Buying Christmas gifts for an elderly friend, relative, or just someone in their seventies can be stressful and time consuming. Our elderly loved ones not only live different lives to us, but they seem to own everything! This makes it particularly difficult to come up with gift ideas, especially when we want to show our love and appreciation for them through giving the perfect gift. Giving a present at Christmas can not only serve as an act of love, but service. Giving a gift that is beneficial to your elderly loved one’s health and wellbeing is always a fantastic idea. This is a great way to support someone at Christmas, perhaps with something they would never think to purchase for themselves. If you’re still trying to decide on what to buy someone over 70 in your life, here are some of our favourite gift ideas:
DIY presents
DIY presents are not only cost efficient and don’t require a treacherous trip to the shopping centre at this time of year, but they are also meaningful. Try gifting something handmade such as jewellery or even clothes (if that’s in your skillset), or something as simple as painting a blank box to be used as tea and coffee storage or as a decoration around the home! DIY presents are something anybody would love, but can be especially meaningful to someone who perhaps lives in aged care and doesn’t see their loved ones as often as before.
Robot vacuum
While this is a rather specific gift idea, it can be a great present for elderly family members or friends who struggle with mobility and have a place to keep clean. Robot vacuums take all the work of vacuuming into their own hands, all you have to do is turn it on and schedule when you want it to clean. They may not be as powerful as standard vacuums, however, they can be a great addition to a home for someone over 70 with potential mobility limitations.
Brain training games
Presents such as brain training games, crosswords, and sudoku are a great gift idea for your elderly family member or friend. They are not only great entertainment but are also fantastic for keeping their brain active and improving cognitive function. These gifts will encourage brain stimulation and allow an older person to use their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Puzzles
Puzzles are another great present that not only provides entertainment but are great for cognitive function and brain health. You can even buy puzzles specifically for seniors who struggle with eyesight that feature larger pieces. However, for the more accomplished puzzler you can get large and detailed ones in endless shapes, sizes, and designs!
Key finders
These are some of the best present ideas on the market. Key finders are devices that attach to your keys like a keyring and link to an app on your phone and track where your keys are. This is a fantastic gift idea for anyone who frequently loses their keys, and even more so for an older person who’s more prone to misplacing items than others. Many companies make them, including Apple. However, there are some smaller companies with more affordable options to suit any budget. While they are relatively easy to use, if you’re gifting this to someone who isn’t particularly familiar with technology, it could be a nice idea to pop over and set it up for them.
Home massage tools
This is a great idea for somebody who perhaps can’t make it to regular massages but could still use some relief. They can be purchased from the bottom of the range at places like Kmart, or there are also mid or high-end ranges. These massage tools can also be purchased for numerous different parts of the body, from back to neck to shoulder.
Whether you’re buying for a parent, grandparent, friend, or even neighbour, these present ideas are a good place to start when buying for somebody over 70. Having a present that is not only different, but beneficial to their day to day life, is something they will never forget! Show your love and appreciation with one of these gift ideas, and make their holiday season special.
