The 5 Best Gifts for Older Adults

That senior in your life can sometimes be difficult to shop for, especially when a birthday or other special occasion is around the corner. 

What do you get the senior who has it all? Or if they don’t necessarily have it all, what can you get them that you can feel assured they’ll love? 

Today’s seniors are much more keyed into technology and consumer devices than many of us might give them credit for. And, there’s a lot of value that can be realized by giving a gift that is not only easy to use, but also provides some kind of enhancement to quality of life. 

The following five gifts represent just a sample of some of the best gifts for seniors. Read on and see why!

Gift #1: A Shiatsu-Style Neck Massager

Ahh...to come home and relax with a nice massage. Wouldn’t it be great if that could happen every day, without having to pay for a masseuse? Now it can, with a handy, portable massager pillow that seniors will love. 

This electronic pillow uses specially designed massage knobs located just below the surface of the pillow to gently knead and massage those sore neck muscles. It’s small enough to be taken virtually anywhere, and it conveniently plugs into any 120V outlet for easy operation. 

The easy-to-locate on/off button is a cinch to operate, and the exterior fabric is composed of durable materials that should last for years. 

Gift #2: A Wake-Up Light Alarm Clock

Gone are the days of having to wake up to the abrasive, jarring “ANG ANG ANG” sound of a traditional alarm clock. This wake-up light alarm clock from Phillips has been clinically proven to improve sleep, energy, and well-being, and it accomplishes this by slowly increasing the brightness of the light it shines at a set time of the day. 

So, instead of being jilted out of bed with a loud racket, seniors can be gracefully lifted from their sleep with a gentle, natural glow. 

This light-up alarm clock includes a snooze feature and 10 different brightness settings that can be adjusted for just the right amount of light. 

Gift #3: A Voice Recognition Memo Machine

If there’s one thing seniors love, it’s something that makes home life easier. This product fits the bill, as it allows the user to create shopping lists and other memos using just their voice!

Just push the ‘record’ button, say the items that are needed from the grocery store, and the voice recognition memo machine prints out a handy list. There’s even a kitchen timer built into it, and up to two lists can be saved at any given time. 

This gift is especially helpful for seniors who struggle with memory or cognitive issues, and the printed-out grocery list can easily be tucked into a purse or pocket before heading out to go to the store. 

Gift #4: A Digital Photo Frame

The only thing better than wonderful pictures of friends and family is a single photo frame that can show them all in one place!

This digital photo frame isn’t like the rest, however. It features a built-in speaker, alarm function, and even storage capacity large enough to display thousands of high-resolution images! Add to this the fact that this digital photo frame automatically turns itself off when no motion is detected, and you’ve got a top contender for the best gift for the senior in your life. 

The best part about getting your senior a digital photo frame is that they’ll think of you every time they look at it. 

Gift #5: A Smart Thermostat

The Nest wifi-enabled smart thermostat is the single most useful device for those who want to be able to adjust their indoor temperature from the comfort of their smartphone. This amazing little device connects to in-home wifi so the user can easily access temperature controls using the Nest app on their phone. 

Powered by Google, the entire system can be set up and running in minutes. With energy saving features like automatic heat and A/C operation, the Nest Smart Thermostat is both easy to use and a great money saver. 

With a little creativity and some “smart” thinking, you can get a great gift for whichever senior has a celebratory event coming up. Whether it be Christmas, a birthday, or something else entirely, choosing one of the gifts on this list is a sure way to surprise and impress. Happy gift giving from your friends at Aging Resources of Douglas County!