Choosing gifts for seniors
Finding the perfect gift for a senior can be a significant challenge. Many elderly individuals already have more things than they know what to do with, or their particular tastes make it difficult to choose. Even when asked directly what they would like, they often respond by saying they don’t need anything or do not want to be a burden. So, how do you find a gift the senior will appreciate?
For many seniors, the essential factors are functionality, practicality and sentimentality (parents and grandparents). The gifts that will bring a smile to a senior’s face are those that will make their lives easier, more entertaining or healthier.
Here are some of the best gifts for seniors.
Best gifts for seniors
Best plants for seniors
Shop Succulents Radiant Rosette Collection: available at Amazon and Home Depot
Many seniors enjoy gardening as a hobby when they retire. According to the Better Health Channel, there are countless benefits. The activity improves mobility and flexibility, while enjoying some exercise, helps prevent diseases like osteoporosis, reduces stress levels, and promotes relaxation and many others. For seniors who love nature with minimal effort, the Rosette Succulent Collection is ideal. The plants require only moderate watering and occasional fertilizing.
Best photo album for seniors
Vienrose Photo Album for 600 Photos: available at Amazon
Seniors love to reminisce about the good old days, by telling stories and looking at old photos. The Vienrose Photo Album holds 600 4-by-6-inch pics, enough to entertain for hours. The leather-bound edition measures 14 by 13 by 2 inches and each page holds three horizontal and two vertical photos.
Best massage slippers for seniors
BYRIVER Acupressure Foot Massage Slippers: available at Amazon
There are few activities more relaxing than a foot massage, but who has time for a daily trip to the local spa? The Acupressure Foot Massage Slippers offer a reasonable alternative. The sandals are made with 39pcs massage buttons for foot-acupoint stimulation, which helps nerve sensitivity, improves blood circulation and relieves tension.
Best grilled-cheese sandwich toaster for seniors
Nostalgia Grilled Cheese Toaster: available at Amazon
Many seniors will remember growing up eating gooey-grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch. While those were made in a frying pan, today the sandwiches can be made with the Nostalgia Grilled Cheese Toaster. The device is equipped with preheat and defrost functions and the housing and handles remain cool to the touch to avoid burning hands.
Best easy-view alarm clock for seniors
American Lifetime Extra Large Alarm Clock: available at Amazon
Seniors with deteriorating eyesight will appreciate this alarm clock that displays the time, period of the day, day of the week, month and date in large, clear letters without abbreviations. The high-resolution digital alarm clock features a set of multi-function alarms, which can be set as reminders to take medication, boil the water for the pasta or call the grandkids.
Best item locator for seniors
Esky Wireless RF Key and Item Locator: available at Amazon
Everyone occasionally misplaces their keys, but some seniors also misplace their glasses, TV controller, tea bags and other items. The Esky item locator is ideal for keeping track of things they have put somewhere for safekeeping and then forget where. Seniors can find items anywhere in the house. The radiofrequency technology penetrates obstacles such as walls, doors, furniture, cushions and more, locating lost items as far as 130 feet away in open space.
Best white noise machine for seniors
HoMedics White Noise Sound Machine: available at Amazon
Seniors (and many others of any age) can enjoy relaxing and falling asleep to the soothing sounds generated by a sound machine. The HoMedics sound generator produces six digitally recorded sounds that mimic nature for the ultimate relaxing experience. They include a babbling brook, summer night, rain, ocean, thunder and white noise. The device is compact, lightweight and portable, making it convenient for travel.
Best way to make tasks easier for seniors
Amazon Echo Dot: available at Home Depot
Perhaps the most useful feature of the Echo Dot for seniors is the control over smart home fixtures. With compatible devices installed, turning on lights, adjusting thermostats, and locking doors are done with voice commands. Alexa also helps with other tasks such as making calls, receiving daily news headlines, playing music and even telling a joke.
Best tea subscription for seniors
Simple Loose Leaf Tea Subscription Box: available at Amazon
The tea subscription box is an excellent gift choice for a senior. It offers variety and the excitement of opening a package each month to discover a new tea. Tasting Notes accompany every tea, describing in detail the tea’s origins, best brew method, flavor notes and more. Every tea pouch contains 14 grams of loose-leaf tea, equaling 28-plus cups of tea per box.
Best photo blanket for seniors
Collage Custom Fleece Photo Blankets: available at Amazon
What is better than curling up in a warm fleece blanket on a cold winter night? A fleece blanket with photos of the grandchildren, of course! The Collage.com blankets are made with remarkably soft and snuggly Sherpa-arctic fleece. A super-sharp detailed photo or design is woven directly into the 100% cotton blanket accented with tasseled edges.
Best aromatherapy for seniors
Emanate Essentials Aromatherapy Candle: available at Etsy
According to Medical News Today, “People may find aromatherapy candles calming because they emit a pleasant aroma and create soft lighting.” The Emanate Essentials Aromatherapy Candle is a hand-poured coconut wax blend candle naturally scented with plant-based oils, essential oils, other botanicals and hand-selected crystals.
Best slippers for seniors
UGG Women’s Dakota and Men’s Olsen Slippers: available at Amazon
Many seniors like to lounge around the house in comfortable attire and a pair of slippers. While most slippers are made to be used exclusively indoors, the UGG models have a rubber sole, making them suitable slippers for wear both indoors and outdoors. The plush Dakota and Olsen models feature a soft-wool lining, leather laces and a water-resistant suede upper.
Best bathtub caddy tray for seniors
Royal Craft Wood Luxury Bamboo Bathtub Caddy Tray: available at Amazon
Seniors know that taking a hot bath is one of the best methods for relaxing. However, passing the time in the tube can sometimes be boring. The Royal Craft Wood Bathtub Caddy Tray helps pass the time by supporting a cup of coffee, tea, or glass of wine while the bather reads a new bestselling book or watches a favorite movie on a tablet. The bamboo caddy tray is water-resistant, measures 30 by 9.8 by 2.56 inches and fits most bathtubs.
Jeffrey Harper is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.
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