Posts Tagged ‘what to buy for someone who is in Assisted Living For Christmas’

Gift buying is always one of the most trying parts of the holiday season, but it can be even more difficult when you’re trying to shop for someone in assisted living. With restrictions on their space, mobility, and/or abilities, it can be hard to narrow down the options to just those things that fit both their requirements and their interests. That’s why we came up with some tips to help you find the perfect gift for your loved one in assisted living.

Salon Gift Certificate

Most assisted living communities have a salon on site to help their residents look and feel their best. A trip to the salon can be a real treat for someone living in an assisted living community so consider buying them a gift certificate you know they’ll use. Alternatively, you can buy them a gift certificate to your favorite salon and take them out for some quality bonding time with you.

Photo Album or Scrapbook

You can either put together a scrapbook of your favorite pictures of the year or, if your loved one likes to scrapbook, bring the supplies and plenty of photos with you so you can assemble it together. It’s a great opportunity for you to spend some quality time together and reminisce over all the memories.

Cozy Bathrobes and Slippers

Seniors get cold more easily than the rest of us, so a comfortable bathrobe and slippers can go a long way to keeping them warm and comfortable through the long winters. Just make sure the slippers have non-stick soles. You can even get silly and buy them slippers with bunny ears or something else they enjoy so you know they’ll smile every time they put them on.

Activities for the Grandchildren

Grandparents love spending time with the grandkids, so if you can give them something to make their place more attractive to the grandkids, they won’t soon forget it. Make sure it’s something they can do together with the grandkids for extra points. Depending on the age and interests of the grandkids, it could be anything from coloring books and coloring supplies, to board games to puzzles (or all three!)

Help Paying the Bills

It might feel impersonal, but it could be a big help. Seniors living on a fixed income sometimes have a hard time covering all their wants and needs and they’re often too embarrassed to ask for help, so by putting a little extra money into their account, you can really make their season bright.

Your Presence

It might be a little corny to say that the best present is just your presence, but it’s often true, especially for those living in assisted living. When seniors are no longer living at home, it can be easy for them to feel distanced from their loved ones, so just showing up to eat a meal with them, or even just listen to them for an hour, can be an incredible gift. We all just want to be remembered and valued and the best way we can give that to someone is by simply showing up and spending time with them.