88 year old Lady who needs nothing

[davisday]

Looking for suggestions please.

I have an elderly relative who I am very close to, she needs and wants nothing. Isn't a fan of clutter/ornaments/stuff. Hates flowers. Not perfume, smellies, coffee voucher or days out.

Please help, I don't mind getting a gift voucher if I can't find another idea but I would prefer not to as she has enough money to buy herself anything she wants so it would not be much of a treat.

Photo books do go down well generally and they are v easy to do - I've done calendars and diaries for mum dad and fil and they have liked those. I put pics of the kids from the year just gone and make sure at least one nice one of me and one of DH with or without kids so as not to fall into trap of always being photographer and never the subject!

She does sound difficult to buy for but also v nice so I wouldn't stress over it too much! I'm sure she'll be v happy with the things your kids make for her + whatever you give her. It's nice you're so close

Or a heated car seat cushion?

(I would love one of those!)

Why don't you write her a letter about how much she means to you? Happy memories, anecdotes. Lovely stories.
Write her a poem (or commission one!)
No cost to the letter really and might give her lots of joy whenever you aren't with her.

So if she has a car, could you organise a posh valet for the car?

Haven’t read all the suggestions, but does she like alcohol? My 92 year old mum loves a bottle of Baileys for Christmas.

I bought my DM a bedset of flanelette sheets , they are so warm & cosy. She loves them .

Just a note to anyone thinking of getting new slippers for someone elderly - apparently they are one of the biggest causes of accidents in the home on Christmas Day.

Have you seen this heated throw? It's really cosy.

What about a feather quilt for her bed?

I've got my DGM a lovely soft teddy throw to match her loving room colours. She can throw it over herself to get snug of an evening.

And a beautiful Christmas light up ornament.

I second the idea of a more special outing than you would normally do. Or what about a photo calendar of your DC, family etc? I find these go down well as they’re only for one year - so not gathering dust for years as a frame might, and also lots of different pics to look at.

Does she have a garden? What about a small tree? Trees direct have baby holly trees for sale.

Hollow I need one of these!!

DNA test from ancestry or similar to trace her ancestors, or cousins around the world ?
Does she have a pet ? As pet related things go down well if so, lovely personalised bowl etc.
The Landmark Trust handbook so that she can choose where she would love to stay, if you want to splash out on a short break somewhere interesting.

Tickets to one of those vintage fairs or a musical ??

Does she have anything she loves but is really on it’s last legs and you could buy her a replacement? Could be an idea if there is something that has served her well for years and she can look forward to getting a good few years out of the new one.

CD of hymns?

Book of Hymns?

Cashmere bed socks and a bottle of gin.
^ Sounds like a good evening in!

I’d like cashmere bed socks and a bottle of gin right now..

Does she she use a walking stick? If so, there are some lovely patterned ones around.

I always get my grandma a photo calendar, started doing it a few years ago and now she asks for one every year. I use photos of the family from the year. It gets hung in her kitchen each year and is well used.

I genuinely think that a lot of people really don't want anything, I know I have everything I want/need (& I am younger than your relative ) and to be given anything almost gives me a problem, do I keep it just to please the giver, even if it something like new towels then I have to decide how to get rid of the old towels etc etc
Every single day I find something to 'declutter', I am constantly donating to charity shops or going to the tip, I have three separate stocks of raffle prizes/items for tombolas/Christmas Fairs etc. I don't want any more stuff in my life, my 85 year old DM is the same, constantly de-cluttering (loading most of it onto me) & she says she is doing it to reduce my workload when she dies.

I would stick with the idea of an extra special outing.

A heated throw.

I'm only in my 50s but have had arthritis since my 20s. This time of year it is too warm to put the heating on but in the evening I get a bit of a chill/ I use a throw over my feet but I know you can get ones that plug in.

Does she live in a 2 story house and does she have a phone upstairs? When my mum was ill and we knew it wouldn't get better I got my parents a cordless phone with 2 handsets so they could have one upstairs for emergencies.

Does she have jewelry she doesn't wear? Having something remodelled might be nice, possibly combining some of her old jewelry.

www.ringjewellery.co.uk/services/jewellery-remodelling

If she has younger relatives he wants to leave jewelry to it's a practical gift.

My nan is 89 and I have bought her a crossword book, because she likes doing crosswords. Last year I got her some fluffy socks.

My 84 year old mum loves it when the grandchildren buy her tickets for the theatre or ballet and go with her.
She also loves plants for the garden (and them being planted for her), books and bird feeder stuff or big bag or bird seed.
Last year we made a donation to the Royal British Legion bikers who turned up in a pack on their Harley's and took her out for a spin on the back!

I have a similar dilemma! These have gone down well in past:

• researching her favourite local painter & buying a framed print

• silk scarf from local museum gift shop, connected to an exhibition she went to

• bird table

• a friend made these plant tag things with a message on them. I put a few lines from her favourite poem

• Book signed by author

• Luxury handcreams & leather gloves

• Leather bound diary

• Calendar with family pics