20 Gifts for Seniors They’ll Treasure for a Lifetime | Snug — Snug Safety (2024)

Whether you're shopping for a friend, neighbor, or family member, purchasing gifts for seniors can leave you stumped. After all, what do you buy for the person who has seen, and done it all?

While buying the perfect present can send even expert gift-givers on a drawn-out Google chase, we happen to have a few ideas. Below, we share a dozen gift ideas for seniors — from the practical, sentimental, and just-for-fun.

No matter if you're celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or holiday, these gifts for seniors are sure to bring a smile. Now, let's unwrap a few of our best ideas.

7 Practical Gifts for Seniors To Make Their Life Easier

Some of the best gifts for seniors double as the most practical. Some new, handy gadgets can help older adults improve their overall quality of life.

Here are just a few useful gifts we happen to love:

1. Safe Grabs: Safe Grabs is a silicone microwave pad that doubles (triples, and quadruples) as a jar opener, pot holder, place setting, lid, you name it. Prevent them from burning their fingers on a hot plate, and help them open those frustrating jars.

2. Hands-free rectangular reading magnifier: This rectangular magnifying glass can easily rest on an open book, newspaper, or magazine. Stop your gift recipient from straining their eyes without having to hold a magnifying glass.

3. Bombas compression socks: Bombas is a fashionable compression sock brand your loved one will enjoy. With multiple designs for men and women, they help reduce pain, inflammation, and swelling in a stylish way.

4. Rechargeable LED light: Keeping hallways, bathrooms, and bedrooms well-lit can help prevent falls with senior citizens. With one touch, this light illuminates — plus a senior can carry it with them.

5. An Audible membership: Does your loved one struggle with reading — even with large print books? That doesn't mean they have to give up one of their favorite pastimes. With Audible (by Amazon), they can listen to their favorite novels, without eye strain.

6. Gift cards: While you may think a gift card seems impersonal, we assure you your aging parent or friend will enjoy treating themself without a shred of financial guilt. Gift them a gift certificate or card to their favorite restaurant, grocery store, or movie theater for a night out — on you. (And don’t forget — your loved one may want to do these activities as a family, making your time spent together the greatest gift of all.)

7. Snug Premium membership: Snug is a free check-in app made for older adults who live alone. With the premium membership, your loved one can have peace of mind knowing help is just one click away. With one press of a button on their cell phone, they can send for help if they experience a fall or otherwise need help.

4 Great Gift Ideas for Seniors With Alzheimer's or Dementia

If your loved one has dementia or Alzheimer's, it's important to exercise their brain. Luckily, there are some fun gifts to help them do just that.

Here a few personal-yet-practical gifts your aging loved one will enjoy while keeping their mind in top shape:

1. Collage Custom Photo Puzzles: Jigsaw puzzles help stimulate the brain while offering a fun activity to pass the time. Create a personalized photo puzzle with a picture from their childhood neighborhood, a favorite trip, or a beloved pet.

2. Crosswords and sudoku: Not only are crossword puzzles, sudoku, and other logic puzzles a fun activity, but they help work the brain. Amazon offers a full collection of word searches, crosswords, coloring books, and other books they may enjoy.

3. iPad: If you're looking for a wonderful gift your loved one will treasure (and you have a number of gift-givers pooling their funds), you may get them an iPad. Studies show that using touch-screen technology, like iPads and other tablets, can help individuals with dementia or Alzheimer's.

4. e-Pill Alam Pocket With Attached Pillbox: A pill organizer is a practical and relatively inexpensive gift for an aging loved one. However, those with dementia may need an extra reminder to take their medication. These electronic pillboxes come with alarms, which are turned off once the individual takes their medication.

4 Tech Gifts for Seniors

Many older adults embrace technology, as it allows them to lead the life they want to pursue. If your gift recipient is always texting on their cell phone, playing games online, or scrolling through their Facebook feed, they may appreciate a gift with a modern edge.

These gifts and gadgets are for the technology-loving senior in your life:

1. Amazon Echo and Alexa: An Amazon Echo and Alexa can play music, answer questions, make phone calls to family and friends, or even turn down your thermostat. It's the perfect gift for making a senior’s life easier.

2. Skylight Frame: Does your loved one have family members and friends spread all across the country? This digital photo frame allows anyone to email photos directly to the frame — so the gift recipient can see old friends even from miles away.

3. Kindle: Not only is reading books on Kindle extremely convenient, but your loved one can enlarge the print, making it easier to read. Plus, if they live in a smaller apartment or are downsizing, a Kindle is far easier to store than a stack of books.

4. Robot vacuum cleaner: For older people, cleaning and other daily tasks can become a larger burden. Help your loved one age in place by giving them a robot vacuum cleaner so they can keep a clean home without bending over or risking a fall.

5 Gifts for Seniors With Mobility Issues

If an older adult lacks mobility or dexterity in their joints, it can make performing certain tasks extremely difficult. Luckily, there are a number of affordable, and even last-minute gifts that would make a significant impact on their quality of life and maintain their independence:

1. Bath brush with an extra-long handle: If your gift recipient lacks mobility in their shoulders, bathing can become extremely difficult. A shower brush makes bathing and applying lotion much easier.

2. Massage gift certificate: Feel like giving your loved one some added pampering and relaxation? Get them a gift card to a local salon for an hour massage.

3. Dressing stick: A dressing stick allows an older adult to get dressed without the assistance of a caregiver or family member. Plus, at less than $15, it makes for an affordable holiday gift or stocking stuffer.

4. Playing card holder: Does your loved one enjoy playing cards with friends? If they suffer from arthritis, it can be difficult to grip a deck of cards. However, with an attractive, wood playing card holder, they can still enjoy their favorite card games.

5. Foldable walking cane: As one ages, moving around can become increasingly tiresome. However, with this foldable cane and seat combo, they can pause, sit, and recuperate as needed — even when out and about.

The Greatest Gift for Seniors Could Be Your Time

Finding the perfect gift doesn't always come easy.

If you're shopping for an older adult, try to find a gift that improves their quality of life. Whether this means sending them a digital photo album filled with great memories, a handy gadget that allows them to keep their independence, or a nice Kindle or iPad that helps them keep up on their reading, we're sure you'll find a present they'll enjoy.

Don’t forget that the greatest gift to a senior loved one could be your time. Grab takeout and enjoy an evening of conversation, teach them how to use their iPad or smartphone, or enjoy a movie-night-in together.

When it comes to selecting gifts for seniors, consider getting them a premium membership for Snug. With the premium membership, help is just one click away, allowing them to have peace of mind even when living alone.