Finding good gifts for elderly parents is often exceptionally difficult. How do you shop for someone who has had a lifetime to accumulate what they need?
Of course, there are tried and true gifts, like flowers, chocolates, scented candles, or gift certificates. But honestly, those get old fast.
You could try senior-appropriate gifts, like tools to help with their mobility or independence. Let’s face it, though, even when such gifts are helpful, they’re not really going to make someone feel very special.
That’s where this list comes in. We’ve rounded up a huge collection of possible gifts for your parents, including plenty of unusual ones. You can skim through the list at your leisure or use the links below to jump to the section that most interests you.
Around the Home Gifts
Home is where we come back to, relax, and feel safe. This is often even more true for aging parents, who may no longer be working and have more time for activities around the home. Gifts that make the home environment better are often exactly what’s needed.
Asobu Pour Over Coffee Maker
Coffee is how many of us start the day, so why not make it an excellent beginning?
This pour over coffee maker allows your parent to make delicious high-quality coffee in an insulated container they can take with them.
The marble patterning means that this looks excellent on the kitchen counter too.
Luna Cooling Weighted Blanket
Weighted blankets have become incredibly popular for comfort and security. They’re not just for people with conditions like anxiety either – they can be helpful for anyone.
This popular weighted blanket uses glass beads for weight and bamboo fabric, so it won’t make them overheat. There are plenty of sizes, colors, and weights to choose from too.
Pukomc Retro Electric Kettle
How about some nostalgia? This electric kettle looks amazing and still has all the modern safety features that you’d expect, including fast boiling, boil-dry protection, and an auto shut-off.
There's also a LED light that makes it easy to see when the kettle is turned on.
AeroGarden Harvest
Here’s a fantastic gift for anyone who loves gardening, but wants to do so indoors. The box is 10.5 by 6 inches and has a grow lamp, making it easy to grow up to six plants simultaneously.
There’s a control panel to remind the user when to feed their plants and water them. The system even includes a seed kit with 6 different herbs like mint, curly parsley, and thyme.
Lift Coffee Table
Here’s a more unusual choice. The top of this coffee table lifts out, making it fantastic for anyone using a laptop or crafting while sitting on the couch.
The style also provides a hidden compartment for storage. There are two sizes and five colors to choose from, making it easy to find a version that suits your parent’s home.
Gifts for Vision Impaired Seniors
Many people find that their eyesight decreases with age. While there are ways to protect vision, these won’t always be enough. These gifts for elderly parents can help make life much easier, even when their vision is compromised.
Large Print Computer Keyboard
Computers have become critical for entertainment and even social connection – and many seniors are getting involved. There are plenty of tricks for making computers more accessible, like increasing the font size on the screen and using screen reader software.
This keyboard helps too, making it much easier for users to find the right buttons. Not only are the letters themselves larger, but the yellow buttons create a much clearer contrast.
Floor Magnifying Lamp
This tool acts as both a lamp and a magnifier, making it easy to read regardless of the light. It also has a 17-inch gooseneck and the lamp's height is adjustable, making it possible to work at almost any angle (sitting or standing).
This lamp isn’t just for reading. It’s suitable for any fine work, including painting and crocheting. It’s the perfect tool for making sure that seniors can still practice the hobbies they love.
LoVision Playing Cards
These instantly familiar playing cards mean that your family can still easily enjoy game night. The low version versions don’t just have large print either. The suits are also different colors, making them easier to distinguish.
If the different colors make things confusing, the same brand does offer a large print version. Those cards keep to the classic colors and simply show the suit and card type in large print.
Toilet Bowl Night Light
While this product is a little gimmicky, it’s also very practical – as it makes the toilet easier to use at night. The light uses motion sensing, so there’s no need to turn it on and off.
Plus, it can light up in rainbow colors. It could be a great gift for a senior with a sense of humor. Who knows? They might even use it.
For Parents with Dementia
Dementia changes how people experience the world, which also influences which gifts will work well. Thankfully, there are plenty of gifts for elderly parents that will work well for dementia sufferers.
Relish Dementia Games and Puzzles
Relish produces high-quality games for dementia patients. They can exercise their mind with fun circuit and marble mazes, try their luck at Bingo, or even set up mini golf in their home.
The puzzles are beautifully designed and specific for dementia, and a manageable number of pieces. The puzzles come in different shapes, high-contrast colors, and nostalgic images. The puzzle comes in a box with the image on the inner lid, so your parent can see the image as they work on the puzzle.
Relish has plenty of other dementia games and gifts. They also provide details about which activities are best for different dementia stages.
Fidget Blanket
Products like this fidget blanket are fantastic for the later stages of dementia. They give your parent something to do with their hands, which can be calming.
The various activities help to improve hand dexterity as well. That’s a fantastic effect for seniors who are spending most of their time sitting down.
Twiddle Sensory Toy
Here’s another gift that follows the fidget and sensation idea. There are four styles to choose from, two of which are shaped like animals.
