It’s time to start planning for just the right holiday gifts for the special seniors in our lives. Seniors usually don’t want expensive gifts, but they do appreciate being thought of and remembered throughout the year. Here are some of our favorite low-cost, but useful, gift ideas for seniors.
Related Post: Priceless Gift Ideas For Senior Citizens
More Ideas: Gifts to Make Life Easier as We Age
Also: 5 Inexpensive Gift Ideas for Older Adults
Reacher Grabber Pick Up Tools
The Reacher Grabber I purchased after my knee replacement surgery 10 years ago was so helpful that I purchased two more after my recent hip surgery, this time the 32-inch length Grabbers.
What does one do with three Grabbers? I leave one in the laundry room, one in the kitchen, and one in the bedroom. With a Grabber always within reach, I am not tempted to stress my lower back by bending or squatting.
Read our full post about these amazing Reacher Grabber pick up tools.
Decorative Pillbox
Taking medications doesn’t have to be a drab experience when your pills are encased in this decorative pill box from Houder.
For larger pillbox needs, check out this 7-Day pill organizer in lush, fashionable colors: Champagne, Rose, or Steel.
And for even larger pill needs there is the iMedassist Portable Daily, Weekly AM/PM Pill Organizer Case.
Walker/Rollator Bag
After my recent hip surgery, I received a small bag with velcro loops and several pockets. It was a great bag to attach to my walker to hold my phone and reading glasses while my hands were busy maneuvering my walker. It turned out to be a great help and should make a great gift for a loved one who uses a walker or rollator. Walker/Rollator bags come in different colors, patterns and have various amenities, like the RMS walker bag that has outer mesh pockets and a cooler compartment to keep food and drink cool.
Added mention goes to this side-hanging walker bag, complete with cup holder and close access to your items.
Lotion Applicator
My daughter gifted me a Body Buddy lotion applicator and I use it after every shower. As we age it’s important to retain as much moisture as we can to help soothe the dry skin associated with aging. And the hardest skin for me to reach is my back.
The Body Buddy, which I used even before my recent health issues, solves my dry back issues. You use the same motions that you use to dry your back with a towel. It is not as wide as a towel, though, so you can maneuver it all over back, shoulders, and hips. Since the material is non-absorbent, all the lotion is massaged into your skin. If you use it right after your shower it can help lock in the moisture from the shower.
Heated Gloves and Wraps
We are big fans of heat for relieving pain in our house. Recently we purchased these Therapy Warming Gloves to soothe our aching hands and fingers. My husband and daughter both have microwaveable neck wraps, which also provide warmth for their shoulders. Seniors can have more sensitive skin than younger people, so remember to always follow any included cautionary instructions.
Long Handled Back Scratcher
This long-handled back scratcher comes in handy, especially on the days I forgot to use my Body Buddy lotion applicator (above). A friend gave me this one several years ago and it offers perfect relief for those itchy spots you just can’t reach yourself and when no one is around to help.
Also, this 3 in 1 Backscratcher caught my attention. With an Eagle Claw, a Bear Claw and a Massage Ball, it seems like a scratcher for almost every itchy back. And being able to choose the red color means I won’t lose them easily!
And this Cactus Scratcher with both short and long spike sides looks like it might be comfortable on my increasingly delicate skin. So many styles to choose from these days!
Vive Compression Gloves with Grip
Vive Compression Gloves are open-finger gloves that provide compression and support to help relieve some of the pain associated with arthritic hands. The open-fingers let me continue with all of my usual activities and the grippy texture helps me hold on to items. Read our full blog post about Vive Compression Gloves here.
I also chose a long-handled shoe horn for extra help getting into my shoes. And one suggestion to anyone going through back/hip issues and frustrated trying to put shoes and socks on, invest in slip-on shoes. Slip ons are easier to put on than laced sneakers and velcro shoes.
Coloring Books for Older Adults
Our friends are raving about Adult Coloring Books, which have gained in popularity over the past several years. Coloring Books for Adults come in various levels of difficulty and topics, from Flowers and Butterflies to Classic Cars.
For seniors we think about easy, large print coloring books that have larger areas to color within the images. But your senior might be up for something more challenging. Complete the gift with the New Guide to Coloring (pictured above), a collection of colored pencils and ergonomic pencil grip aids or celebrate their childhood with this special edition 60th Anniversary 64 Count Crayon set with Collectible Tin.
We also consider puzzle books to be good gift ideas for seniors, like Assorted Puzzles and Word Searches books. And there is nothing like clearing the table and working on a jigsaw puzzle, especially when the kids are over. (Memorialized with a Puzzle Saver, of course!)
WyzeCam
The WyzeCam is a small, inexpensive, easy-to-use security camera. Set it up and point it at whatever you want to capture. The image is viewable through your smart phone or tablet. There are waterproof accessories available, but we just have them pointed outside from the indoor window sill. We also had a couple pointed inside to find out how new pets interacted with each other when no one was home.
Tablet/Phone Holder
I use my tablet more than my phone because I like the larger size of the tablet. My tablet fits on this Prepara iPrep Adjustable Stand, even with its case on. I keep my tablet with recipes ready on the counter while I’m cooking. The Prepara iPrep easily adjusts to four different angles and comes with a stylus and built-in stylus holder in the base.
To get more gift ideas for seniors, ask your senior to think about what would make their day easier. Once you know the specifics, you can look for solutions to help ease their daily routine. You could send them this page to help spur an idea, or view our list of Gifts to Make Life Easier as We Age for more ideas.
Do you have more ideas for low-cost but useful gift ideas for seniors? We want to hear about them!