Gifts for Seniors: 68 Great Ideas

A robotic vacuum can be a smart and worthwhile investment for those struggling with cleaning floors. Some models include Alexa device connectivity, allowing even more remote controlling options. Robotic vacuums work best when the floor is uncluttered, so this may be worth considering depending on the senior's living environment.

Puzzles and games that engage the brain offer numerous health benefits for older men and women. Crossword puzzles, word searches, and sudoku books are great gifts for seniors who enjoy a mental challenge.

Keeping track of medications and when to take them gets increasingly difficult as people age, but pill organizers can help. You can sort out a day's, week's, or month's worth of medications and set automatic alarms to alert your loved one when it's time to take their pills. Be sure to look for a model that has easy-to-open compartments.

How about a gift that combines fashion and function? Gripper socks with rubber grips on the bottom can keep an older person's feet toasty warm while preventing falls. You can choose from a huge range of colors and styles for men and women.

A key finder is one of the most useful gifts for the older adults in your life who constantly misplace their house keys. Ranges vary, but some models work up to 300 feet away. Seniors with smartphones may appreciate a finder that uses Bluetooth technology. Those who are old school may prefer radio-frequency-based devices.

Sleep issues are common among older people, but a sleep sound machine may be a good solution. These devices generate calming white noise or nature sounds to help people relax and fall asleep faster. Some models even adjust the sound level based on the surrounding noise.

Do you worry about the safety of your loved one in the kitchen? Induction cooktops can be good gifts for elderly women and men because they only heat the pot, not the stovetop, which is safer. Note that only certain kinds of pots will work on these cooktops, so be sure to check into that before you buy.

The dark days of winter can be enough to drag anyone down, but a lamp that mimics natural outdoor light can help brighten your loved one's day. Light therapy lamps can also be ideal for mobility-challenged seniors who struggle to get outdoors.

Reusable notpaper towels are washable and can be used instead of paper towels for napkins, cleaning up spills, and wiping grandchildren's sticky hands and faces. The unbleached fabric is absorbent, durable, and environmentally friendly. The cute, bright lemon design will look great on your kitchen counter.

Standing to look in the mirror while taking care of personal grooming can be a challenge for those who can't spend much (or any) time on their feet. Having a sturdy mirror placed on a desk, table, counter, or dresser can make it much easier to take care of beauty and hygiene. The magnification and light-up features make it easy to see yourself close up, especially if you have vision difficulties.

When it comes to gift baskets, senior citizens often appreciate special treats or useful items that can make their lives more stimulating. Depending on your loved one's preferences, good things to include might be wine, gourmet snacks, chocolate, puzzle books, or hobby supplies.

Are your parents the active globetrotting type? A wall map that allows them to scratch off the places they've visited can be a unique way to document their adventures and a nice addition to a den or rec room wall.

A soft, cuddly throw blanket for the bed or couch can be just what your parents or grandparents need to stay comfortable while they relax, read, or watch TV. Many throw blankets are lightweight and easy to clean, and there are designs to suit every taste.

Many elderly parents appreciate knowing the weather before going outside, so a device that displays the current conditions and the forecast can make a great gift. Wireless systems require the installation of an outdoor sensor, so you may want to take care of that yourself. Look for a monitor with a large display that's easy to read.

Looking for gifts for an elderly man or woman who still likes to hit the links? A range finder can be an excellent addition to an older person's golf bag. These handy devices measure the distance to the pin to help the golfer plan the next shot and select the appropriate club.

If your mom or dad likes to relax with a good book, an e-reader might be just the gift that will bring a smile to their face. E-readers are light and easy to use. You can even preload the devices so that your parents can have dozens of titles right at their fingertips.

When you set up one of these Wi-Fi digital photo frames in your parents' house, you can upload pictures from your phone directly to the frame without them having to do a thing. (Such frames make especially good gifts for elderly people in nursing homes.) Some models even include motion sensors that turn the frame on to display the most recent photos when someone enters the room.

Forget digging around for coffee grounds and filters. These single-serve coffee makers make brewing a cup of joe easy and simple. Plus, Dad or Mom don't have to brew a whole pot if they're only going to drink a cup or two.

