Belmont Village Quarterly Newsletter
on Senior Living

Holiday Gift Ideas for the Senior in Your Life

Shopping for seniors can be a challenge, but useful gifts and gifts from the heart are always your best bet.  Buying the same thing every year can be okay, if it’s something they will really use and enjoy (such as a subscription to a favorite magazine). Today's seniors are also healthier and more active than ever, and gifts should reflect that changing attitude.

Lori Walocha, Activity Program Coordinator at Belmont Village – Buffalo Grove, offered some tips to remember when buying for seniors. “First of all, those living in a senior living community don’t have a lot of space for big things and usually have enough knick knacks,” she says. A few of her favorite Belmont Village gift ideas are:

• Gift certificates to stores that their community goes to on outings—the Buffalo Grove community takes a shopping trip every Wednesday
• Special treats that aren’t always readily available, such as a small bag of chocolates
• Warm gloves, hats, scarves, and even a new jacket or coat so seniors are ready for any outing (Tip: look for large buttons or zippers, for those with arthritis or tremors)
• Puzzle books such as Sudoku, word searches, crosswords and mind benders
• Large print books or audio books

Here are other ideas to get you started when holiday shopping for the favorite senior in your life, whether he or she is a parent, grandparent, next-door neighbor or friend.

Fun & Useful Gifts

• A gift subscription to a newspaper or favorite magazine.
• Salon gift certificates to keep your loved one looking good throughout the year
• Large bottles of favorite lotions to pamper delicate skin
• An MP3 player, pre-loaded with favorite songs and music
• Tickets to a ballgame or special event for an outing with family and friends
• Lap desk
• Stationery or note cards, and a supply of stamps
• A pair of good walking/exercise shoes for fitness activities
• Large button remote control and big button phones
• Large screen lighted digital alarm clock
• Low vision products and products to help with mobility/balance issues
• Easy to grasp items that make life easier (i.e., large-handled coffee mugs or a user-friendly key holder)
• Lighted tweezers with a magnifier
• A flashlight with batteries
  
  

If you're still having trouble deciding on an appropriate gift, do a little research on the person you're buying for. Chances are you already know the person's likes and dislikes simply through everyday conversation. Think about the things that interest them, their hobbies and what they enjoy. You may also have to consider physical limitations—finding ways to help seniors continue to enjoy the activities they love is always appreciated. However, when in doubt, your best bet is to stay true to what the holidays are all about – giving a gift from the heart!

Happy Holidays from Belmont Village!

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