If you have elderly parents or loved ones who haven’t necessarily embraced tech, they may be living with inconveniences that could be solved with gadgets.
By identifying what electronic devices could benefit them, you should be able to come up with some of the most useful gifts.
This article will detail some of the best tech gifts that you could consider giving elderly people in your life without causing any additional confusion.
Best Electronic Gifts for the Elderly
If you’re looking for a gift to keep an elderly person warm, the Vremi Electric Blanket with Dedicated Foot Warming Pockets is a great choice. This cozy fleece blanket is perfect for those chilly winter nights, and the two 20 x 25 inch foot pockets make sure that their toes stay toasty too. With six heat levels and a temperature range of 85°F to 110°F, they can customize the heat to their liking with the backlit remote.
Plus, the eight timer modes and overheat protection make it safe and easy to use. The machine washable fabric is also a convenient feature for seniors. Overall, this electric blanket is a thoughtful and practical gift for any elderly person who wants to stay warm and comfortable during the winter months.
HamiltonBuhl Top-Loading Portable Classroom CD Player
This easy to use, top loading CD player has a look and feel than many seniors are used to. It is also lightweight and portable for use throughout the home. Headphone jack allows for private listening.
This MP3 player offers an easy-to-use touchscreen interface and has built-in speakers – no headphones are required. This multifunction device is also an FM radio receiver, video player, e-book player, and voice recorder.
The best thing about these headphones is that they customize themselves to give you the best hearing experience possible – even for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. Plus, they are comfortable and lightweight which makes them easy to wear for hours and hours. Easily adapted for use with TV, Bluetooth devices, computers, and more.
Audiobooks.com Monthly Audiobook Club
Many seniors can benefit from an Audiobooks.com subscription: from active seniors who like to exercise to elderly people who are homebound or even bedridden. Audiobooks provide hours of entertainment, education, and enlightenment. Plus, they keep seniors’ minds busy as they pass the time.
QuietComfort 45 II Noise Cancelling Smart Headphones by Bose
Bose - QuietComfort 45 Wireless Noise Cancelling Over-the-Ear Headphones - Triple Black
These high-quality noise-cancelling headphones are world renowned for shutting out the world around you. Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant too. Wireless and easily synced to a phone, tablet, or PC.
This helpful little home gadget can vacuum AND mop an entire home on one charge. Works well with pet hair and features a hard floor mode. Automatic mode to always keep a home spotless.
The 1Password You Need to Remember
This probably seems like an odd choice, but stick with me for a minute. Seniors are using more tech than ever which means tons of passwords to remember! With this service, they only have to remember one. If set-up is a problem, just have one of the grandkids come over.
Garmin vívofit® 4 | Fitness Activity Tracker
Garmin vívofit 4 activity tracker with 1+ year battery life and color display. Small/Medium,...
The vivofit 4 fitness tracker is a great choice for active seniors who work hard on their health. Track steps, distance, and calories burned. The always-on color display features large, easy-to-read numbers. It is easy to operate too!
This easy-to-use smartphone for seniors has simple, list-basted menus with a large, easy-to-see screen. Even offers voice typing and mobile internet access.
KitchenAid is known for mixers and now they have this cordless model. 7 speeds and the battery lasts long enough to make 4 batches of cookies. No cords to trip over or deal with either.
This easy-to-use cell phone for seniors features photo dialing, an emergency button, and displays the time, remaining batter, and signal strength. And, that’s it! Plus caregivers can manage and control the phone settings through a simple portal.
SMPL Simple Senior TV Remote Control
Smpl Simple TV Remote for The Elderly - This Universal Large Button Remote Control Helps The...
This simple and senior-friendly remote control is just that – simple! Only 5 buttons for favorite channels and an up/down channel button. The remaining 3 buttons are for volume, on-off & mute. Works with almost every TV.
An aromatherapy diffuser is a wonderful way to release a healthful mist into the air. This gift will transmit at various settings, so you can let it run for 6-8 hours with a tank of water. Anyone who lives in a home with a furnace or heating system that dries out the air needs a humidifier to put some moisture back into the air. And what better way to do that than with favorite aromas too.
When the weather is too cold or mobility is a problem, this at-home kit is an ideal solution. Trimming in-grown toenails and calluses can be dealt with from the comfort and privacy of the home. The kit has all of the pieces needed for a manicure or pedicure. Plus, it includes an instructional guide that explains when/where to use each of the attachments. An LED light is built in to see the nails better. Consider adding to this gift with a small set of nail polishes, nail polish remover, and toe separators so that they can paint their nails too.
