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Are you stuck on what gifts to get for your aging parents? We’ve all been there. Choosing the right presents for your sister or friend might be a breeze, but finding the best gifts for elderly parents is notoriously difficult. So if you’re trying to blow your parents away, you may try to think of something a little bit more unique than a crossword puzzle or coffee mug.
If you are short on great ideas and you’re starting to feel like you are never going to come up with unique gift ideas, we understand why you are stressed. No bond is quite like the one you have with them, so the pressure to find good gifts is real. Luckily for you, you don’t have to worry. This gift guide has got you covered!
For those who need help choosing the best presents for older parents who insist that they don’t want anything — we have useful gifts that they will actually like. And if you want to find a thoughtful gift that lets your parents how much they mean to you — we have good gift suggestions that will warm their hearts.
Our definitive list of gifts for aging parents includes practical finds like the Amazon Echo Show and tech gifts like digital photo frames that will bring a smile to their faces. Whether you are looking for the right gift for their wedding anniversary, birthday, or just early preparations for the holiday season — you’ll find some gift inspiration here:
1. For the parents that love going through the family photo album
Pix-Star 15 Inch Wi-Fi Cloud Digital Photo Frame
Thanks to this digital photo frame, you don’t have to teach them how to use Instagram (phew). They can have easy access to digital photos of all the latest special family moments. Has the little one grown his/ her first tooth? You can simply share and connect those photos to this digital frame right from your phone using the Pix-Star smartphone app. Another reason why this lovely gift is a great choice? It has 8GB of internal memory, meaning that it can hold up to 30,000 photos.
What people love about this product: “I bought this frame as an early Father’s Day gift for my dad, who is going to be 81 this year. He loves having photos of his kids and grandkids all around him. He tapes them up all over his kitchen with scotch tape, and the walls and cabinets are full. In less than 20 minutes, we had the frame set up and connected and he was emailing himself his favorite photos off his iPhone6. He loved seeing his favorites on the big screen of this Pix-Star 15-inch frame. When he realized he could type “captions” by describing the photo in the subject line of each email, he was thrilled. Next, I texted all my siblings and a few grandkids who have phones, and they started sending him photos right away. He loved it.”
2. For the parents that live far away from loved ones
Echo Show 8 Charcoal with Blink Mini Indoor Smart Security Camera
The Echo Show 8 is an amazingly practical gift for aging parents that are miles away from loved ones. It is a wonderful way to spend quality time with family members via video call. Your parents can use the drop-in feature to talk to their grandkids. All they have to do is ask Alexa to make a call or video call with family or friends, and she will instantly dial the phone numbers so that your parents don’t need to lift a finger.
This device is also great for creating and tracking daily tasks. With Alexa, your elderly relatives can create all sorts of lists from to-do lists to grocery shopping lists. So next time they are about to go to the grocery store, they don’t have to worry about spending hours looking for their notepad. Your parents can just ask Alexa “What’s on my to-do list” or say “Add oatmeal and milk to my shopping list.”
What people love about this product: “Hands-free video phone for mom and wonderful for our needs! We bought this Alexa Show 8 to keep in touch with mom in 2020. She has no cell phone and lives in an assisted living facility that we could not enter, so we were concerned about setup. Mom was depressed and confused about not getting visits and has not been able to use her phone well or hear it well. The Alexa speaker is loud and clear and works really well. This has been a fabulous gift to us all!“
3. For the parents that need to be reminded to drink water
HidrateSpark STEEL Smart Water Bottle
Most older people have a hard time remembering to stay hydrated. Fortunately, in this new age of tech devices, there are some amazing smart water bottles that encourage older folks to drink more water. And this one from Hidrate Spark is definitely a good pick.
It glows to remind you to stay hydrated and it tracks water intake with the help of its sensor technology. It then syncs your progress to the free Hidrate Spark.
You might want to get two so that mom and dad don’t fight over it.
What people love about this product: “Absolutely an amazing product. Definitely motivates and reminds you to hydrate. Feels and looks amazing. I have dropped it several times and it still looks and works as new. Decent capacity. Keeps my water nice and chilled for over a 24hrs period.“
4. For the parents that love to keep their favorite chair squeaky-clean
Stain Resistant Recliner Cover
Dogs, grandkids, and snacks are a triple threat to a spotless recliner.
If your parents always complain about cleaning stains on their recliner or vacuuming crumbs from their seat — this recliner cover literally has it covered. For one, it is made with protector shields that stop spills, stains, and dirt from ruining chairs. Plus, the beautiful patchwork is a great way to decorate their living room.
