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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Gift ideas for elderly (80s) in laws, please

35 replies

Sunshineandswimming · 24/11/2025 21:43

Has anyone got any great gift ideas for elderly (80s) in laws who don't have any hobbies & don't go out much due to poor mobility. FiL uses a wheelchair and they struggle to go out now. He likes his food & sweet treats but has health issues that means he shouldn't over indulge. MiL has always been difficult to buy for. In recent years we've made them food hampers & done photo frames of the kids but the kids are all growing up now. We've tried garden vouchers but they go unused & things for the garden or plants don't seem to interest them anymore.
Any random suggestions of things that have gone down well with relatives, please?

OP posts:
NET145 · 26/11/2025 08:34

A game

WithDiamonds · 26/11/2025 09:00

When I was very unwell and housebound quite a few years ago I had a bed made up in the conservatory and DH put a bird feeder in a tree. He also downloaded me an app that could work out which bird it was by their song and it had a tracker app. If they aren’t keen on technology a book to identify plus a birdwatching journal may be nice.

TheSandgroper · 26/11/2025 09:22

Last year, I bought my 90 year old a collection of jams from local markets as he has a jam sandwich for lunch every day. He thought it a fantastic idea. I’ve got myself organised for this year already.

Mydadsbirthday · 26/11/2025 10:22

I got PILs a Skylight frame one year, that's good but you do have to keep sending photos to it.

I get MIL a photo box calendar every year, I love putting it together and she loves it, always sends me a picture of the new month's page on the first of the month.

One year I got MIL a silk pillow case which she appreciated.
FIL loves cooking so often gets the latest cookbook.

OldPosterNewName2025 · 26/11/2025 22:10

My parents like the jars of fruit in booze - cherries in kirsch/peaches in brandy.
They also like solar powered lanterns for the garden.

OSTMusTisNT · 26/11/2025 22:22

It's really hard once they reach 80's!

I have slippers, 50th Anniversary Fawlty Towers book and shower gel for my Dad. He has to be super careful with his diet so no food/drink.

My Mum is getting a Soap and Glory gift set as she loves smellies, couple of paperbacks, fluffy socks and some posh fudge.

My DS usually gets them a voucher for our local pub for lunch, they don't tend to go out very often though and don't go to cafés.

Unlike my sister and her grown up kids, I never buy ornaments and crap that creates clutter and gathers dust.

Kernow54 · 26/11/2025 22:49

My Dad is in a wheelchair also and last year I bought him a heated gilet that plugs in to a portable battery pack. You can turn the gilet on and it has 3 heat levels. He has used it constantly as he feels the cold as he is seated in wheelchair or mobility scooter when out and about. He absolutely loves it and is always talking about it as it has made winter outings more comfortable for him.

EmeraldDreams73 · 26/11/2025 23:02

Bird feeder that sticks to the window so they can see the birds up close (takes a while for them to brave it, but lovely when they do).

If they're OK with technology, a bird box with camera is lovely and provides hours of fun watching esp in Spring.

A huge hit with my Dad was a hardback book made from newspaper copies, one from his birthday each year from birth. Some were pretty blurred but (with a magnifying glass!) he loved seeing all the headlines/adverts etc.

Vouchers for garden centres have gone down a storm too and get used ion the cafe, not on plants!

Another nice treat is a cream tea hamper/gift sent direct to them.

CoolPlayer · 26/11/2025 23:51

To add to the bird feeder comments, you can also buy alpaca wool in bird feeders to help them make nests :)

mondaytosunday · 27/11/2025 00:36

I just give them (or him now my MIL passed away) a nice bouquet of flowers. My own DH passed away years ago and he used to buy them books but I don’t know what he’d like. I do have a set of different oils/dressings from where my son lives and I’ll add that too. He doesn’t give me or my children presents but we will be visiting him next week.

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