Original Gift Ideas for Seniors Who Don’t Want Anything

Zeko has been an online writer for over nine years. She is a former academic researcher and writes about a wide variety of topics.

The senior on your gift list may already have what they want. Consider giving them a hobby basket, loaded with what they need for their favorite pastime.

Coming up with gift ideas for grandparents or elderly parents can be a real headache for many people. Most grandparents have more stuff than they could possibly ever use.

There is nothing they need and very little they want. So, what do you give someone who has almost everything, and their house is already full of family photos, albums, personalized mugs, slippers, and bath oils?

Here are some gift giving suggestions to get you started. Those unique birthday gift ideas are perfect for any occasion.

Safety & Independence

Independence is a thing that seniors—and everyone, for that matter—really tend to value very highly. Maintaining independence promotes a sense of achievement that for many old people generates a great sense of self-worth and well-being.

The key to maintaining a senior's independence is to keep them safe and one of the basic areas of safety is their home. This makes assistive devices very good happy birthday gift ideas.

Bathtub grips provide a sense of security when using the shower.

For the Bathroom

For seniors who have difficulty bending or limited mobility due to an injury, the bathroom is probably the most dangerous room of the house. Bathroom accessories, like bathtub grips, can provide a sense of security when using the shower and would be really appreciated. Make sure to offer to help install these handles for them.

There are several types of grips you can get, but probably some of the best ones are those that lock over the side of the bathtub. Unlike other grab bars that use suction cups for attachment, the ones that clamp into the bathtub wall will not slip out of position.

The bathtub grab bar from Mediline, for example, has a padded cushion, so it can be tightened very firmly, and will not scratch or chip even tubs made from fiberglass. Although it looks like it is made from plastic, it is not. It is made from sturdy metal and can support up to 250 lbs. Because of its compact size and the way it installs, seniors can even travel with it.

The surface of an induction cooktop stays cool to the touch, making it safer for a senior than other cooktops.

For the Kitchen

While the kitchen is often referred to as the "heart of the house," it can be a very dangerous place for our aging loved–ones. While cooking fires happen to all people of all ages, older adults have a higher risk of injury from these, in part, due to the fact that their responses and physical abilities diminish as they grow older. In fact, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), people over the age of 65 have a 2.5 times greater risk of dying in a kitchen fire than the general population.

Cooktops and ranges are most frequently implicated in kitchen accidents. Elderly people are more likely to forget to turn burners off after removing pans, leave food unattended on the burner or lose track of cooking times. Others that have arthritis or Parkinson's disease can easily spill food and ignite a fire.

This makes an induction cooktop another practical gift idea for seniors who say they don’t want anything. The elderly or disabled will really appreciate the safety factor of induction cooking since there are no open flames and nothing will catch on fire. With induction cooking there is no direct heating of the cooktop surface.

source - https://holidappy.com/gift-ideas/Original-Gift-Ideas-Grandparents-Elderly-Parents