A great gift for an older adult who is a lover of great music, or even a tech-savvy relative, will truly appreciate a senior friendly MP3 player. Music can bring back positive memories, increase stimulation, and provide a chance to interact with those around them. Load it up with their favorite music before giving it to them. This easy-to-use model has simple instructions and a large easy-to-read screen.
Fire HD 8 Tablet and E-Reader
Fire HD 8 tablet, 8" HD display, 32 GB, (2020 release), designed for portable entertainment, Black
Amazon Kindle is a reliable electronic reader that is available in many sizes and weights plus the fonts can be enlarged for easier reading. Set it up to have some of their favorite books ahead of time. Take it one step further and load an app like Skype onto a newer Kindle version so that they can sign in and chat with family when you are apart.
Wireless headphones will let your loved one enjoy their TV viewing, audiobook listening experience, or just shut the world out for a little while. These headphones fit right over the ear and cancel out the noise around them in an otherwise noisy common area. This model has a 30-hour battery life and can be synced to a wide range of devices via Bluetooth. Check out my guide to buying headphones for seniors and the elderly in this article.
This book reading light charges in a USB port so it can be plugged right into a tablet or kindle device to help seniors see better while reading. There are multiple color modes and brightness levels including a night light setting. The best part is that it slips easily around the neck – no difficult to use clamps to cause pain for arthritic hands.
Single Serve Coffee Maker for K Cup Pods and Ground Coffee
No matter how old some of us get, that morning cup of coffee is a mandatory start to the day. This single serve coffee maker is a great gift to provide that single cup of coffee – quickly and easily. No waste, no hassle, just a simple and strong cup of caffeine to get going in the morning.
Featuring a transmitter kept at one location and six receivers that can be attached to car keys, house keys, remote controls, phones, or whatever else you might frequently lose or misplace. Hit the button, hear the loud beeps, and find what you’re missing!
MedCenter 31 Day Pill Organizer with Reminder System
Medcenter Monthly Medication Organizer for Drawer or Lock Box with 31 Pill Boxes and 4 Daily...
Makes organizing the pills needed for the day easy as an entire month can be planned out with this organizer. That makes it easier to plan out various medications, make sure they’re all stored in one place, and a handy alarm can bring your attention back to it if things slip your mind.
This trackball from Logitech features an ergonomic design to provide maximum comfort. It is wireless which means that your loved one with arthritis can control their desktop, laptop, or even home theater from up to 30 feet away. You can connect up to 6 compatible wireless devices.
This basically simple radio for seniors has a very easy and intuitive interface. Large, easy-to-press buttons are perfect for seniors with arthritis in their hands. Scan for local stations with one touch.
Hamilton Beach Smooth Touch Electric Automatic Can Opener
This automatic can opener is my top pick for seniors because it has a large lever that can be pressed with the palm of the hand instead of just the fingers. So, poor finger dexterity or arthritic hand pain are reduced when using it. Personally, I think it looks great too.
Hamilton Beach Open Ease Automatic Jar Opener | Amazon.com
This automatic jar opener is a great choice for seniors because it operated at the touch of a button. It even comes with a video to show seniors how to use it. It even helps reseal jars too!
The Amazon Echo Dot with Alexa lets seniors enjoy their favorite music, podcasts and audiobooks from streaming services such as Apple Music, Spotify and Amazon Music. Also, Alexa is available for help whenever you need it.
Seniors living in assisted living communities have access to hands-free timers, weather updates, answers to questions, jokes, and control of compatible smart home devices. For seniors who are looking for an easy way to connect with family members, listen to music, or get help around the house, the Amazon Echo Dot with Alexa could be the perfect solution.
For less tech-savvy seniors, you might ease the transition into the modern world by getting them a new computer and some basic computer lessons by an instructor who comes to the house. This can teach them how to use things like Skype to reconnect with family and introduce them to senior-friendly programs and apps contingent upon their level of comfort with technology.
The Soundbyte is a pocket-sized, multi-purpose radio that can also serve as a TV speaker, a Bluetooth speaker, and an MP3 player. The player interface is pretty basic, easy to see, and easy to understand. No need to purchase batteries either because it uses a rechargeable battery that is also replaceable if needed.
This TV Speaker/FM Radio combination is completely wireless, portable, and rechargeable. Simple charging by sitting the radio on the included charging dock. Familiar knob-style station dialing with easy-to-use controls. Also works to boost sound from the TV wirelessly!
This HD video doorbell makes it possible to see who’s at your door from a phone or tablet. It can also record video footage of your porch. It’s a lovely gift for someone that might struggle to answer their door or for anyone that has concerns about how security. If the user authorizes you to use their account, you can also use Ring to check in on them throughout the day.
