With the holidays upon us, get into the gift giving spirit by finding the best gift for the senior in your life. Gifts can range from simple necessities to extravagant luxuries; it's up to you to decide what will fit your senior’s needs and personality.
The Necessities
Especially if your loved one lives in a retirement community, staples like socks can be well-needed and appreciated. Put a twist on the basics with some fun holiday socks, though be sure to choose socks with rubber grips on the bottom to avoid slips and falls.
Simple toiletries like toothbrushes, combs, tissues or a favorite bar of soap or lotion will surely be appreciated. Help your senior stay organized with storage hangers and containers to store their bathroom supplies. Select unique colors or patterns to show off your loved one’s personality!
A gift to keep your senior entertained is always a good idea. Wrap up a few activity books like word searches or crosswords to help fill their time later in the year. If you know an avid reader, choose some books by their favorite author or in a genre they enjoy. Buy books in large print so your loved one can read the stories easier.
Blankets are always needed, especially in Florida where we have air conditioning on year-round. Add a personal touch by getting pictures printed on the fabric or even make one yourself. Kids could even get in on the fun here by making simple tie or t-shirt blankets for Grandma or Grandpa.
Lovely Ladies
Ladies always like looking nice, so getting some new clothes like a holiday sweater or a fancy top can boost their confidence. Accessorize the outfit with inexpensive costume jewelry; you don’t want anything super special to be misplaced. A classic gift that will be sure to bring tears or at least a smile is a framed picture of family members. That will be something sweet they can look at every day.
Good Gentlemen
Gentlemen like to feel special as well, so a new tie can top off their best outfit. Adding to that, a fresh wallet with a gift card to a local restaurant can make them feel in control of their choices. If you have a sports fan, merchandise and memorabilia is always a good idea. Posters or displays will also brighten up a nursing home room. Take a walk down memory lane and get some DVDs and CDs of shows and music from their era. Seeing an old favorite will make their day.
Don’t forget to decorate your gifts with festive wrapping paper and you could even get them a few decorations for their room like a mini Christmas tree, menorah or other holiday items.
Secure Aging wishes you and your family ‘Happy Holidays’ this season. Gifts are always a fun activity, but being in good health and safety is more important. We can help make life easier by tracking monthly income and expenses, as well as fully advocating for our clients’ well-being and safety. We are here to help make your life easier and keep your loved ones safe.
Reba Rogers, CPA, is the founder of Secure Aging, a group of care managers who preserve the independence and protect the assets of seniors by helping them with financial management. She is also a Director Consultant for BNI (Business Network International), a referral marketing organization which gives her access to many trusted business professionals in the community.
