Gift ideas for mothers 80th birthday

[Summerconfused]

My mum will be in hospital when she turns 80, recovering from an operation. She's unable to walk unaided and is a gluten free vegetarian, so experience gifts are wasted on her as she doesn't like going out and says she can't eat anything on the menu in restaurants. She isn't tech savvy either.

Any suggestions for gifts? At the moment all I can think of is jewellery. Budget max £100.

Does she like jewellery? What about a really nice photo frame or photo book with family pictures l.

She does wear jewellery. She likes family related gifts but we did a photo album for her 75th through the generations.

Can you do a video of all her friends and family saying happy birthday and sharing a memory or two? With her being in hospital I guess she won't get to see everyone.

What about a really nice pashmina / big scarf. . Something to wrap around to look smart whilst in hospital and also afterwards. I think also a video of family which you can take to her to say Happy Birthday if she is not tech savvy would be nice alongside.

I'm not sure if this will be helpful or not.
I'm a care worker for elderly people, and I can remember an elderly lady telling me that she really wanted a pair of red shoes as a child.

Of course, in those days, she wasn't allowed them - it would have been way too frivolous.

For her 90th birthday, I bought her a pair of red sparkly shoes - she was absolutely over the moon with them.

Would something like that be an option?

As she will be in hospital that makes it even more difficult for you!

What about something you can give her on the day, such as a fancy basket of fruit (or M&S can deliver one) then for when she gets home, organise some ready meals that she can pop in the microwave/air fryer so she's got some effort free hot meals available for when she's not up to cooking.

Other ideas are.....
visit her with a picnic tea
make up a hamper of luxury treats for her
cashmere dressing gown
framed old photo of where she spent her childhood or somewhere she often took you when you were a child.

A David Neiper nightgown. My mum loved them - wildly expensive and super soft / comfortable/ the winter ones are really warm / they’re pretty.

Digital photo frame of family photos. If someone set it up (probably a teenager!) she would just need to turn it on.

Biscuiteers do some lovely gluten free biscuits which would be nice to have in hospital as they’d last a little while.

Aww that's lovely. I'd get her jewellery .

My mum is in a similar situation.

She goes through books on an alarming speed but can't handle a kindle so we will try to get books cheap/second hand and give her a large case.

A digital photoframe you can just switch on and off

Jewellery

Subscription of a favourite magazine or, in case of my mum, a crossword one

it’s quite a challenge. Speaking as someone “getting on a bit ”, apart from photos I wouldn’t really want “things”

Someone to come in and do her hair or nails
A radio with headphones. Audiobook.
Little hamper of favourite sweets and drinks,smellies
Adult colouring book or craft set

That's precious! You sound like a really lovely person. 🤗

Oh my goodness. I've had such a difficult day - but your kind words have really given me a lift.
Thank you so much!

Some great suggestions on here, thanks everyone that's given me lots of ideas to work on.

I agree with the suggestions re making the day itself soecial. Love the idea of videos of birthday wishes and a special tea. My gluten free friends feel they miss out on cake, looks like Tesco and Waitrose have GF birthday cakes.
A gift bag of goodies she can use in hospital eg word search, hand cream etc

Then a piece of jewellery to keep when she is out of hospital. My Mum loves brooches.

An idea of her friends and family members wishing her happy birthday in one video is AMAZING, absolutely do that, OP! You can make a video greeting card if there isn't enough time for everyone to record themselves, but if there is a chance to work on a video that includes many people you totally should try. Use a birthday slideshow maker, maybe add photos of her in between the clips, etc.