Now that we’re a week into November, it’s probably safe to say that the holiday shopping season is here. Over the course of the next two months, shoppers from all over Canada will be filling the malls to locate gifts for their loved ones. It’s an exciting time of year. But, for many people, landing on the right gifts for their friends and family members can be difficult. This is especially true when those family members are elderly.
What to buy for the senior in your life? In many cases, we feel that our older family members have everything they need and truly don’t want anything more. But seniors deserve to enjoy the holidays just like everyone else. And they deserve to be showered with gifts that meet their needs and suit their lifestyles.
Finding it hard to come up with ideas? Here are three:
1. Restaurant gift cards.
Often, we forget that certain people in our lives don’t need “things”, but instead would enjoy experiences as gifts. The senior in your life most likely loves time spent with his/her family and would love nothing more than an enjoyable outing with the people he/she loves the most. Consider a restaurant gift card to represent a forthcoming night out with your elderly loved one. It’s more than a meal. It’s an occasion that will provide a fond memory.
“Many seniors are on a limited budget and frequently one of the first things to be cut when money is tight is dining out,” says Angel Ridout on APlaceForMom.com, “If your parent or grandparent lives alone, be sure and accompany them to dinner. Not only will they enjoy your company but it will give you a chance to spend time together.”
2. Music.
Can you ever go wrong with music? While a CD may seem like an archaic gift, by today’s standards, some music to help keep your elderly loved one happy and energized is an awesome offering. Ridout notes that recent studies have shown that music can also help Alzheimer’s patients with memory recall and mood.
“Most people with dementia respond best to music that was popular in their younger years or songs they have been singing throughout their lives such as Christmas carols or hymns,” she writes, “If a CD player or iPod is too confusing, the Alzheimer’s Store has music players that you can preload with favourite music.”
3. The gift of independence.
“Independence is a thing that seniors – and everyone, for that matter – really tend to value very highly,” says Holidappy.com, “Maintaining independence promotes a sense of achievement that for many old people generates a great sense of self-worth and well-being. The key to maintaining a senior’s independence is to keep them safe and one of the basic areas of safety is their home. This makes assistive devices very good gift ideas.”
At LifeCare Mobility Solutions, we pride ourselves on being able to offer seniors the gift of independence. With our numerous mobility solutions, which include manual and electric wheelchairs, scooters, walkers and rollators, we have helped people from all over the Greater Toronto Area to help restore the independence of the seniors in their families.
For more information, please don’t hesitate to call us at 416-267-9800 or email us at info@lifecaremobility.ca. You may also contact us by filling out the form on our Contact page!
