Wow, it’s a week before Christmas, and you’re still looking for a special gift for a senior? Here are a few suggestions for gifts for Maine seniors that might fit the bill:
Check out your local garden center or food store for bulbs. Amaryllis bulbs make great gifts when you plant them in a nice pot. They don’t take up much room, can survive a wide temperature variation (but no freezing), don’t need much watering, and grow slowly and reliably, giving weeks of pleasure. And the blooms last for several weeks.
As for other living gifts, generally pets aren’t a great idea. That said, I love Beta (Siamese fighting fish) and have given several as gifts. They don’t require much care, live in a regular sized fish bowl (rather than an aquarium) and come in a striking array of colors. They do best in a fairly warm house.
Give a service. Make up a little manicure kit with clear nail polish and other necessities, and supply a gift card for monthly manicures. Mark it on the calendar so you’ll both remember. Home made gift cards for snow shoveling, foot massages or specific household tasks are appreciated. Or supply an event: movie tickets, theater tickets, a trip to the Gray animal farm, or a lighthouse tour with lunch might be a great gift for someone who wants companionship and time with you. Or offer garden tilling with some seeds, or car washes with a new sponge.
Make stuff. If you’re handy in the shop, a book holder or playing card holder, nicely finished and supplied with large face cards or a new novel, would make a wonderful gift. Make cookies, bread and rolls or soup and freeze them in appropriate-sized portions. Simplicity has patterns for a number of senior items, from aprons and wheelchair robes to walker bags. It would be a fun event if you supplied a gift box including a pattern and a selection of fabrics, and arranged to bring a portable sewing machine and spend an afternoon with your senior, putting together these simple necessities as a custom gift.
Think about helpful gifts that solve a problem. If your loved one is hard of hearing or spends time focused on the TV or computer, there are flashing doorbells and phone flashers/amplifiers. How about a portable phone that can move easily from room to room?
Don’t forget the cozy sheepskin slip-ons (with a good non-skid bottom), lightweight fleece tops and bottoms, or even a lightweight fleece hat to wear around the house. Easy, washable layers should be somehwat tailored fitting, however, to avoid tripping, catching on doorknobs or coming in contact with hot burners.
Finally, gifts to Habitat for Humanity in your area, the Heifer Project or a Kiva account are wonderful. Kiva allows the recipient to invest (in $25 increments) in entrepreneurial project all around the world, with frequent updates.
Giving thoughtful gifts with a generous spirit means so much more than a generous wallet. Merry Christmas and happy holidays!