Designed as a Wi-Fi-connected, voice-operated device that can perform a huge range of tasks, the Amazon Echo can play music, give the weather forecast, offer alarms and reminders, and even control the lights in a home. That makes it a great gift for older parents, particularly those with mobility challenges. You may want to include a cheat sheet of verbal commands they can use to get the Echo to perform the kinds of tasks they want.

A recordable book is a personalized gift for grandparents that they will likely cherish forever. Very young children (most books are meant for those under five) can record a story in their own voices and have it play back when Grandma or Grandpa opens the book.

Who says coloring is just for kids? Adult coloring books offer senior citizens a fun way to relax and relieve boredom and stress. Coloring is also an excellent activity for grandparents and grandchildren to do together as a form of family bonding.

This game is a great way to bridge the conversational divide between the younger and older generations. There are 100 cards with questions for grandkids to ask their grandparents, such as "What was considered a snack when you were growing up?" and "Did you have a party line?" The answers give curious children a sense of what life was like many years ago.

Grandparents who love playing card games like bridge or rummy (but whose motor skills are a bit weak) may find it easier to enjoy the experience if they don't have to deal with shuffling the cards themselves. An automatic card shuffler can be a fun and inexpensive gift.

When starting a memory journal, ideas can be hard to come by. That's why journals that feature guided prompts to help grandparents record the details of their lives (to share with future generations) make such excellent gifts. Most journals also include pages for documenting the family tree and flaps for storing photos and mementos.

Rings made of the birthstones of children or grandchildren make popular gifts for elderly moms or grandmas who enjoy a bit of bling. Some rings can hold up to six different stones, and some include space to engrave names.

Carbonating your own water means the final ingredient list of your fizzy beverage is up to you. Fresh sliced fruit, water flavor enhancers, and splashes of fruit juice can be added to sparkling water to make delicious options for keeping hydrated. Since many seniors struggle to drink enough water each day, this can be a fun way to promote health and hydration with the push of a button.

These sleek and ultra-portable Bluetooth earphones come with a charging case, location tracking, excellent sound quality, and full connectivity with Apple devices. AirPods are also compatible with Android devices, though without some extra functions like using Siri or pop-up, one-click pairing. These earphones can help seniors feel more connected, whether talking on the phone, listening to music, or watching a TV show.

These open-ear headphones deliver lightweight, earbud-free comfort for all-day use. Bone conduction headphones sit in front of the ear canal rather than inside it, and the sound waves are transferred via the jawbone instead of the inside of the head. Unlike traditional headphones, they keep you connected to your surroundings. The wraparound titanium frame offers a secure fit, ideal for jogging or commuting. Enjoy six hours of music or calls on a single charge and experience clear audio channeled through your cheekbone.

Resistance bands are one of the safest and least intimidating ways for seniors to start a strength training and flexibility program. The intensity of the exercise can easily be increased or decreased since it's all about the thickness of the band you choose and where you hold it for a given exercise. Plus, they are extremely safe and fun to work with.

Fitbits and other similar watch-style fitness trackers give seniors and their loved ones and caretakers a simple way to monitor activity, sleep, heart rate, and more. Some models like the Sense also offer features like built-in GPS, stress tracking, an ECG app (available in the US and other select countries), and an alert for low or high heart rates. This device is an excellent tool for improving health and potentially flagging problems to discuss with a doctor.

An exercise bike can be an affordable and low-impact way for seniors to incorporate cardiovascular exercise into their regular routines without the need to leave the house. Upright bikes can provide great workouts for those who can still ride a regular bike with a bike seat. Recumbent bikes are a good option for those who need a wider seat with back support and various degrees of intensity.

Whether you just want to exercise more throughout the day or need a low-impact cardio alternative, these devices are genius. These pedal machines are developed to be quiet, adjustable, and stable. They fit under a desk or table and can be used while working at a computer, browsing the internet, crafting, watching TV, and much more. Plus, these are extremely safe and, used properly, don't pose risks for falls or injuries.

Why not give your loved one a gift that engages the brain and promotes relaxation? The nostalgic imagery and large pieces of these jigsaw puzzles are designed to appeal to seniors with dexterity challenges and memory issues.

Items with a variety of textures can be excellent gifts for someone with Alzheimer's. Having something to fiddle with can soothe restless hands and reduce anxiety. A wide range of designs are available.

Having a clock that displays the date, day of the week, time of day, and hour can be a great way for seniors with dementia or memory issues to orient themselves. Most "Alzheimer's clock" models have extra-large displays for easy viewing, and some also allow you to adjust the dimness level.

Allow your loved one to experience the companionship of a pet without the responsibility of caring for a living creature! Specifically designed to comfort older adults, these robotic pets sport realistic fur along with sensors that allow them to respond to human touch.

One of the most practical gifts for dementia patients who use a wheelchair is a soft blanket that wraps around their legs but doesn't get caught in the chair's wheels. These blankets feature Velcro loops to keep them in place; some also include hand warmer pockets.

Does your loved one live for baking or cooking? These measuring cups feature extra large contrasting type on both the handle and cup bottom to make measuring ingredients a snap.

Necklaces that incorporate a magnifying glass make fantastic gifts for older women who need a little extra help reading things like store labels. Many styles are available, so you can buy different necklaces to match your gift recipient's outfits.

One of the most useful gifts for a blind person, a cane allows your loved one to maneuver confidently by detecting stairs, curbs, and other obstacles. Keep in mind that straight canes give more sensory feedback, while folding canes are easier to store.

People with low vision have difficulty seeing the numbers on a standard wristwatch. That's why talking watches for people who are blind are so cool. With the press of a button, a voice announces the current time. Some models even set themselves and automatically adjust to Daylight Savings Time.

Make your loved one's computer a whole lot easier to use! Keyboards with high-contrast oversized keys make the letters appear larger and bolder. Both wired and wireless versions are available.

With a built-in LED light, magnifying lens, and simple calculator, this handy device enables your gift recipient to easily read restaurant menus and bills, calculate everyone's share, and figure out a tip.

For a blind person, phone calls can be extremely challenging to make. Simplify the process by giving your loved one a specially designed phone with oversized keys featuring Braille type.

Help make sure your loved one doesn't oversleep. Clocks that rely on vibrations rather than sounds for the alarm can be very useful for people who are hard of hearing or deaf. Some models fit under a pillow, while others attach to a wrist.

With a video doorbell, your loved one won't have to stress about not hearing a ring. The doorbell sends an alert to a smartphone when someone is at the door, allowing the homeowner to see and speak with the person standing there.

Your hard-of-hearing friend won't miss a word of what you're saying with a captioned telephone that instantly displays a written record of the conversation.

No one wants to miss out on the action. Help your hard-of-hearing friends enjoy their favorite television programs in comfort with an individual device that allows them to hear the TV and control the volume without bothering the people around them. You can get devices that connect to either analog or digital TVs.

Hearing aids are expensive, so why not give a gift that helps protect them? These spandex nylon sleeves keep hearing aids safe from moisture and dirt and are available in eight colors.

Would the senior on your list like to be able to slip into their shoes without bending over? These extended shoehorns work with dress shoes, sneakers, or boots.

Gel packs that can be shaped around an arthritic knee can provide welcome pain relief. The packs can be frozen or microwaved to provide cold or hot therapy.

Presents that make everyday tasks easier often make the best gifts. Opening jars can be agony for someone with osteoarthritis, and a device that can do the task for them will be much appreciated.

The importance of a good night's rest cannot be overstated. A heated mattress pad can help your gift recipient relax and let them wake up each morning feeling refreshed.

Give your loved one the ability to get into and out of an armchair easily. Some lift chairs for people with arthritis even include massage and heat functionality.

Good quality supplements with proven anti-inflammatory ingredients like curcumin, turmeric, white willow bark, and ginger can make a big difference for some seniors with arthritis. The "-itis" in arthritis directly translates to "inflamed." Decreasing overall inflammation can reduce and slow symptoms for many people. However, since the active ingredients can have other effects, like blood thinning, it's important to always check with your doctor before taking anything new to ensure it's safe for any current medical conditions or medications.