Ideas for Older Ladies

[GoneFishingAgain]

My DM is in her 80s, very active and independent, drives, computer literate and tech savvy and no money worries - usually buys what she needs/wants and has quite particular tastes.

I want to get her something special this Christmas as she lives alone so it will be a hard winter, but I'm stumped. I would normally treat her to a show, weekend away etc but that's all off the cards.

Would love some suggestions.

Alexa? Does she have a smart phone to wassap or facetime with?

@73kittycat73

Alexa? Does she have a smart phone to wassap or facetime with?

Yes she has all that, tablet, Kindle, Netflix. She had a smart phone before I did!

What about some gorgeous cashmere from Turtle Doves?

Their wraps are fabulous.

Anything cashmere
Hamper
Magazine subscription
Nt membership

Something personalised with photos - clock , calendar , place mats .

What are her particular tastes'?

Do these tastes include typical 'old lady' things? Maybe she'd like a bottle of absinthe, or a subscription to a wine club or a year's supply of cheese?

An electronic tablet. My Dad is in his 80s - my genius wife came up with the idea of a tablet and it's literally the best present we ever bought him - he loved it even before Covid and now it has even more use.

My mum is 85, she already has a smart phone and tablet. I've got her a cashmere neck wrap thingy from Turtle Doves this year

Is there membership to something that she would use. My friend bought me membership to the Tate and it’s one of my favourite presents ever. Clearly it would need to be something in easy access

Has she got a cardigan/ purse/ umbrella etc thats on its last legs. You can get her a replacement in a similar style?

@onemorecupofcoffeefortheroad

An electronic tablet. My Dad is in his 80s - my genius wife came up with the idea of a tablet and it's literally the best present we ever bought him - he loved it even before Covid and now it has even more use.

She's just bought herself a top of the range new tablet. I agree it's a great gift idea, she uses hers a lot.

@dementedma

My mum is 85, she already has a smart phone and tablet. I've got her a cashmere neck wrap thingy from Turtle Doves this year

That sounds good, will investigate.

@MagpiePi

What are her particular tastes'?

Do these tastes include typical 'old lady' things? Maybe she'd like a bottle of absinthe, or a subscription to a wine club or a year's supply of cheese?

Not old lady tastes at all but yes a subscription is a good idea.

I really struggle with this so I’m following with interest. My MIL is 89 and this year feels harder than ever because it’s not as though we can take her anywhere.

I cannot possibly buy her another jumper

Couple of successful things I've found:
Flower, chocolate or magazine subscription (all 3 would be fab)
A pretty, long necklace that can be slipped over the head rather than fiddling with clasps
Afternoon tea out ( might be hard right now)
Lipstick has been very popular, especially luxe brands (Charlotte Tilbury, Tom Ford, YSL or Dior)

@MagpiePi

What are her particular tastes'?

Do these tastes include typical 'old lady' things? Maybe she'd like a bottle of absinthe, or a subscription to a wine club or a year's supply of cheese?

Blimey you’d need a big fridge for a years supply of cheese

I bought mil THIS CASHMERE SCARF For her birthday . It’s small enough to wear indoors and smart enough to wear out. She adores it and wears it a lot .
John Lewis stock it as well .

Another thought is remote control candles, mil doesn’t use real candles any more as she is worried about fire risk .
Smart plugs have been a huge hit as well to turn on the multitudes off side lamps she likes . She talks to Alexa like a slightly dim parlourmaid !

How about a compact mirror with built in power bank? I've bought a few as gifts and they have been really well received.

There is a nice polka dot one in Emma Bridgewater, and I have bought the Hyper Pearl compact and Lulu Guinness lips ones before too.

www.emmabridgewater.co.uk/products/coco-lite-polka-dot?variant=12189246226504&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7pbwycKA7AIV2ZrVCh13gQhmEAQYEiABEgLT5vD_BwE

Maybe a Cook or Gousto subscription, so she can have some nice meals without the shopping.

Mya 85 year mum loves a huge box of gourmet marshmallows from The Marshmallowists

A puppy

12 year old single malt.

I bought my mum two separate subscriptions the other year, one for ground coffee and another for cake. She loved it. It made it a regular small treat, something she wouldn’t usually do for herself. I timed the deliveries so they arrive together, give or take a day for Royal Mail issues.

Magazine/newspaper subscription.
Maybe a streaming subscription, like Nowtv? I love getting Sky Cinema over Christmas.