What people love about this product: “I have two dogs, messy grandkids. I always slipcover my furniture! I ordered a new recliner off of Wayfair and knew I would need a slipcover to go over it. After reading many reviews on many slipcovers I landed on this one. Many of the other ones that will work with recliners were made from materials that actually collect hair and pill up after washing. This one was made from the same materials that you have in a quilt, and I often throw quilts over my sofa and chairs so I know they are easy to clean and don’t pill up. It covers enough of the chair that if we forget to place the scat mat on the chair and the dogs get on it, the upholstery will still be protected. Very happy with my purchase.“
5. For the parents that have trouble sleeping
HoMedics White Noise Sound Machine
This Homedics white noise machine will make falling asleep so much easier for your parents — it’s one of the top gifts for aging parents. The brand’s product provides 6 soothing sounds and rhythmic nature noises that will give your parents quality sleep. It’s also compact, making it perfect for use on the go.
What people love about this product: “I purchased this as a gift for my Dad. He’d previously been playing youtube videos of thunderstorms to fall asleep. LOL. I wasn’t sure if he’d go for the change to a sound machine and even went with this option. HE LOVES IT! Honestly, my mom loves it too. It’s very easy to operate, provides nice sound options, and has good volume. They both highly recommend this sound machine. Lots of other options provide more features and extras, but this does exactly what it’s supposed to do – plays sound overnight – and works like a dream.“
6. For the mom that has the best childhood stories
Grandmother’s Journal: Memories and Keepsakes for My Grandchild
A memory journal is an excellent way to try to improve your mom’s memory. Studies have shown that expressive writing (such as journaling) is an effective way of enhancing memory. Plus, a memory and keepsake journal is a sweet way of walking down memory lane and preserving your mom’s past life experiences.
What people love about this product: “Given to my grandma for her 90th birthday. We would write down the stories and facts as she told them to us. She said that some of these questions really made her think back, something she hasn’t done in a while! There’s plenty of space to write and it covers a vast range – from childhood memories, dreams growing up, meeting granddad, wedding, addresses of different residences, children, grandchildren, and lots of questions to provoke your memory! :).“
Related post: Best Gifts For Women Over 50 That She’s Guaranteed To Love
7. For music lovers
NIUBEE Clear Vinyl Record Shelf Wall Mount 6 Pack
If your parents have Vinyls overflowing in their music room, this Vinyl record shelf will keep their space organized and of course, help them show off their favorite records too. So whenever they host a Christmas party and they want to play their favorite tunes, they can get their most-loved album at moment’s notice.
What people love about this product: I’m really impressed with this product. Sturdy acrylic holders that let the entire album cover be shown. Cool idea to create new wall art combinations as desired by switching up albums on display. Really quick delivery too.
8. For the avid readers
Kindle Paperwhite Essentials Bundle including Kindle Paperwhite
Now your parents can curl up with a good book in a more convenient and tech-savvy way. With the Kindle, your parents can enlarge the texts if they have bad eyesight. Best of all, the lightweight design will give them a comfortable reading experience if they have a difficult time holding heavy books.
What people love about this product: “I love my Kindle! It was very easy to set up, and I like that I can change the font settings/sizes if I wish. It is easy to adjust the light to read in the day or during the night. The battery life has been great, I try to read about an hour a day and after two weeks, it is down to 67%. I bought the bundle with the case and chord and I love the battery saving case, that turns it on when opened and off when closed. Overall I am completely satisfied with my purchase!“
9. For parents with hand dexterity
Kitchen Mama Electric Can Opener
Are you still not sure what gifts to get for aging parents? We have a brilliant idea for you! Trade-in your parent’s old-fashioned can opener with this electric can opener.
It’s perfect for an elderly person that suffers from arthritis in their hands. This handy machine automatically cuts the can open and can be turned off with just a push of a button. Once it’s done, you can lift the can open (yep, it’s that simple!). And the best part is that it doesn’t leave any sharp edges or debris — so your parents can remove their favorite prunes with ease.
What people love about this product: “I bought this for my mother, who has some problems with arthritis, and when we gathered around to see if it worked, we were all pretty impressed. It left the edge of the can crimped in a way that avoids those sharp edges, which I personally have been sliced by several times. At first, it didn’t seem like it was working, but then we lifted it, and boom! Open can. I might get one for myself, honestly.“
10. For parents that always misplace their stuff
Key Finder, remote control Esky 80dB RF Item Locator with 100ft Working Range
If your folks regularly lose their remote control or keys, this key finder can help them locate their essentials in a matter of seconds via a noise alert. They’ll never have to worry about losing their stuff again.
What people love about this product: “This is a great time and frustration-saver. My husband loses his keys frequently. This saves both of us aggravation because he just pushes a button and the keys call out their location. He’s not looking all over while trying to get out the door in the morning, and I’m not getting annoyed at him for making me help find a set of keys that is stuffed in the pocket of a pair of pants, under the bed. We also have one attached to our TV remote which is small and easily misplaced by our children. In this case, we attached it with a simple rubber band and it works. This has also saved us a lot of frustration!”
Choosing great gifts for aging parents may seem impossible but you can’t go wrong with one of these 10 gifts. And even then, no matter how much you spend, your parents will appreciate the effort.
If you’re looking to do some early Christmas shopping for a close friend or sister that is obsessed with everything Parisian, we have a gift guide for you!
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