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Present ideas for elderly relations please

18 replies

ifonly4 · 02/12/2019 16:12

Can anyone please give me some ideas for my Uncle and Auntie. They're 85.

My Uncle enjoys rugby, has a good sense of humour. He has to avoid chocolate and alcohol as they don't agree with him.

My Auntie is still very with it, ie nicely fasionable and she wouldn't want something like a vest to keep her warm. I did think about a large toiletry set, but she wouldn't go for Lily of the Valley/Yardley stuff which you might associate with someone older. Out of other brands like Bayliss & Harding, Ted Baker, Laura Ashley, Champneys if any of these are more for younger people.

Any ideas appreciated, either joint or something each. Looking to spend up to £40.

OP posts:
TheQueens · 02/12/2019 16:18

Do they play board games or do puzzles? Voucher for a local restaurant and you could go along with them? I lovely scarf for your grandma? A silk type fashion one not your bog standard wooly one. Grandad sounds a bit harder, does he have a particular player he likes you could get his biography? Or a history of a certain book? Some nice biscuits they could share? Hmmm it does sound quite a hard one...

Sally99 · 02/12/2019 16:18

I think hyacinth bulbs (or other bulbs) in a nice wicker basket are good for older people as they give a lovely scent. You can get them from M&S or a garden centre.

Otherwise, a box of assorted chocolate biscuits or shortbread.

If they prefer savoury food, you could get them a box of biscuits to have with cheese. Again M&S do lovely boxes (I only shop there are Christmas as they are good for these sort of presents).

Do they like cheese straws or nuts?

TheQueens · 02/12/2019 16:19

History of a certain team* book

Interested in this thread?

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Sally99 · 02/12/2019 16:19

Sorry, I missed the chocolate bit. Assorted cream biscuits would be better!

IthinkIsawahairbrushbackthere · 02/12/2019 16:20

Do they have a garden/patio area? My mum is disabled and is unable to do anything with the garden but loves to see the birds on her bird table.

SurpriseSparDay · 02/12/2019 16:27

Does your aunt already have a Vogue subscription?

Slightly puzzled by your question about toiletry brands. My mother is an octogenarian; she likes Tom Ford cosmetics and Frederic Malle perfumes ...

Livebythecoast · 02/12/2019 16:42

We got DH parents (same age) a personilised bird box for the garden from not on the high street. I use them quite a bit for older relatives as they have some lovely things

JellicleCat · 02/12/2019 16:57

Jigsaw? My MIL loved them.

Do they live close by? If so could you do something like an afternoon tea voucher with you taking them out?
Personalized calendar with old photos of family members.

We have done all of the above and they went down well.

ifonly4 · 02/12/2019 16:57

Thanks for your replies (and any more I get). They've got my mind ticking and I'm going to look at a few options.

I often play safe and give them money, gift voucher, but I know they won't be around forever and to me they really are special people and they've made it clear they think the world of me ...

OP posts:
NChangeForNoReason · 02/12/2019 17:01

I do a hamper of tasty tip bits and treats with a little personalised gift saying "aunty x"

JumpiestBat · 02/12/2019 17:05

You can get "memory lane" type books for different decades from the past. They're designed for people with memory loss but I got them for older relatives and they were delighted as it's the sort of nostalgia we youngsters get on the internet but older folk might not see it there.

JumpiestBat · 02/12/2019 17:08

Clarins Eau Dynamisante is a lovely fresh scent and quality, I'd perhaps look for a gift pack perhaps with a hand cream. Clarins seems to be nice quality and welcomed by any age.

Jaxhog · 02/12/2019 17:13

Not hyacinths - they smell like death in the house!

And beware Clarins - they can cause allergies.

I'd go with a nice cashmere scarf or similar. My 90-year-old mum never has enough warm scarves or blankets. A hamper is good too - with a few luxury nibbles.

CasparMum · 03/12/2019 09:07

If you are anywhere near London, Fortnum & Mason will let you wander round the shop choosing things and will then package them up and send them out as a hamper. My DGPs used to love this and it’s not as expensive as you might think (drowning on what you pick). My Grandmother used to eat the biscuits and then refill the tin and get it out for visitors for the rest of the year 😁

CasparMum · 03/12/2019 09:07

Depending not drowning

Ursaminor · 03/12/2019 10:14

Something from the D C Thomson stable of publications - book or magazine subscription? They do the People's Friend - I get that for my mum. She looks forward to it all the way through the year as it comes every week. And they have other books / magazines. (I don't work for them - honest - just glad to have found something my mum really enjoys.)

mcsmum62 · 05/12/2019 03:31

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Thecrown3 · 05/12/2019 07:19

I’d second the suggestion of magazine subscription, rugby one for uncle an maybe good housekeeping or prima for aunt.
I’d also do a build your own hamper to share, supermarkets are selling hamper baskets and you could put nice crackers/cheese/chutneys, non alcoholic Buck’s Fizz,some special crisps, biscuits etc

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