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Original poster

What can I get my grandma for her 99th birthday?

28 replies

Helpmeihavea3yearold · 25/06/2022 22:36

My lovely grandma will be 99 next month and I'm struggling with ideas what to get her.

A bit of info-
She doesn't leave the house anymore and basically is confined to her sofa all day as her legs are so weak.

She loves tv and watching sports. But doesn't have smart tv or a video player. Doesn't read. Doesn't go anywhere.

Hence I'm stuck for ideas! Help please!

OP posts:
SandyWedges · 25/06/2022 22:42

A meal set it all up nicely on the table like she's in a restaurant and just sit and eat it with her and have a nice chat. Can be takeaway can be cooked by you.

Jalisco · 25/06/2022 22:42

What's your budget?

SeaToSki · 25/06/2022 22:42

Can you get her family to all rally round and put together an album of 99 reasons you all love her/memories of doing nice things with her. Use photos and postcards and any bits you have that would trigger memories of things for her. Most older people love trips down memory lane.

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General shopping
SandyWedges · 25/06/2022 22:42

Or on her lap tray or whatever she eats off

Whatelsecouldibecalled · 25/06/2022 22:43

A nexus play photo frame. You can upload
Pictures from your phone?

ChocolateDeficitDisorder · 25/06/2022 22:43

An ice-cream with a flake in it..

Amongst other things obviously.

Kezzie200 · 25/06/2022 22:44

A coffee morning. You, her, maybe a friend or just the two of you. Cake, tea, coffee and a chat or watch something she likes together. Or look through old photos.

Not on her birthday, of course. Maybe a day in the following fortnight

Eyesopenwideawake · 25/06/2022 22:45

Newspapers from the day she was born and from her significant birthdays - 18th, 21st, 30th, etc?

DuckBilledPlattyJoobs · 25/06/2022 22:46

Could your family get together and get her a Smart TV so she has more viewing choice?

grannyjacob · 25/06/2022 22:48

A “bought-in” afternoon tea. Or make your own up, that way you know she’ll like whatever is in it.

StarDolphins · 25/06/2022 22:50

I would make (or buy) an afternoon tea / tea, sarnies, cakes etc & I would sit, chat & laugh with her for a few hours, ask her about things from the past & just listen to her tales❤️

I used to look after my grandad begore he died & I wish I’d have sat & listened to him more but I was so busy cleaning/shopping for him that when he mentioned the war/his long gone family etc I didn’t carry the conversation on & I wish I had.

Ragwort · 25/06/2022 22:50

Agree with others that time spent with her is worth so much more than any 'present'. Unless you think she would like and enjoy using a smart tv?

My DM is a little younger and mobile but absolutely doesn't want any more 'stuff' in her life ... we go out for a nice meal or cinema/theatre trip to celebrate birthdays now. Well meaning friends often send her flowers or give pot plants etc but she really, really doesn't want them.

Nadal · 25/06/2022 22:52

How about one of these memories journals?

www.fromyoutome.com/dear-grandma-timeless-collection.html

If she doesn't want to complete it herself, you could use it as a conversation prompt to learn all about the young woman she once was.

Barleysugar86 · 25/06/2022 22:52

Agree with the special cake or biscuits or similar.

Or possibly a very soft wool blanket to sit under in front of the TV.

HollowTalk · 25/06/2022 22:52

DuckBilledPlattyJoobs · 25/06/2022 22:46

Could your family get together and get her a Smart TV so she has more viewing choice?

That might be a real struggle for her to use though. My mum is very old and she hates any new tech. She just doesn't have the capacity to learn anything like that now. If something goes wrong e.g. with the television or her phone, she really panics because she relies on them so much.

Franklefoot · 25/06/2022 22:57

My grandma died when she was 105. I miss her! She was hard to buy for too, like yours she didn't leave the house or want much. I used to get her some posh hand cream from Crabtree and Evelyn, they have some lavender and rose ones which she used to love, and slathered on. The food ideas above are lovely too.

isthatwhatyoureallywanted · 25/06/2022 22:57

Out of desperation, I got my gran a new duvet cover when she was in her late 80s. She hadn't bought any new bedding for years as, to quote her, what was the point when she was going to die any time. She loved having something different to what she'd had for I don't know how many years.
This led to a general home improvement theme for the following few birthdays ... curtains were a highlight as she would draw them as soon as it got dark in the winter so spent a lot of time with them as a general backdrop

IthinkIsawahairbrushbackthere · 25/06/2022 23:04

My kids got my mum a little book from Amazon. I can't remember exactly what it was called but there are several different versions (search for "Reasons I love grandma") and they filled it in amongst themselves. Some of it was funny (I always laugh when I remember .......) and some of it was emotional (I am inspired by you because .......) She was really touched by it.

The other thing she likes is her photo blankets. We have given her two - both of them have multiple photos of the grandchildren and the dog. The one she had for Mother's Day had a poem in the middle about it being a special hug from all of us.

LiesDoNotBecomeUs · 25/06/2022 23:04

Obviously you should include an whipped ice-cream with a flake in it :)

Audio books are great if you are confined indoors.

My parents (in their 80s ) love their kindles - because you can make the text any size you like. As my dad said, before these gadgets, it was a labour of Hercules to carry large print books home from the library and if you fell asleep reading one, there was a chance it could crush you to death.

My grandmother loved a recording of all the family (especially the babies laughing) singing - chatting to her and so on. She would have liked a smart TV and would have learned how to use one for the sport.

SandyWedges · 25/06/2022 23:07

isthatwhatyoureallywanted · 25/06/2022 22:57

Out of desperation, I got my gran a new duvet cover when she was in her late 80s. She hadn't bought any new bedding for years as, to quote her, what was the point when she was going to die any time. She loved having something different to what she'd had for I don't know how many years.
This led to a general home improvement theme for the following few birthdays ... curtains were a highlight as she would draw them as soon as it got dark in the winter so spent a lot of time with them as a general backdrop

Thats a really sweet idea. If she is OK with change OP how about a new cushion or similar?

Mariposista · 25/06/2022 23:15

Would it be a possibility to take her for a coffee and a piece of cake to a lovely tea room in a wheelchair? Obviously she is too frail to manage this herself but with help might she enjoy it? Lovely chance for her to put her nice jewellery and clothes on and celebrate such a big birthday. happy birthday and all the best to her, whatever you choose.

27x27 · 25/06/2022 23:15

@LiesDoNotBecomeUs Your dad sounds amazing. :)

Clymene · 25/06/2022 23:17

Aura photo frame. You and anyone else can upload photos and you can control from your phone

Singleandproud · 25/06/2022 23:29

I'd go for something nostalgic, favourite book or toy from childhood and try and hunt it down on etsy or ebay.

If she has any old photos of her family, parents and siblings in particular get them restored or blown up or put onto a blanket she can have on her lap.

If she was a horse rider ring the local stables and see if you could arrange a visit either her to the stables or a horse to her.

If she was a ballet dancer take her to a show or ring the local dance school and see if any students will do a recital etc.

Thestoppedfan · 25/06/2022 23:32

A cosy home blanket, even though it’s warm outside they feel the cold. I got my gran one and she loves it- I’m going to get her the heated one at Christmas.