 100% polyester machine-washable cover. The seat can be used with most sofas and armchairs. It is a lightweight 9-pound device, which can be carried around easily and taken with oneself wherever one is going and comes equipped with a carry handle for easy carrying. The seat adds about 1.5 inches to the chair height when seated.
There are two models, basis weight bearing capacity: 90-220 pounds and 200 – 340 pounds.
#31 Golf Ball Teeing Device for Seniors
For your parents, old age means a time to relax and enjoy. It is a time to go on that vacation they always wanted to go, buy the nice car they’ve been meaning to buy, and didn’t your dad always mean to start playing golf?
But there’s a kicker. While golf can be a very relaxing sport for many, it still needs the player to frequently bend down. And bending becomes harder and harder as we age.
So here is a perfect gifting solution to help your dad (or mom) play their favourite game without worrying about throwing their back!
The Tee Pal golf ball teeing device helps set both the tee and the golf ball on the ground. It also helps pick up the tee afterwards, all without having to once bend down. The Tee Pal has a stand-up pin which keeps it in a standing position when you are teeing off, and it can hold two tees at a time.
The device adds less than a pound to the golfing bag, can be set in the bag slot for easy carrying. It comes with a two-year warranty and is the perfect gift for the elderly in love with golf.
#32 Portable Folding Step Stool
This is a foldable, compact and lightweight stepping stool for use in both indoors and outdoors. It provides a sturdy grip in multiple situations. Be it bathrooms, kitchens, offices, RV’s or any other place, it comes handy where a bit of extra height can make all the difference.
It can be used as a bed stair, car step or even inside the house. This small stool is designed to withstand weights of up to 265 pounds.
The product is made from durable, high-quality plastic and has non slip grips on the bottom. The large platform design (15 X 8.7 X 5 inches) further makes the stool very stable for use. At only 2.7 pounds, the stool is easy to carry and stow away in your car or on your person and it is always handy to have it around especially for seniors who tend to lose a couple of inches with age.
#33 Jewelry and Spectacles Cleaner
It is a myth that as people age, they are less conscious of their appearance. Our seniors have spent all their life caring for others. First their children, then their parents. It is high time they take care of themselves and how they look.
A jewelry and spectacles cleaner will go a long way in making sure that not only is their new and antique jewelry but their eyeglasses are spotlessly clean, be it their wedding ring or grandma’s favorite brooch that is a family heirloom.
This is a versatile machine and it uses ultrasonic sound waves to clean eyeglasses, jewelry, watches and even utensils. It just uses tap water but if you have something more grimy, a bit of dishwasher soap will help. Just set it on one of its preset cycles from 90 to 480 seconds and voila! Your jewelry comes out nice and shiny!
#34 Talking Large Button Alarm Clock
While we have already covered one alarm clock in this list, this is a different and novel idea. A for simple to use talking time, date and alarm clock. This is useful for seniors suffering from poor vision, are hard of hearing or are battling dementia.
The clock is as simple as can be – true to its name, its just one large button. You push the button once, it tells you the time. Push it again, it will tell you the date.
It has an easy to set an alarm which can be set with voice-enabled instructions. In short, it is perfect for people who need an extremely simple device to work with. It requires two AA batteries (not included in the pack), and no electrical connections of wires etc. It can certainly prove to be a very helpful gift for the elderly
#35 Toilet Safety Rails – Adjustable Grab Bar
These compact safety rails are a perfect gift for seniors suffering from arthritis or muscle weakness that makes it difficult for them to get up or down on the toilet seat. The safety rails can take a weight of up to 300 pounds. The handles are padded with rubber for extra strong grip that is easy on the hands.
These rails are easily compatible with most types and sizes of toilets and can be expanded from 17 to 20 inches to provide a comfortable space above the toilet seat. They can be easily installed along with the existing seat bolts without having to use any tools or cementing or drilling. They are made from aluminum which makes them light and durable.
#36 Cuisinart CPK-17 PerfecTemp Cordless Electric Kettle
The Cuisinart Electric Kettle is one of the best electric kettles out there for the elderly and makes a great gift item for your loved one.
It has pre-set temperature controls to decide water temperature basis the users need. It has a blue, backlit water window to be able to see the water level clearly. It also has one-touch controls, a 30-minute keep warm option and fast heating.
It has a large set of great senior-friendly features such as a concealed element (for safety), cordless base (so that it doesn’t entangle), temperature and water level measures, auto shut off (for seniors suffering from weak memory), a drip-free spout and a BPA free body.
