What can I get my grandma?

[Shannny]

She’s in her 80s and she has a large family - and therefore has everything!

what can I get her? No food items

Heated throw

One of those digital photo frames? You can load it up with photos for her - get the family to send you some that she won’t have seen.

My mum loved hers.

I know a lot of people in their 80s who are very active so let’s not stereotype this grandma. Does she read or like watching DVDs? How about a magazine subscription? TBH what would be best is taking her out for afternoon tea (or having it delivered) or spending time with her - say promising to visit once a week or once a month (depending on where you live). My DM loves necklaces and chocolates and vermouth and thrillers. She’s 102.

We've gone dead practical for my 84 year old relative, who's very anti more 'stuff':

I've pre-paid her favourite local coffee shop for 3 months, so she and a friend can continue their fortnightly gossip sessions over tea & cake with no worry about cost. Really important to her, as she struggles with socialising.

And we've booked up a local gardener chap for a one-off 'knocking into shape' session of her small garden, as her arthritis is preventing her from keeping it in shape and she's upset by that.

My cousin's giving her a £25 voucher towards vet bill of her beloved cat!

Oh, and last year, we bought a subscription to The Week, which she loved. Is very into current affairs.

Quite a few of those ideas I would like for myself! I was going to suggest the heated throw and audio stories too. Anyways, my 97 yr aunt's family (her children and their spouses?, and all of their children/her grandchildren and one gr grandchild) hired a photographer to come and take a group family photo of them all gathered together.

Speaking as a nanny who has all I need, I would like nothing better than an up to date collage of photos of all the family or a calendar with family photos.

Other than a granny in her 80s, what else do you know about her? If we know what she likes doing we can help better.

Is she a Gardner, dose she knit, dose she collect things, dose she like lots of photos, is she active or homebound etc..?

Your Mum sounds wonderful !

Photobook?

Thanks everyone, I love the idea of the digital photo frame!

she’s sadly not as active now as she was and is starting to struggle physically so days out etc she can’t really do. She is mentally very sharp though (sharper than I am 😂) so she likes keeping her mind active. She’s very into crafting but the rest of the family have bought her tons of stuff like that.

I've got my grandma a calender of my little ones pictures and a canvas with some family photos

Some things I always recommend

Bird feeder that sticks on the window and a supply of seed

Flower subscription

Necklace that slips over the head/bracelet on stretchy elastic so no fiddly fasteners

Pre-pay hairdresser/ manicure (home visit if necessary)

Photo book made from family photos

CDs of favourite music if she has something to play them on

Subscription to magazine - Yours, Peoples Friend etc

My Mil, 87 , very active and fit, is getting a scarf that she asked for from me, plus some very nice earrings , and then stocking fillers like good chocolates and bath things. She likes art and cinema so I might get some tickets for something local to her too.
What does your Grandma enjoy doing ? Mil loves to garden so I sometimes buy her tools (strong secateurs last year), or plants. She always likes lovely scented bath stuff. She is our only living parent so we do splash out on her.