Birthday gift/goodies for 80 something

[RockingMyFiftiesNot]

Please help with ideas for my aunt's birthday. She'll be 83, is in the early stages of dementia but is still in her own home .
I know I don't have to buy her anything but I want to. Fall back will be a new top or cardi but am looking for something different. Budget £50 ish but happy to pay more for the perfect gift

Things I've discounted:

Meals & trips out (several in plan for her birthday and she is taken out regularly by family members all year)

Magazine subscriptions - has a couple already and can't think of anything different she'd enjoy

Puzzle books, jigsaws, colouring books as she has piles of these waiting to be used

Reading books fact & fiction - also got an unread pile

DVDs CDs etc - has plenty but can never remember how to play them (in spite of simply written instructions)

Scarves, gloves, shawls, bags - had new at Christmas

Flowers, plants, vases - she will receive a lot of these from friends and neighbours of past experience is anything to go by!

Stationery items - she has so many notelets, writing sets etc

Photos/frames - more than enough, including digital frame. Had a coupe of photo books for her birthday.

Anything ornamental - she's been trying to reduce the amount of 'stuff' she has around.

She doesn't really wear jewellery apart from her regular earrings, chain, & rings - anything else is kept in her jewellery box and forgotten about.

She loves her garden but has everything she needs including bird table, bird feeders, nesting box, various stone ornaments. Another fall back would be a planted garden pot but would rather something different.

I know hampers don't usually go down well with MN but was thinking I might make one up but then struggling for ideas as she doesn't use a lot of different toiletries, is well stocked up wirh those that she does use. Family does her shopping for her so she's never short of tins of salmon etc

Her son bought her a dementia friendly clock which shows day & date as well as the time. She's found that useful, I would consider other aids that people's relatives have found useful but only if it seems 'gift like' as we'd buy her the really practical stuff she needs anyway. My cousins (her DC) were at a loss too so are taking her away for a night - which they might have done anyway but are dressing up as a gift along with meals & visits while they are there.

Hoping that there's a lovely idea out there !
Thank you

Afternoon tea in a box and you spend a nice afternoon with her?

I know you said she has lots of scarves and wraps but I bought my mum (83) a heated throw for when watching tv/knitting etc, she feels the cold (a lot, the house is like Kew Gardens hothouse and drains the moisture from my body in 30 seconds ) She loves it and has used it every day since I gave it to her, got it in a colour to go with her decor so it looks like it should be in the room and not just a 'blanket for an old person' which she would hate!.

An Alexa. Will become increasingly useful as her dementia progresses.

A photo book, or spend time with her going through her old photos.

A giant hoodie, oodie/comfy/huggle type thing, or nice big throw to cuddle under on the sofa.

@thebabessavedme

I know you said she has lots of scarves and wraps but I bought my mum (83) a heated throw for when watching tv/knitting etc, she feels the cold (a lot, the house is like Kew Gardens hothouse and drains the moisture from my body in 30 seconds ) She loves it and has used it every day since I gave it to her, got it in a colour to go with her decor so it looks like it should be in the room and not just a 'blanket for an old person' which she would hate!.

That's a possibility for Christmas, will make a note thanks but she doesn't feel the cold unless it's really cold outside so don't feel it appropriate for a spring birthday.

@LottyD32

Afternoon tea in a box and you spend a nice afternoon with her?

I'd discounted meals as we take her out frequently anyway plus she's away on her birthday. That said, a good idea if there's a weekend when no-one's taking her out

@LadyGardenersQuestionTime

An Alexa. Will become increasingly useful as her dementia progresses.

A photo book, or spend time with her going through her old photos.

Thanks for the suggestions. My cousin tried her with his Alexa and she hated it so would feel uncomfortable pushing one on her. Will suggest to my cousin that he keeps trying it with her to see if we can get her used to it. I'd discounted photo related gifts in my OP, but good suggestion for others reading this thread for ideas for similar ages.

@CoffeeBeansGalore

A giant hoodie, oodie/comfy/huggle type thing, or nice big throw to cuddle under on the sofa.

Thanks but again I think one for Christmas, not heading into spring/summer as she has a slanket which she rarely needs anyway.

I feel really guilty discounting all these kind suggestions but please keep them coming, the perfect idea is out there somewhere. I'm sure others will read this thread looking for ideas for similar ages so will help others if not me.

Sweets from her childhood.

Jelly drops water sweets: www.alzheimers.org.uk/research/our-research/jelly-drops-tackling-dehydration-dementia

A voucher for a hairdresser or trip to a hairdresser together.

A voucher for a chiropodist or trip to a chiropodist together, or some well fitting shoes: www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/daily-living/staying-healthy-dementia/other-health-issues

Sorry, just realized that she has dementia not Alzheimer's.

I know you said she had a bird table but she might like a feeder that fits on the window with suction caps like these:
www.amazon.co.uk/Window-Bird-Feeder/s?k=Window+Bird+Feeder&tag=mumsnetforu03-21
You could buy a good supply of feed for them too.

A book with mostly photos about where she grew up. My dad loved a book I got him about his local area with photos from the 1920's- 80's including ones of his school, where he worked etc. He can see things on Youtube that people have posted but he still likes to look at a physical book of photos and it was a nice conversation starter too.

Is there a scent she likes but doesn't treat herself too? My MIL loved Floris White Rose but never really told anyone or bought it. She let it slip one day when my DD was talking to her about Florence Nightingale ( who bought it) and was delighted to get a body lotion and shower gel gift from us (she couldn't handle strong bottled perfumes anymore)

I think your Hamper idea is good - you could get lots of little treats (chocs, biscuits, honey etc) . Fortnum and Mason do biscuits and teas in lovely tins and sell delicious chocolates made for them by Audrey's in Hove (who also do a select yourself assortment) they have great old fashioned style luxury fondant centres.
www.audreyschocolates.co.uk/index.aspx

What about a girls annual from the year she was born or when she was a little girl? eBay is great for those

Thank you for the suggestions. I've a few ideas now, all appreciated

Another vote for a photo book! You can also include some really old family pictures and even colorize the black and white ones (there are programs like Photoglory or Photoworks that repair old photos). There are also artists that would draw a portrait based on a family picture which can be an option as well.

She had a couple of photo books for her last big birthday (my OP was long so you probably missed it!) I agree it's a lovely present but I don't think I could do anything different enough to those.