Whether it’s the holiday season or you simply want to give something to them as a way of deepening connections, there are countless gift options that you think of and numerous items that you can give to your elderly neighbors.
While giving gifts for the seniors that live beside your house or apartment is certainly fun, it could be a challenge since most seniors have different preferences or needs. Nevertheless, it’s the thought that will always count, and you don’t necessarily need to spend a lot of money just to give them something.
With that, here are some useful tips that you can follow when thinking about the next gift that you will give to your elderly neighbors.
Some Examples of the Best Gifts for Elderly Neighbors
Kinkade Painter of Light Wall Calendar
This calendar features the unique and folksy artwork of Thomas Kinkade in high quality full page, full color pictures. Monthly view. Wall-mountable. Measures 14″X24.5″ when open. 16 months.
USDA Prime Steak Burgers | Chicago Steak Company
For the burger lover, consider this gift of 8 half pound USDA Prime steak burgers mage from steak trimmings and aged perfectly. Only 2-3% of beef qualifies to be labeled USDA Prime! Individually packaged and vacuum sealed and delivered in a black and gold gift box.
Fruit Gift of the Month Club | GreatClubs.com
With this gift, the recipient will receive 5 pounds of fresh fruit delivered each month featuring both traditional and exotic varieties. Only the highest quality fruit is selected and it comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. 2,3,4,6, and 12 month options.
PartyLite BeBalanced Home Fragrance Collection
This collection of oil diffusers and soy candles harnesses the restorative power of essential oils to fill your home with mood-improving fragrances. Don’t know what scents they like? Choose from their Relaxation or Positivity Collection.
Classic Chocolate Bar Gift Set | GODIVA
This elegant Godiva gift box contains the company’s 5 most popular chocolate flavors including their Dark Raspberry Truffle bar!
Classic Chocolate Bar Gift Set | GODIVA
This elegant Godiva gift box contains the company’s 5 most popular chocolate flavors including their Dark Raspberry Truffle bar!
Live Love Laugh 2022 Calendar | GreaterGood
Through her whimsical illustrations, artist Betsey Cavallo expresses her desire to spread a little joy and to share the pleasure she experiences doing what she loves. Live, