Healthy Aging

The Best Gifts for Grandparents: Christmas Ideas for Seniors

Shopping for a grandparent or other senior family members this Christmas? While gift giving is personal, some gifts are better suited to retirement living than others.

Here are some thoughtful gift ideas for grandparents to kick off your holiday shopping.

Hobbies

Does your parent or grandparent have a favorite hobby or an interest they haven’t fully explored yet? Surprise them with some fresh new supplies.

Ideas include gardening tools, books, journals, yarn for knitting and crocheting, paints and other art supplies, cross stitch sets, paint-by-number sets, baking tools and cookbooks.

Many seniors pick up new hobbies during their retirement years – try to subtly ask what they’re interested in to get some ideas. If they don’t have any hobbies, introduce a new one you can learn together.

Activities and Games

Puzzles and games make great gifts for retirees because they can be shared with friends and neighbors. In addition to classic board games and jigsaw puzzles, consider crosswords and word search books, dominoes or a personalized photo deck of cards from a site such as Shutterfly.

Include a handwritten card with your gift with the offer of quality time spent together playing the new game.

Outdoor Gifts

Does your loved one enjoy getting outside and enjoying God’s creation? They might love an outdoor-themed gift.

Great outdoor gifts for seniors include a pedometer for tracking steps, fishing gear, bird feeders, an outdoor hammock, hiking sticks or a new sun hat. Depending on where they live and how much space is available, they might enjoy a rocking chair to enjoy an evening cup of tea on the front porch.

Small Appliances

If your senior family member lives in a retirement community, they might have a smaller kitchen. A compact appliance could make their life easier and add a bit of fun to their routine.

Appliances that make great gifts for grandparents include a single cup coffee maker, air popcorn popper, electric kettle, air fryer (look for a smaller capacity one).

Some of these involve a little more effort, so consider if your loved one enjoys cooking or if they are more likely to get their meals from a cafeteria or restaurant.

Photo Gifts

If you don’t have the time to put together a photo album or scrapbook, consider ordering a digital photo gift. Many online photo services, such as Walmart Photo and Shutterfly, offer custom or pre-made photo books, Christmas ornaments, photo blankets and more. You can add your favorite family memories and have it delivered to their door.

Digital Gifts

If you waited until the last minute to shop, or you won’t be visiting your senior loved one in person, don’t worry – there are great digital gift options available.  Ideas include:

  • A subscription to a streaming service such as Netflix, BritBox or Hallmark+.
  • A cooking class or other experience gift.
  • A gift card to a hobby store or bookstore.
  • A gift card for food delivery.

Just remember to offer help to redeem or activate the gift if they need technical assistance.

Celebrate the Holidays at Advent Christian Village

A great gift doesn’t need to be expensive or flashy – it just needs to be thoughtful. Giving gifts that are chosen with care will make your loved one feel seen and appreciated.

If you or a loved one lives at Advent Christian Village, add the shops at the Village Square to your Christmas shopping list. In addition to handmade and other specialty items, you can purchase gift cards for our retailers for your loved one to enjoy at their leisure. We also offer gift cards for support services such as housekeeping. Click here to learn more.

Our faith-based community celebrates Christmas with many beloved traditions from a parade to live musical events and more. We cherish the time spent in community and welcome visits from loved ones. It’s truly a special time of year. Learn more about the ACV community today.

Click here to read more Village Stream articles.

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