#37 Bed Pull-Up Assist
This is a simple and wonderful device for people who have difficulty getting up due to arthritis or other back-related problems. It consists of a durable cotton webbing that can be connected to the side of the bed with 8 slots built in to grip it by hand. Having a large number of slots make it easy for the person to pull themselves up at their own pace.
The pull-up assist is machine washable. The material is sturdy and does not break or tear easily. The handles are thoughtfully made with red colour, making it easier to look for them in the night.
#38 Mini Real-time GPS Tracker
Tracki is a device plus service which can be used to track a person or an object in real-time using GPS technology. Such devices are often useful for tracking seniors who are suffering from dementia and tend to wander.
It comes with an inbuilt 2G SIM that can be used for tracking it anywhere worldwide (not just in US and Canada). There is a monthly fee (depending on the package that you take) for the tracking service. The Tracki GPS tracker also has a compatible app which can be installed on your cell phone for easy tracking at your fingertips
The GPS information gets updated on a 5-second rate, which is better than most other GPS trackers. The device has a strong battery life of up to a month (6 months in power save mode). It also has an indoor tracking mechanism based on Wi-Fi Id and last-mile Bluetooth tracking to pinpoint the exact location.
It is small in size and weighs only 1.4 ounces. It also has a panic button in case your loved one is in an emergency and needs assistance right away. The device maintains a 5-year history of locations (which can be useful to understand patterns in dementia wandering). It also comes with a lifetime warranty. It can make for a great gift if you have an elderly person’s safety in the back of your mind.
#39 Penetrex Pain Relief Therapy Muscle Rub
Joint, muscle and ligament pain is a constant struggle for the elderly. While there are several medicines, therapies and procedures available to tackle these problems, most of them are focused on pain relief by applying either heat or cold to the affected surface, rather than curing the problem.
Penetrex is an inflammation relief muscle rub that focuses on the root cause instead. It claims to deliver clinically proven ingredients (such as Amica, Vitamin B6 and MSM) to the affected area through the balm route and cures inflammation.
The product has more than 2 million customers worldwide and rates highly on pain relief cures in almost every list. While the balm is effective on its own, it can be combined with other therapies as well. The product is non-staining, non-greasy, paraben-free and has a very faint odor.
#40 Neck Shoulder Back Massager with Heat
This shoulder and neck massager can knead your neck with 8 nodes. It provides a deep massage to your tissues and muscles. It has infrared heating to ease muscle tension.
This massager has an ergonomic design to fit the neck and shoulder perfectly. Its speed and direction controls help to control the massage finely and direct its focus to the your pain areas. This massager is suitable for people who have back, waist and leg aches, cervical spondylosis and fatigue or nervousness related stress.
It weighs only 3 pounds and is easily portable, making it a great gift for elderly who like to travel.
#41 Caregiver Pager
The caregiver pager is a device meant to give freedom to the elderly while still being able to call for help from their caregiver without having to yell out. The pager has an operating range of 500 feet and is easy to carry. It includes two 23A 12V alkaline batteries (which are already included in the pack)
The volume can be controlled in four slabs of 0-110 dB and it has 55 ringtones for a pleasant choice of alarm as per one’s sensibilities.
Thoughtful gifts for the elderly – Gifts more than $100
And now we come to our selection of those gifts for the elderly that cost more than $100. These can make for stand alone gifts for most occasions. Once again, we have selected those gifts that can be easily used by an elderly person on an everyday basis.
#42 Able Life Tray Table
The Able Life Tray Table is composed of a revolving tray table mounted on a standing handle. It can be easily affixed to the base of your favorite couch or recliner. This tray table provides support while sitting down or standing up and at the same time affixes a handy tray which can be used to support a laptop, books, a mobile phone, a meal tray or other tabletop activities. It also includes a handy cup holder for your coffee and a utensil holder!
The standing handle can accept weights up to 250 pounds and the tray table can withstand a weight of up to 30 pounds. With a 360-degree turning radius, the tray table can be easily moved out of the way when not in use.
The product can easily be affixed to any 4-legged chair, recliner, sofa or couch which has feet apart by 20 to 36 inches. The tray table can be adjusted to a height between 26 to 32 inches, the support handle between 34-40 inches and the base length between 20 to 36 inches, which make this product customizable for any height and any kind of chair.
The device is extremely safety conscious. There are safety pads (which can be adjusted between or outside the seat legs) to build a grip on the floor and a safety grip on the handle as well. The product is easy to assemble with no additional tools required.
