Released December 12, 2008
STAR CITY, Ark. - Finding gifts for seniors can be a real challenge and will be a more common one as Baby Boomers age.
"Whenever I ask my mother, who is in her 80s, what she would like for a birthday or at Christmas, her answer is, 'I have everything I need, and the rest will just collect dust," said Jane Newton, Lincoln County extension agent for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
Selecting gifts for senior citizens can be a real challenge,
"It's especially difficult if the senior lives in a residential or nursing center," she said. "The key is to talk to the person about what they could use and ask other family members for ideas and suggestions.
"This may also help to avoid several relatives and friends giving the same item," Newton said.
Newton offers these tips for those finding gifts for seniors:
- For many elderly people, the best gift is a visit or a phone call. For those who are hard of hearing, a telephone amplifier could make their phone calls more pleasurable.
- Find out what magazines or newspapers they subscribe to and extend the subscription another year. Check to see if the subscription is available in large-print, which will be easier on their eyes.
- For persons who like to read, find out what kind of books they enjoy and give a large-print or book-on-tape as a gift.
- A thoughtful gift might be a calendar featuring a theme of interest to the person, such as lakes and shores for the fisherman or flowers for the gardener. Write pre-scheduled family events, such as vacations, birthdays, holidays, business trips, school/athletic activities, etc., in the calendar before wrapping it. This will help older persons have a better idea of what others are doing, and they will feel more a part of family activities.
- A box of assorted occasion cards is always a welcome gift. If the person has trouble writing, pre-address a few of the cards. Of course, don't forget to include stamps in the box.
- For grandparents who love to brag about their grandchildren, create a scrapbook of activities, school papers and pictures of such special events as birthday parties. Don't forget to label the pictures and other mementos in large lettering.
- Another scrapbook idea is to make one with special events of the person's own life. Find pictures, articles and other items that hold fond memories for the person. Because the elderly like to reminisce, this gives them tangible things they can use to remember events and share with others.
- Food is another welcome item, but check for any dietary restrictions.
For information on senior health, visit http://www.uaex.edu.
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http://www.uaex.edu/news/december2008/1212seniorgifts.htm
Contact: Lamar James, (501) 671-2187, ljames@uaex.edu
