Holiday Gifts and Gadgets for Your Senior Loved Ones

It’s never too early to start thinking about holiday gifts for the people you love. They say it’s the thought that counts, so how do you choose the ideal gifts and gadgets for seniors?

Your Mom and Dad probably told you when you were younger that it’s better to work smarter instead of harder. So, think about what they like to do for fun and use that information to choose a gift that supports those hobbies. Or instead you could choose from among the dozens of gifts available that help seniors  better navigate the obstacles of aging so they can keep on living a happy and rewarding life for years to come.

Here are eight clever holiday gifts and gadgets for seniors:

Keeping tabs with a tablet

One sure way to make your older loved one feel connected and in tune with the world around them is to put a link to the outside world right in their hands. The GrandPad is a senior-focused tablet that allows Mom or Dad to make phone calls, check their email and surf websites and apps all on one device. But it’s designed to filter out spam and robocalls to keep unwanted solicitors at bay, has a bright display (to make it easier for senior eyes), and has focused, loud and clear sound so they can be sure to hear incoming messages.

For the birds

Does your elderly parent have a passion for birdwatching but their aching knees keep them from taking long strolls in the woods? What if you could bring the birds to them so they could observe their feathered friends from the comfort of their living room? Nature Anywhere makes a birdhouse and feeder that attaches to the outside of your senior loved one’s window so they can see all the action up close.

In a pickle

If your senior parent is still the athletic type, they’re probably already on the pickleball band wagon. The game, which is somewhere between tennis and ping pong, is played with a limited flight plastic ball swatted back and forth over a net with an oversized paddle. Regardless if they’re an experienced pickleballer or still a beginner, they will likely enjoy their own pickleball set. The fastest-growing game among older adults, pickleball supplies are available at just about any sporting goods or big box retailer as well as on Amazon.

You’re getting warmer

Is your Mom or Dad a coffee aficionado? Then a gift that makes their java time more enjoyable might be the perfect choice. Consider a coffee warmer that can be placed on your senior loved one’s end table, counter, or desktop. When they’re not sipping, they simply set their mug on the warmer and it’s fresh and hot from first sip to last. It’s easy to use and automatically shuts itself off for safety.

Just one cup, please

Another great gift for your coffee loving senior is the K-Express Essentials Single Serve Coffee Maker. Just as the name spells out, this is perfect for a person who lives alone who wants a fresh cup of java without having to make – and ultimately waste – a whole pot. This small coffee machine doesn’t take up as much space as a regular coffee maker, either, which makes it perfect for a small senior apartment.

Chilling out

If hot drinks aren’t your senior’s cup of tea, there are options for fans of cool beverages, too. Stanley – and other similar brands – make a variety of cups large and small that will keep Mom or Dad’s drink cool for hours at a time. One of the most popular items is this insulated wine tumbler with a wide base that makes it easy to hold but tough to spill. These cups can keep a chilled drink cold for up to five hours and an iced beverage chilled for up to 20 hours.

This one’s a real (un)corker

Another great gift for a senior wine connoisseur is an electric corkscrew. Arthritic fingers can make uncorking a bottle quite challenging. Instead of struggling to line up a manual corkscrew and twist it into the bottle to unseat the stopper, all they have to do is hold the electric opener over the top of the bottle and press a button. The machine will do the rest.

Oh, I see!

Is your senior a fan of the written word? If their eyes aren’t what they used to be, the joy of a good book can turn into a frustrating hassle. Enter the MagnaPros LED page magnifier. Simply place it over the page you’re trying to read, and it zooms in up to 500 percent on the lettering, projecting it onto an adjustable, anti-glare screen.

Dozens more great gift ideas and gadgets for seniors just like this are available at your fingertips. Search sites like Amazon for “gifts for seniors” or be more specific with key words identifying your senior loved one’s interests. You’ll have a wonderful list of possibilities to browse. Happy holiday hunting!

Check out Bethesda’s blog for more senior-friendly holiday tips!