#43 QuicStick Portable Hand Controls
Driving a car is a wonderful feeling of freedom. The wind in your hair, the power of the steering wheel in your hand and the open road rife with many possibilities have always had a special charm.
Unfortunately, many a time the onset of old age robs our loved one of this wonderful feeling. Lack of power or coordination in their legs and lower part of the body makes it near impossible to control the pedals and brakes needed to drive a car. If your parents long for that feeling of independence once again, we have a wonderful gift idea for you!
The QuicStick Portable Hand Control is a solution to that problem. It allows you to completely control your car with your hands, thus setting you free to use your car for moving around. The hand control affixes to the car pedal and brake of any car with an automatic transmission. Its an easy installation job and does not require more than 5 minutes. Once ready, the pedal and brake can easily be controlled by hand.
The QuicStick has a very useful 30-day money-back guarantee which means that your loved ones can test out the product and keep it if they feel the device is useful. It is designed to take up minimal space in the car so that there is extra space for other things.
As an important aside: This device is unsuitable if your loved one has limited dexterity in their hands, since it requires them to control all functions of the car with their hands.
#44 CPR Guardian II Smartwatch for the Elderly
The CPR guardian smartwatch is not just a smartwatch but a whole medical alert system for seniors. Along with the CPR guardian 2 app – which can easily be downloaded and installed at the caretakers’ end, this is a perfect gift for the elderly. It will ensure that you are always aware of the whereabouts of your loved ones and that they can communicate easily with you during an emergency.
Some of the important safety features of the guardian 2 smartwatch are:
- In-built GPS: Easily track the location of your loved ones using GPS
- SOS emergency: The SOS button lets your loved one communicate with you during an emergency.
- You can also use the Guardian to make and receive phone calls to up to 30 close contacts
- Heart rate monitor: The device monitors your loved ones’ heartbeat every 10 minutes and sends the information to the guardian app. If ever the heartbeat falls below 30 bpm, it sends an alert to the App which can be installed on the caregiver’s phone.
#45 The Simple Music Player for the Elderly
A music player can make the perfect gift for elderly people, especially as they spend a lot of time by themselves.
This particular music player has been designed keeping in mind the special circumstances of people which Alzheimer’s, dementia or other related conditions. It limits its controls to only 3 – lift the lid to start the music, push the big button for the next song, and close the lid to stop. This makes it extremely simple to operate and understand. The volume controls are hidden beneath the device so that the user cannot accidentally change them.
Music which reminds people of their youth has been proven to vastly improve lucidity and ability to be aware of one’s situation. Music therapy improves mental well-being and promotes independent living.
Therefore, it is important to have music played to people with Alzheimer’s. The lesser number of buttons makes music accessible to them and makes this music player simple to use.
#46 Drive Medical Nitro Euro Style Rollator Walker
A rollator walker is a mobility device that combines a walker frame with 3 or 4 wheels. It is used by people who can walk, but have issues with balance or stability and need support. Or else it can provide a place to sit frequently due to recent heart surgery or other problems.
The drive medical Nitro Euro-style is one of the best rollators out there in the market. It has a lightweight aluminum frame with built-in brake cables (so that they do not keep dangling out, which can be unsafe). The rollator folds up easily due to its cross-bar design, by simply pulling up on the seat grip, with one hand. It stands while folded and can be rolled as well, which is a boon in case you need to stop and sit somewhere for a bit of time.
It has a comfortable nylon seat with back support and handle heights can be adjusted basis requirement. The large front wheels provide additional comfort and stability while moving outdoors.
There is a sleek storage under the seat which can be used to carry any items that you want to take with you. To know more, you can also read our article on rollator walkers.
#47 Floor Mat Exit Alarm for Elderly
Dementia wandering and risk of fall are two major problems that caregivers face when dealing with the elderly. Due to lack of bodily strength or diseases such as arthritis, getting out of bed and standing on the floor becomes a challenge in old age.
Dementia patients often lose a sense of time of day and the place where they are. This causes them to wander off at odd times of the day without the means or sense to get back to their home. This can be a dangerous scenario because they are prone to accidents, being mugged or even more dire consequences.
The Floor Mat exit alarm for elderly is a fall-prevention as well anti-wandering alarm system that uses pressure sensing mats to judge if your loved one is trying to get up from bed or is moving out the door. The floor mat senses a change in pressure when someone steps on it. When attached with an alarm system, it can inform a caregiver that the patient/senior is trying to move (either off the bed or out the house).
