Elderly family gift ideas

[Theremustbemoretome]

What are you getting for your elderly family members?

I have FIL and DAunt, both 84 years old, to buy for. Both are avid gardeners - DAunt is still very active, FIL is active but does have some restricted mobility.

I’ve thought of:
-Gardening magazine subscription
-Book voucher for aunt who reads a lot
-Warm fleece-type blanket for sitting watching tv etc

• favourite treat-type foods
• garden centre vouchers
• adult colouring book for aunt who likes those
• afternoon tea vouchers (both like)

-pretty scarf for aunt, FIL has loads already

Both already have loads of garden tools and garden ornaments. Last year I gave DAunt fleece-lined gardening gloves from TK Maxx which were well received.

Fil is 85, and mil is 76. Have previously got them garden centre vouchers- they like going for a mooch, and even in lockdiwn went to garden centres when allowed as mostly outside. They can always find something to buy! They both read loads, so books. We bought them a coffee pod machine 2 years ago, as was something they would never buy themselves - but always used if they stayed somewhere. So now get compostable pods as part of their present. Bottle of gin. Small chocs. Smoked nuts. So lots of consumables, as they don't want more stuff. Although they have asked for microwaveble hot water bottles this year - they no longer feel confident filling one from a kettle. And we got mil a set to help opening jar lids last year (boring, but useful). Think they mostly want time with the GC.

A jigsaw and a puzzle mat. Jaques of London are good for puzzle mats. You could even get a personalised jigsaw like this www.photobox.co.uk/shop/photo-gifts/photo-jigsaw or www.butlerandhill.co.uk/products/customised-map-jigsaw-puzzle
RHS quiz and puzzle book
Hottie microhottie
Solar powered garden lights
LCD writing tablet
Touch sensitive bedside lamp

Maybe this is a garden ornament, but something like a bird table, bird house or bird bath. Or a hedgehog house, and some hedgehog food.

Food hamper from M&S, or Fortnum's if you are feeling posh (and wealthy!). Or a make your own cheese hamper with different cheeses, chutneys, biscuits etc.

Kindle, if they don't have them.

Theatre tickets.

Soup maker (I bought one today, which I am very excited about!).

Emma Bridgewater mug maybe have it personalised, a tin of Hotel chocolat biscuits and some nice tea! I think people of that age want nice gifts they wouldn’t buy themselves rather than generic rubbish to be thrown in a cupboard.

I do a hamper of nice things. I get glass jars of fruit in alcohol, M&S biscuits, alcohol they like etc
Always goes down well.