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.

My mum of a similar age likes warm things - she wouldn't ever buy herself a new jumper but is very happy when I buy them for her. Damart underclothes, eg thermal vest are also appreciated.
She likes family outings, and gadgets.
I've bought myself a reading light that goes around my neck and is great for things needing directional light, like sewing, or reading small print this one. Your mum might like something like that, especially if she enjoys crafts or reading.
Or how about a subscription to an interest-related magazine?
Or if she is still mobile, and likes the arts, an Art card here.

Apologies if this has already been suggested, but I bought my DM who is a similar age a heated blanket. She absolutely loves it and it definitely ranks as one of my more successful gifts.

A digital photo frame. I got one for my 70 year old auntie. It connects to her phone and she is able to change it to a photo she likes as and when she wants.

A subscription to Famileo. It’s a personalised monthly magazine which family members can upload photos to and it’s posted to your Mum as a magazine. My Mum LOVED it.

I have crocheted a blanket as a present for a non mobile relative. Also used Betty's (tea rooms, of Harrogate) online service to give a nice treat for an older relative.

if she gardens, a trug for the garden

an afternoon tea or trip to a national trust property always appeals

Definitely go for an experience rather than a physical present.

David Austin gift set which has a gift card to choose a rose.

www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/products/garden-lovers-gift-box

I know you said you've done plants but what about a bonsai tree? That's my go to present for anyone 60+ these days.

If she likes jigsaws you can get a photo made into a puzzle.

My parents are dead now but my dad was 91 and my mum 86 so we had lots of older birthdays to find gifts for. Probably the most appreciated was a heated blanket.

As I am in that age group I can tell you what presents I like and don't like.
I dislike anything useful.eg anything for the house
I dislike ornaments and towels and cushions etc.
I hate gifts for the garden. I buy what I need.
I like vouchers for a facial or a massage.
I would like a voucher for afternoon tea with the person giving the present or a trip to theatre.
I love perfume and face creams and scented soaps. Depending on price obviously.
I like sweaters and tops . But only from those who know my tastes. No thanks to scarves and gloves.
A luxury pair of slippers would also be acceptable.
But in the end each person is different in their tastes,be they in their eighties or twenties!
Knowing the person should make it easier to buy a present. What one 80yr old would love,another would dislike!Just like every age group.

When my Mum turned 80 my sister made her a memory box. She bought a very pretty empty box with roses on it and hand wrote out 80 different memories she had shared with my Mum on separate sheets of paper. A few she had scanned a photo on to too. Many from her childhood but some in later years. My Mum loved it and spent hours reading through the memories. She read them and reread them and it was clearly her favourite gift. I made Mum a large planter with all her favourite plants in she could look out at through the window as Mum wasn't very mobile at that point but she had always loved her garden.

Harness Roses sell a rose bush called ‘Fabulous at 80’.

Lots of good things already suggested, here are a couple more that have worked for our 80+ relatives

flower subscription from The Cornish Blooms company - locally grown flowers from a family firm https://cornishblooms.co.uk/

Bird feeder that you stick on a window, lots of fun with this one

chocolate subscription from EG Hotel Chocolat

6 or 12 half-bottles of wine or champagne - nice to have a treat without the pressure of finishing a whole bottle

hair appointment or hairdresser at home

thank you...xx

Theatre or film with light but delicious supper

What type of photo albums have you done? For my DM's birthday last year I did a photo book as well but with her photos which had everything I could find, including her childhood photos, college years pictures, etc. If you haven't done this, you can go this route and restore or even colorize old family photographs (here is how you do that. Of course there is AI, but also plenty of programs that don't collect your data)

Taking her out would be a great idea if that's possible, you can book a table at a nice place or take her to her favorite place if she has one!

There are also subscription based services with food, beverage, etc. Maybe look into one of these
https://www.allsubscriptionboxes.co.uk/
https://www.subscriptionboxes.org.uk/

I’m not far off this age and what I would like for next birthday in no particular order - art pass so I can go to exhibitions cheaply,
membership of the V and A
Ortiga, Jo Malone or Floral Street perfume / hand cream/ room diffuser
Muji essential oils thingy
Real photos of my DC and DGC not one of those digital things
a family picnic

Agree with this. My 91 year old father loves his, and says it makes him feel
more part of the family, knowing what we're all up to. He has a Frameo.