Gift for GPs at that awkward age

[Nonplusultra]

Pils are at the stage where they can’t walk very far, and can’t manage without a toilet for very long, but they’re not housebound by any means. They’re the type to cover up these things and would be mortified to use a stick or a wheelchair, or even admit anything is difficult.

They’re also downsizing and trying to offload a lot of possessions so I’d like to get them an experience type of thing, rather than a physical gift.

Ideally I’d like to find something that we can do with them so that part of the gift is spending time with their gc too. They’ve been known to not bother going to concerts, and not get round to using gift cards if it’s just for them. And also part of the gift is organising the logistics so they just have to come and enjoy themselves.

They’re also very well off and can (and do) buy whatever they want, and whatever services they need. Our budget is up to £200.

Last year we took them on a vintage bus trip for afternoon tea which they loved. But neither of them would be able to manage the steps now, and besides mil has been diagnosed with diabetes. The year before we took them to a west end show, but access to a toilet would be an issue now.

I’d really appreciate any suggestions

My Mum loved her:

Very light but warm Uniqlo down gilet, worn indoors
A light cashmere scarf
Beautiful hand creams
Plants for indoors and outdoors that flowered at different times: Hellebores outside, poinsettia and those ones with succulent type leaves and tiny bright flowers, and cyclamen indoors
A bottle of good port on the go
Ditto ginger wine
Magazine subscription

Dad enjoyed;
Books
Magazine subscription
Charcoal sketching materials
cake / cheese deliver subscription
Smart tweed hat

@Tealfish
I think it included:

• A few trips to walk around the gardens of local stately homes/national trust properties and then tea and cake afterwards (he could walk short distances and the paths around the formal gardens are usually pretty easy). There are several near where they live so that filled up a couple of months.
• There were a couple of sentimental trips. A visit to the village where my grandparents got married so he could visit the church there and then had a pub lunch afterwards. There’s also a farm shop and tearoom attached to one of the farms he worked at when he was young so they went for lunch there.
• They went out for a full English breakfast (my grandad’s favourite).
• There was a trip to a local farming and agriculture show (it’s pretty big so there were plenty of loos and places to stop for a sit down/drink).
• They went to pick your own raspberries in July or August (he loved his garden and fresh fruit and vegetables but could no longer manage a full vegetable patch).
• Trip to the seaside for fish and chips
• Easter egg hunt with grandchildren (we found somewhere that was fairly accessible and had a cafe so he could sit down once he’d had enough).
• A trip to a local literally festival to see an author/talk of his choice (I don’t think they’d announced who was there when the gift was given but there’s always someone who talks about local history/nature/gardening so it was a safe bet there would be someone he was interested in). The talks are usually only an hour and pretty small so more manageable than a full show or play.
• Bonfire night they watched a local display from my uncle’s garden (luckily they live nearby). Mum brought ginger cake, jacket potatoes and sausage stew.
• December they went to a local Garden Centre’s Christmas display and then drove round to look at all the houses decorated with Christmas lights.

I’d recommend checking what events are on locally to see if there’s anything that would appeal to their interests.
Most local attractions will have accessability information and a list of facilities on their website.
Seasonal activities went down well.
Not everything has to be expensive or a ‘big trip’. Sentimental trips went down really well.

Theatre ought to be a possibility. Most theatres have an Access page on their website which will give details of levels, steps and toilets but you can also call and ask for advice on most suitable seats.

@Monkeymonkeymoo that is such a lovely gift, I'm borrowing that idea for my MIL, thank you

Book a photoshoot with a local photographer for them and the GC (and you)?

Or a voucher for one and then arrange it for them.

How about a magazine subscription each? Or could you pay for a Netflix subscription?