Every holiday season someone asks me, “What do I get Mom? She says she doesn’t need anything.” And she’s probably right. By the time we reach a certain age, the closets are full. What we want isn’t more stuff. It’s comfort, safety, a little dignity, and time with the people we love.
Here’s how I think about gifts for the seniors in your life.
1. Gifts that make every day more comfortable
- A heated hand massager. Gentle warmth and air compression for stiff, achy hands in the morning.
- A heated neck and shoulder wrap. For chilly houses, long winter evenings and sore shoulders.
- A heated hand massager. A small luxury at the end of the day.
2. Gifts that protect dignity
- Adult bibs. This is the one our customers come back for again and again. A good bib keeps nice shirts clean at mealtime, no fuss, no embarrassment. One of our customers, a pipe smoker, says he tried at least 25 different bibs before finding ours. Read more about choosing an adult bib.
- Reading glasses in a style they like. Bifocals for near and far, or a pair with a little flair.
3. Gifts that keep them safe and on track
- A big-display calendar clock. Day, date and time in large letters, with reminder alarms. Wonderful for anyone who loses track of the days.
- Self-heating knee supports. Warmth and support for stiff knees on cold mornings.
- A memory foam neck pillow. For car trips, doctor waiting rooms and afternoon naps in the recliner.
You’ll find all of these in my holiday gift guide, straight from our SALT Online Store.
4. Gifts that carry their story forward
- The Living Legacy Planner. A place for wishes, important details and memories, so nobody has to guess. It’s on Amazon.
- Relics of the Century. A nostalgic book that gets grandparents and grandkids talking.
- A homemade card. Make one together with our free greeting card maker and print it out.
5. The gifts that aren’t in a box
- Your time. Wrap up a calendar with a monthly lunch date already written in.
- Fix something. Test the smoke detectors, change the furnace filter, hang the holiday lights.
- Sit down with the photo albums and write names and dates on the backs.
- Take a walk down Memory Lane together. Look up the newspaper from the day they were born.
The best gift says, “I see you, and I’m paying attention.” Happy giving, Saltines.