So many adult children don’t live close to their parents. I adore the idea of not having the additional hassle or expense of shipping or delivering a gift. This is how this gift guide came to be!
Giving the Best Gift
It certainly is the thought that matters. But winning with a gift brings joy to the recipient and the giver. I love the feeling when my gift was a ‘hit’. I believe anyone can be an effective gift-giver. The key is taking notice of what the gift recipient:
- gives others
- talks about
- does for fun
- truly needs
Gifting Experiences is a Challenge Right Now
When I have the choice, I normally like to give an experience, particularly to our elders. My parents and in-laws usually just bought what they needed, and they usually had limited living space.
Giving experiences to my mom, who is 100% bedridden, is a challenge.
While I’m only shopping for my mom this year, I know many of these gifts shared will also bring joy to any dad.
Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Gift Ideas
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Photo Gift Ideas
Using special photos can bring our loved ones back to treasured memories and gently remind them of those who love them. Choose a photo and create a jigsaw puzzle or canvas print. You can even put their furry pet face on some custom socks!
My mom has a digital picture frame similar to this one. It allows family members to email recent photos to the frame, which just has to be connected to WiFi.
Daily Journals
The Just for You: a Daily Self-Care Journal makes a great gift for anyone. I wrote it with caregivers in mind but we all benefit from self-love and self-reflection.
Artwork
When we first consider gifting art, we normally think of paintings. However, art comes in many forms. Consider a prayer flag for your loved one’s patio. Or what about a handmade fidget quilt for your loved one with dementia?
Our loved ones would enjoy creating art themselves. I’m intrigued by these reusable water painting kits – when the water dries, the ‘paint’ disappears.
A beginner paint by number or stained glass kit would also be fun!
Food & Drink
This Crave Box Care Package would provide your gift recipient a snack a day for two months!
Another sign of a great gift is one that you would love! Even if your loved one doesn’t cook, these fresh herbs would liven up a microwaveable meal, store-bought salad or just make any room smell amazing!
Practical
Does your care recipient need a new pair of glasses? Even if they have one pair, some backups or just a fun fashion lens could be a great gift. You may want to do some detective work to determine their prescription and whether they prefer progressive glasses. You can also opt for blue light blockers or sunglasses. I have a few women’s eyeglasses from the GlassesShop that I like.
My mom has had mobility issues for much of her adult life. Using a cart on wheels is a huge space saver and has helped her have all of her favorite things within arm’s reach.
Large display digital calendar clock that auto-dims helps those with vision impairment or dementia.
LifeStation’s medical alert service offers the gift of independence and peace of mind. Your parent receives 24/7 protection at the push of a button, and you receive caregiver tools to track their location in an emergency. There’s also an optional concierge-style service, including transportation for doctor visits. LifeStation’s device is discreet and lightweight. It’s GPS-enabled to help you get your parent help wherever they need it.
Subscription Boxes
Brilliant Books offers six-month and one-year memberships, and large print selections are available. Each selection is guaranteed to delight, or they will replace it with one that does, free of charge.
My mom loves her snacks, and it’s fun to try new things! She is currently enjoying the Super Snacker pack from Love With Food. She even shares the snacks with her care professionals who come in to help her, which is a sweet way for her to have some little gifts to give. Enjoy up to 50% off your first box!
There are so many others, including the Chocolate of the Month Club and Herbal Tea Subscription,
Just Because
My sister Susie won this lifelike Ashton-Drake baby doll at a caregiver conference for mom, and it has been a wonderful companion. Mom raised six children and has helped with 11 grandchildren, so holding babies is one of her strengths!
For our elders who like to get their hands dirty, this bonsai tree growing kit provides all the ingredients. What a gift to watch something grow and thrive while giving our loved ones a sense of purpose and an outlet for their love and attention.
We can use this multi-generational family game as a fun way to engage with our loved ones over a FaceTime or Zoom call.
