To ask for ideas of a gift for 80+ yo DM?? I am stumped!

[bellav]

I looked through the other talk topics and couldn't see a good place to put this, but apologies if AIBU isn't the right spot.

Would appreciate some gifts ideas for my DM. She is 81 and I feel like I have given her all of the obvious options before! Done plants, jewellery, scarves, books, personalised photo gifts, photo albums, foodie things, etc, etc.

She hasn't much of an appetite and isn't very mobile BUT she's not an old 80yo IYSWIM, and so the kind of stuff Google turns up ("gifts for the elderly"!) doesn't work either.

Help! I only have about 10 days to go to find something good.

I got my similarly aged mum a chocolate making kit and a home mushroom grow set. She was pleased as punch and now regularly makes us chocolates, she has also expanded her mushroom growing so we get the odd punnet off her.

Ugg slippers, a cashmere wrap that she can keep on the arm of her chair for when she's feeling a bit chillie. A homemade manicure set in a lovely pouch with lovely handcream and a quality nail file. Nice glasses holder or one for round her neck. Any elasticated jewelry, the Annie Haak ones ate nice.

Floating / isolation tank experience in a spa.

Sing along Sound of Music cinema day with foodie treat afterwards.

It's really not! Why give her £2 a week? That's pocket money for a very small child.

Exactly. And it’s the kind of concept a small child would enjoy while teaching them about the benefits of saving. In fact it’s given me a really good idea for our youngest grandchildren’s next birthdays.

DN took housebound MIL to the hairdressers and then lunch, in a wheelchair friendly taxi.

I bought her a fleecy throw to keep her warm in the winter. It went everywhere with her, like when she had to go to hospital, etc. (She didn’t like new electrical devices, so a heated throw was out of the question). We also gave her money for her gas bill; but apparently she kept it in her bank account! 🙄

Sirdar do crochet-a-long kits to make lovely blankets and you get a nice bag with all the wool and things you need in them if you thought she would want to learn a new hobby?

Or maybe a Netflix/Disney+ or Prime subscription if any of her favourite shows are on there?

Or book a little trip together somewhere with a hotel/dinner reservation?

I agree time, a trip out etc. Or a shopping trip combined with dining. Unless you all do that anyway.
Don't consider cashmere unless she doesn't care about animal welfare and the environment etc. There isn't any ethical cashmere.

My mum turned 80 this year. I took her for a spa day with swimming, treatments, coffee, and lunch, which she loved.

Other presents that she particularly liked included a case of wine, an expensive face cream set, a day trip voucher with a friend, and a bird table for her garden.

Obviously, not all 80 year olds are the same, but I thought this might help.

Experiences and consumables. My 80th birthday present is going to be them taking me to dinner at the Ritz (giving everyone 13 years to save up).

If it has to be a Thing, then Nearly New Cashmere and Rise&Fall both sell wonderful cashmere wraps/scarves which are beautiful, stylish and perfect for glamorous trips out (and naps).

fuck sake i gave her £80 pound in £2 coins in the fucking money box cos she turned 80 and then i have been putting another £2 a week in it for the next year....sorry that you think thats childish

Thanks for all of the great ideas, everybody.
I have a shortlist of options to look into now, which is a lot better than where I was this morning!

Thanks for the Sirdar tip - that's exactly what I've been looking for for my next project! If I ever finish this effing blanket.

Nearly 2000 metres of wool, badly knitted.... 😂

You’re welcome, maybe you’ll end up with a bag full of Christmas blanket that was meant to be finished for Christmas 2023 like me 😂

I gave my dad money which was, in one way, a weird role reversal, but he was thrilled.

I always do a "thing" with my mum. A show or afternoon tea or a day out somewhere.
She's coming 84 and good so far, but definitely aging.
80th trip to London, 81 Sing-along-a-Gareth 82 BBC orchestra at local music venue 83 Michael Ball and Alfie Boe

DH was gifted four deliveries of cheese for his 80th. For my part, I’d like alcohol. I was gifted a bottle of mai tai and a bottle of Drambuie last birthday, What I most appreciate is spending time with my DC so - a family dinner, afternoon tea or a spa day together. Failing that, an Amazon gift card so I can buy some books for my kindle. Does your DJM have a kindle?

Pogo stick, for the adventurous type

My DM enjoyed a years subscription to the Royal Ballet streaming service. Superb ballet at the tip of her fingertips now she can't travel to London.
The National Theatre also do a subscription if your DM enjoys theatre.

I take mine out. Nice light lunch somewhere lovely - scenerywise. She doesnt need to eat loads and enjoys the place.

I’d love it if someone did this for me. It’s fun!

What about a subscription for flowers to be sent every month for a year.

Invite her family over and have a small party together. Have a lunch out with family members.Time together is much more valuable than objects which will not be used.

Maybe a professional group family photo?

A flower subscription suggested by a pp is a good idea. Also a book or magazine subscription.

A Kindle or iPad.