This fitness watch from Vive Health is a comprehensive activity and sleep tracker. It even tracks heart rate and blood pressure throughout the day to promote good cardiovascular health.
It has an easy-to-use
interface with a screen that is bright, clear, and easy for most older adults to read. It last 7 days between charges and recharges in fully in less than 2 hours using a simple magnetic charger.Finally, it is water-resistant and can be worn in the shower or while washing hands so you don’t have to worry about it getting misplaced. 2 color options and a 60-daysatisfaction guarantee.
Snug Safety - Free Daily Check-In Service
Looking for a unique gift idea for a senior or elderly person who lives alone? Here is a great alternative to expensive medical alert systems.
Snug is a free – and friendly – check in service for people living alone. It works via an app on a mobile phone and alerts a senior’s emergency contacts if they don’t check in by their assigned time.
There are free and paid subscription plans available. The free plan sends text messages to the emergency contacts while the paid Dispatch plan takes additional steps including phone calls to make sure the person is safe. If they can’t reach anyone, they will request a Wellness Check to the cell phone’s last location.
The Dispatch Plan is $9.99 per month but Graying With Grace readers can save 15% by using my discount code GWG15 or the button below.
Does your older loved one seem to be turning their TV up louder and louder each time you visit? It might be time for TV headphones like these.
These headphones are easy to set up and even easier to use. The work with any TV made in the last 20 years. You simply plug the transmitter into the back of the TV using one of the included cables and turn the headphones on. There is no syncing or pairing procedure to go through!
A simple charging dock is included and the batteries last 10 hours. It is also available in a single or dual pack for couples.
Relish Radio for Dementia
Relish - Simple Portable FM Radio and Music Player for Seniors, Those with Dementia and...
This nostalgia-inspired radio is specifically designed to be extremely easy to use. Even for seniors with dementia and Alzheimer’s.
It features an easy-to-use control panel with big buttons that are easy to see. The volume never goes completely off so that the user will know it’s still on. it’s lightweight and durable too!
Caregivers can program their favorite stations into the one-touch buttons on top allowing them to still have variety and choice in their music.
General Electronic Gift Ideas for Seniors and the Elderly
1. Easy-to-Use Tablet
An easy to use tablet is a must for someone who is elderly. After all, a smartphone features way too small of a screen. A tablet offers the kind of screen real estate that your elderly parents would use.
Along with this, they will be able to use the tablet to do various things including shopping on the Internet, video chatting with their grandkids, and more.
A tablet is much easier to comprehend than a laptop or desktop. Therefore, it can be the perfect gift idea for someone who isn’t necessarily technically inclined. Best of all, it can be set up in a way that makes finding everything you need as easily as possible.
2. Video Doorbell
Someone who is elderly and living at home might have difficulty getting up and down and reaching the door in time. Because of this, a video doorbell can be one of the best possible gifts for them.
It will help them not only be alerted to when someone is at the door, but they will be able to check in on the video feed to see if it’s someone they know.
It will also allow for two-way communication to let the person waiting to know that they are on their way. A video doorbell paired with a tablet or smartphone can make an elderly person’s life much easier.
3. Smart Speaker
There is so much that can be done with a smart speaker. With the advancement in artificial intelligence, voice-powered assistants are much more useful than ever before.
If you have a Google Home or an Amazon Alexa at home, you can deliver all kinds of commands and you can ask various questions that can benefit anyone including someone older.
Not only are these assistants easy to use, but they can provide a lot of automation tasks that make your entire life easier. This is especially true when they are hooked up to other smart devices throughout the home.
4. TV Streaming Box
A lot of the cable boxes you will find available are extremely difficult to use and unnecessarily complicated. Whereas, you can find a lot of streaming boxes to be very intuitive and easy to use. This is especially true with a lot of them not featuring voice command functionality.
The ability to tell your remote or smart speaker to play a certain show on the TV makes for a very user-friendly experience.
A TV streaming box can be a great addition to an elderly person’s home because it can take the convoluted cable experience away from them and introduce them to something much simpler.
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While knowing the ins and outs of some of these electronic devices can be difficult even for those who are technically savvy, these devices are meant to be user-friendly and accessible. Because of this, they can add a lot of usefulness to anyone’s life including someone who is elderly.
Whether your loved ones suffer from limited mobility or anything else, there are plenty of gadgets that can contribute to a much more accessible lifestyle.
The gift ideas above are only some of the best options you can consider the next time you are out shopping for the seniors in your life.