Both this and the previous item work well towards the late stages of dementia. Patients in earlier stages are likely to find them a bit boring.
Joy For All Companion Pets
Joy For All has an interesting set of products. They’re essentially stuffed toys, but they’re designed to be as realistic as possible.
So, the fur on this tabby cat feels surprisingly close to the real thing. It even purrs in a way that both sounds and feels real. Sensors in the toy mean that it reacts to touch.
The pet is particularly good for someone with dementia, who may even think it is real. Even if they don’t, the toy can provide a surprising amount of comfort, an effect that many family members have reported on.
Tech-Focused Gifts
Seniors are surprisingly tech-savvy – and those that aren’t already familiar with technology can easily learn. These gadgets are some of the best tech gifts for elderly parents out there. Not only are they useful, but many of them are fun to use as well.
Digital Photo Frame
Taking photos has never been easier, given that most of us carry smartphones with us almost all the time. Yet, we’re not printing those photos, so our families don’t get to see.
Digital photo frames get around the issue, making it easy to showcase all your photos. If your parent is tech-savvy, they could set up the frame themselves and choose whatever photos they’re interested in. If not, you could set it up for them and make the photos part of your gift.
Amazon Echo Dot
The combination of Echo and Alexa allows your parents to control their music using their voice. Alexa can be an assistant too, helping to answer questions, read the news, set alarms, and more.
It’s even possible to smart control the house by combining Alexa with compatible devices, like the Kasa Smart Plug. While Alexa may seem like a strange idea to aging parents, many of them pick it up very quickly.
Bluetooth Headphones
Bluetooth headphones are a fantastic way to listen to music (or audiobooks!). They give your parent the chance to move around freely. They’re fantastic for seniors with hearing loss too, as they can turn the volume up without bothering anyone else.
You can buy earbud-style headphones as well, but the over-the-ear ones like these are often more comfortable. This particular brand isn’t too expensive and there are multiple colors to choose from.
Sunrise Alarm Clock
Alarm clocks aren’t a traditional gift, but you might need to make an exception for this one. The main feature is that it simulates a sunrise, starting off at low light and gradually increasing, while also playing natural sounds.
The goal is to wake up slowly and naturally, rather than the sudden start that a traditional alarm clock provides. It can also be used as a bedside lamp or for reading at night.
A Tablet
Tablets are amazing. They give seniors access to a large selection of apps, including games and productivity apps, along with ones for watching videos, reading books, listening to audiobooks, and more.
These features apply to a smartphone too, but tablets are often more powerful and have larger screens. The screen size is particularly relevant for seniors, making the device easier to use.
A MasterClass Subscription
If your parent loves learning and growing, MasterClass could be perfect. This online service allows users to learn from experts, like cooking from Gordon Ramsay, mindfulness from Jon Kabat-Zinn, and scientific thinking from Neil deGrasse Tyson.
Some of the speakers are more famous than others, but they all have interesting information to offer. If you’re interested in the idea too, you could purchase a duo membership, which allows you and your parent to share a profile.
Health, Sport, and Fitness
If your parent is hooked on health and fitness, one of these gifts could be an excellent choice.
Fitbit Inspire 2
Health trackers like Fitbit make fantastic gifts for elderly parents. They allow your parent to keep an eye on their vitals and push themselves to exercise more.
The Inspire 2 is an excellent choice as it includes a heart rate monitor, isn’t too large, and is reasonably priced. There is even a sleep monitoring feature to help your parents get a good night’s rest.
Nordic Poles
Nordic walking might not seem like much, but it’s a powerful way of getting more out of your exercise. The right pole makes a huge difference, and these ones are well worth trying for yourself.
Crossbody Sling Backpack
This backpack could be perfect for people who like to get out and moving regularly. The small size and crossbody style makes the bag easy to carry. Yet, there are still plenty of pockets for everything that’s needed.
The backpack comes in 12 different colors too, so there’s a version for everyone.
Gifts to Help with Pain
Pain is a common issue as people age. While you can’t fix the problem, this set of gifts for elderly parents can reduce pain and provide comfort.
Mirakel Neck Massager
This product acts as a heating pad and a massager, providing instant pain relief. The long arms make it easy for the user to keep gentle pressure on their neck for maximum benefits.
The massager can be used in other ways too like for abdominal pain.
Leg Air Massager
This product is all but essential for elderly parents with circulation problems. It can help to relieve aches and pains and is easily adjustable.
There are three levels of intensity to choose from, along with two different modes.
Electric Hand Massager
Continuing on the massage theme, here’s a simple hand massager. It’s surprisingly powerful, offering six levels of pressure point therapy. It’s specifically designed for carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis, although it can also help with other hand pain.
The massager is battery powered and charged through USB, so you can easily use it wherever you go.
Village Naturals Therapy Lotion
While lotion is a simple gift, this product is surprisingly effective. It relies on natural ingredients, like aloe vera extract and shea butter. There is also menthol and eucalyptus, which both help with muscle pain.
