Gifts for Seniors - Unique Gifts for Boomers and SeniorsMost define ‘seniors’ as anybody over 55 so there’s a BIG difference between the ‘kids’ in the group and the ‘elders’ who may be pushing 100 years or more.That cuts a wide swath in our population – it includes baby boomers, members of the ‘Best Generation’ from 2nd World War times, grandparents, great grandparents and beyond. At this stage of life, one’s state of health used to be pretty much the sole determining factor for lifestyle and interests, but economic factors have crept in as a significant issue in the last several years. On one hand, forced retirement (also referred to as ‘voluntary redundancy in some circles’) has shattered many plans to work through to a 65th year celebration, gold watch and a substantial nest egg to finance their golden years. On the flip side, many people who believed they had their ducks in a row to retire at age 60 now have had to swallow the bitter pill that they have to put off retirement indefinitely to support themselves and their families. So taking health, age, and economic factors into account, if you’re considering a gift for a ‘senior’, there’s a very wide choice of gifts that may be appropriate. As with all good gift-giving, the one and only criterion is ‘what would THEY like to receive? Strip away your wishes, your ideas, your tastes and interests, and focus on THEM. That makes it about what they care about, how they spend their time, what they enjoy. I made a list of the essential considerations for choosing a great gift for a senior, then I paired up the list with items from the firstStreet catalogue* to shortlist some ideas for you..... 1. Consider their state of health. Are they mobile, or is getting around a challenge? Do they have arthritis that limits what they can do with their hands? How’s their eyesight? Are they ‘always cold’ (a common complaint of the elderly). Do they have dental challenges that affect what they can eat comfortably? Speaking of eating, do they have any conditions like diabetes that need to be taken into account if you’re considering edible gifts?
2. Their living environment. Do they have lots of room or are they in a pared-down living space with no extra space for anything beyond the necessities? 3. Their lifestyle. Are they active socially or do they prefer to spend time alone? Are they lonely, perhaps depressed? Would spending some quality time with them be the best part of your gift? 4. How active are they mentally? Would they love an age-appropriate computer or puzzles? 5. How’s their hearing? 6. Are they nostalgic about their past? Do they enjoy re-living the past and re-telling old stories? 7. How do they like to spend their time? Do they like to putter in the garden or in the garage? Do they have a special interest? *firstSTREET
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