Covid-safe gift for elderly parents

[AlexaShutUp]

I'm really struggling with ideas for my parents this year. They have had such a tough year, and I know that they'll be desperately sad not to celebrate with all of us, but they are both on the elderly side (late seventies/early eighties) and have underlying health conditions so we definitely won't be spending Christmas together this year. I therefore want to get them a really special, thoughtful gift, but I'm totally out of ideas!

They already have a houseful of stuff, so I would normally go for experience type gifts, but options are really limited this year due to covid. I was wondering about something themed around family - either their two beloved teenage grandchildren (dd and her cousin) ot something around our family history/family tree which I have been trying to research, but I don't know what I could do with it really. Or possibly something combining the two - I don't quite know how! In terms of photo gifts, I'm a bit short on recent photos of dd and dnephew. Don't know why, just haven't taken as many recently.

In terms of other stuff, they like gardening, but I bought a gardening themed gift earlier in the year, so not sure if I could do that again. They also like radio 4 and classical music, and are interested in (left wing) politics (mostly my dad tbh, though my mum is to a lesser extent). They try to walk 10k steps per day, but dad's mobility is getting more limited now so they don't stray far from home. My dad likes old maps, travel and technology. My mum doesn't like technology much (no confidence in using it) but likes puzzles, wordplay, anything connected to language. They already have stuff like ipads, fitbits, Alexas etc. And I bought them an audible subscription last year which they haven't really used!

I wondered if there might be some kind of experience that they could have at home, e.g afternoon tea delivered, or something similar - but I want something really special and personal that lets them know we're thinking of them.

It could be a special gift for them to share, or it could be separate gifts for each of them, but does anyone have any inspiration, please? They have been such amazing and supportive parents and grandparents, and I really want to do something nice for them, but what?!! Please help!!

Anyone?

If they like walking how about a bag, flask and a local walk guide book?

An amazing dinner delivered, with matching wines - if they’re into good food and wine?

Thanks for the suggestions. The thing with the walking is that they can't go far at all now, and a lot of routes are inaccessible for my dad due to uneven paths etc.

A lovely meal delivered might be nice. My mum doesn't drink much but would have a glass, and my dad loves his wine! Any suggestions of companies that would do this?

Would they be into an old record player with LP's, sometimes the real thing is so much better. What about an afternoon tea hamper.

Inventing room membership www.hotelchocolat.com/uk/new-subscriptions.html
Garden swing seat
Watercolour house portrait
Digital photo frame
Friendship lamps

How about a lovely framed photo of all the family? If you can’t all get together due to covid restrictions then get a frame where you can put a few separate photos in?

It might be too late to get it done in time, but how about a lineage chart. You usually get the couple as the trunk of the tree, their parents, grandparents etc as the branches, and then you can add their decedents below as the roots do culminating in their grandchildren.

A digital photo frame you could load for them, and an afternoon tea.

What about a planter and some plants to go in it you could order the plants from somewhere like Thompson and Morgan then get a pot from a garden centre with compost etc.

How about a bench or perhaps a patio heater/throws so they can still spend some time outside but not freeze? Especially as your dad’s mobility is decreasing?

Our local cafe is delivering afternoon tea. So you get the sandwiches and cakes and the tea too. That might be a nice way to have an experience without leaving the house.

Could you get a photo of your family and your siblings family and frame them both?

OP, I am looking at getting my parents a photo blanket. Kind of like “we can’t hug you for real but you can wrap yourself in this blanket with our faces on” would they like something like that?
I am about to start another thread asking for recommendations of where to order from.

Rick Stein menu box

Ordnance Survey map centred on their house?
Framed vintage map of the area?

How about some bare root roses from David Austin ?

What kind of food would they consider a real treat? I have come across a few in the last few months that might suit. Also do they live in a normal delivery area ie not Highlands and Islands etc in Scotland - I have an excellent lobster Rec.

Could you get a fancy afternoon tea delivered?

To order a meal to be delivered, you would be better to arrange it with a local restaurant. Do you know any they used to enjoy visiting for special occasions?
Google it to see if they deliver (so many do now) and/or ring them up to discuss it.

For a less expensive and less posh gift, I have organised a gift voucher from my dad's favourite coffee shop for a latte and a bacon sandwich pre-pandemic. They had never thought of doing vouchers but were so pleased when I rang them (had to leave a message for days as they are in Tier 3 and staying closed) and have handmade a voucher for 5 x lattes and 5 × bacon sandwiches with no expiry date so that he csn go whenever he is able. In a way, the voucher is a promise of normality for him.

@elsielegallez

Rick Stein menu box

Was about to suggest the same thing!

Fortnums hamper. I always do the pick your own items for my difficult time buy for parents.

Hiking boots? My mum doesn’t go far but always wears her boots to keep her footing more secure.

Daffodils Foods afternoon tea is lovely.

Ancestry DNA kit, to help with family tree research?

www.ancestry.co.uk/dna/

I have heard lots of good things about them!

Lots of interesting maps on etsy.
I saw a gorgeous print of an old geological map of the UK on there. (Cant link but search "geological map uk" on etsy)
I think it is a copy of the William Smith one from the 19th century, which was painstakingly put together and hand drawn. (There is also a book called "the map that changed the world" by Simon Winchester which describes the history.) The book and the map together could make a good present for someone interested in maps, (and science and history) but it's a bit niche.

Or a print of an interesting map of their local area? Could get it framed for them first to make it more gifty.

If they don’t have Netflix then DVDs of The Crown (starting from season 1) are worth considering.

My in-laws are 90, MIL has dementia and FiL has heart failure so we can't see them , we're in tier 3 and they're in tier 2 anyway. DH found some archived film from the city they were born in and lived in before they retired.