The alarm features an on/off switch so that it can be reset after responding to the loved one. There is a volume adjustment control how loud the alarm needs to be.
The floor mat itself is made of 24 X 48 inch non slip heavy vinyl. It has a cord attaching it to the alarm system. The alarm system does not need electricity, it works on 3 AA batteries and it can be installed easily.
#48 RCA 10 inch Wi-Fi Digital Photo Frame
A photo frame that can change photos! The RCA digital photo frame is a perfect gift for your loved ones who have a mobility impairment and find it difficult to work with complex devices such as mobile phones and tablets.
Family and friends can share their photos which can be displayed on this photo frame instantly. It also supports on-screen captions on the photos and videos, so that you can put in fun descriptions of the pics. The device support both Wi-Fi, SD card and USB for photo and video sharing and storage.
It can be operated as a touch screen with “auto rotate” flexibility, which allows your loved ones to view the photos from any angle. For security and safety of your photos, the device employs a Secure Device Grid so that the app or any connected third party does not have access to your photos.
Amazon#49 NOVA Medical Standalone Portable Bedside Commode
A portable commode is useful for people who are completely bed-ridden and unable to walk the steps needed to reach the bathroom. In such cases, a portable commode along with the help of a caregiver who can transfer your loved ones on and off it provides the perfect solution.
The Nova Medical Drop Arm commode can be used both as a stand-alone bedside commode (with a bucket) or it can be used above the toilet with the slash guard (bucket, bucket lid and slash guard are all included with the commode).
It has arms for holding-on on both sides of the seat, which can be dropped-off when transferring the patient from the bed or commode. Both the seat and back are padded for patient comfort and are covered in vinyl to avoid friction. The installation is completely tools-free and can be done in minutes. Leg height is adjustable as per need. The product can lift a person with a weight of up to 300 pounds. This can make for a very thoughtful gift for an elderly person if they are largely unable to walk to the bathroom.
#50 Arealer Foot Massager Machine
This foot massager machine uses Shiatsu and air compression techniques to gently stimulate the acupressure points on the soles of your feet, giving you a complete 3-D massage while promoting blood flow and accelerating metabolism
The machine has two temperature adjustment settings: low heat and high heat, to suit your comfort level. The material used is heat resistant, ensuring that no odor is emitted when heating. The massager comes with a remote control for easy operation during the massage and for the benefit of the elderly who would find it difficult to bend down to operate it.
The product has a large LCD to see the actual temperature so that your loved ones can comfortably know how hot the device is going to be and can manage it themselves. It also displays the massage time to be able to time the massage properly.
Amazon#51 Joy for All Robotic Sitting Golden Dog
Companionship is perhaps the one thing that the elderly want as they grow older. Being able to touch, feel and play with someone, being able to talk to someone when they are alone, to share their memories and joys – these are all experiences that they cherish.
Unfortunately, given our busy lifestyles and everyday hassles, we are unable to give them this joy. At the same time, keeping a pet requires a lot of care and attention and many a time seniors are not in a position to put in that much work.
Enter the Robotic Sitting Dog. Especially useful for patients of dementia and failing memory, the lifelike robotic dog can become a hassle-free companion to them.
The robot is very lifelike, with an authentic heartbeat and near-real fur. The dog is responsive to touch, feel and voice commands and not only responds to touching and petting but also barks back when you speak to it. The experience is very nearly like owning a pet, without having to worry about bathing, feeding and taking it out for walks. The future is already here, it is just not very evenly distributed!
#52 A Lift Chair Recliner
A lift chair recliner is like a comfortable single padded chair that makes it easy to get in and out of. This Ashley Yandel power lift recliner makes a great addition to the living room of an elderly person. With the controls, you can lift your legs or ease yourself into it. It is decently sized and very easy to put together.
While on the more expensive side among our list of thoughtful gifts for the elderly, it is almost impossible to go wrong with this. To know more, you can also read our article on lift chair recliners.
#53 Real Relax Massage Chair
And finally, rounding up our list of thoughtful gifts for the elderly is this relaxing and comfortable massage chair by Real Relax. It is a gift for the discerning elderly who would like to enjoy a nice massage. It comes in different colors to match the aesthetics of your room.
Conclusion
Selecting the right gift takes a lot of research. Especially, if you are looking to give something thoughtful that your elderly parent will actually use. If you liked reading this, you might also enjoy our article on DIY gifts for the elderly.
You may also want to read more about how you can save time while taking care of elderly parents and make them more happy and independent at the same time.
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