Therapy Mittens
These therapy mittens are a little like wheat bags that people can use on their hands. They’re simply heated in the microwave and contain flax seeds, lavender, and clay beads.
They’re a natural way to reduce pain and keep your loved one’s hands warm, while the lavender also helps them to relax.
De-Stressing and Self-Care Gifts
Relaxing gifts are always popular, but it’s too easy to focus on the same-old same-old, like hand creams, candles, and chocolates. These gifts give you some other angles to consider.
Diffuser Bracelet and Oils
This simple bracelet is an excellent way to enjoy essential oils. It comes with felt pads that you can place a few drops of essential oil on. It’s a simple way to keep the scent of your favorite oil at hand all day.
The diffuser comes with four bottles of essential oil: tea tree, peppermint, orange, and peppermint. You could also swap these out and use higher quality essential oils instead.
CBD Pillow
This pillow uses CBD-infused fabric to promote better relaxation and sleep at night. It’s thought to be more powerful than other CBD approaches, as you’re getting microdoses of the CBD throughout the night.
There’s only one version of the pillow, but you can unzip it and remove some filling to create a thinner pillow if you need one.
Therapy Dough
Therapy dough is based on the idea that keeping your hands occupied can be calming and reduces tension. The dough also includes subtle scents, which can relax users still further.
Don’t be fooled by the simplicity of the dough. Tools like this can be surprisingly powerful.
For the Foodie
Food can be the perfect choice for parents who seem to have everything. The trick is to find foodie gifts that are a little unusual. After all, a basket of things they normally buy anyway isn’t going to be a great gift.
Chef’s Vision Knives
These knives are perfect for budding chefs, as they’re beautiful and also functional. They’re also unlike anything you’ll find in a local store. That’s got to be a good thing.
The pictured version is the company’s Masterpiece Series. There are others too, including a Cosmos Series, Wildlife Series, and Landscape Series.
Wood Smoked Barbecue Grilling Kit
This grilling kit comes with a smoker box, three types of wood chips, a meat thermometer, smoked sea salt, a grill scraper and bottle opener, and instructions. It’s everything you need to get started with meat smoking.
Parents who already own an electric smoker won’t need the smoker box, but could still use the rest of the tools.
Personal Pizza Maker
This small pizza oven is designed to be used on top of a grill, allowing your parents to make homemade authentic pizza, without needing a full pizza oven.
It may take some trial and error to get the pizzas exactly right, but that’s half the fun.
Urthbox
There are many snack subscription services out there, but Urthbox remains one of the best. It ships out from 7, 14, 21, or 28 snacks per month (depending on the size you choose). You can choose between the Classic, Gluten Free, Diet, or Vegan versions.
The snacks are always full sized and there’s an emphasis on healthy, organic, and GMO-free products. You might see some familiar products in the mix, along with many new and exciting ones.
Gift Boxes and Baskets
For a variety of items all at once, what’s better than a gift basket?
Beard Grooming Set
Speaking of masculine gifts, check out this impressive beard grooming set. It’s a great choice when you’re on a budget, as you get a surprising array of items for the price you pay.
The Man Can
This gift really does come in a can (well, a plastic one). All the products come from Plum Island Soap Co. and appear to be of good quality.
Honestly, the packaging is half the fun with this gift. It’s certain to impress and great if you’re looking for something a little bit different.
Not A Day Over Fabulous
The “not a day over fabulous” tumbler in this collection makes it a perfect gift for a birthday. Honestly, though, the collection would work well for almost any occasion.
Creative and Unexpected Gifts
The gifts in this final section are all a little different. They’re great when you want to branch out or have a parent with unusual interests.
DNA Testing Kit
Genetic testing has become increasingly popular. It gives you the chance to learn more about your ancestry and how your genetics might influence your health.
A testing kit, like this one from 23andMe, gives your parent the chance to learn more about themselves and their family. It could even kickstart a fascination with family history.
Ancestry.com Membership
Ancestry.com is a great alternative or addition to a genetic test. The site allows you to trace back your family records for generation, providing a huge database of historical and geographical insights to help you along the way.
Membership could be a fascinating gift for your parents and perhaps something your whole family can get involved in.
Jar of Smiles
Want to brighten someone’s day? This little jar could do the trick. It contains 31 quotes on love and friendship. Once your parent has gone through the 31 messages, you could easily refill the jar with your own notes.
Inverted Umbrella
Here’s a gift that’s both pretty and functional. The pattern is on the inside, which is actually useful, as you get to see it – perfect for brightening up a dreary day. There are plenty of designs to choose from too.
The ability to invert means that the umbrella will stand up on its own when you need it to, while keeping the wet part of the umbrella on the inside.
New York Times Birthday Book
The New York Times sells a custom birthday book (12” x 15”), which shows the front page of the New York Times on the day the recipient was born, then for every birthday after that.
You can order the book for any year from 1910 to 2011. The only exception is people born on February 29th. Alternatively, you can order a Special Day book, which reproduces the entire New York Times from any day you choose (from 1851 onwards).
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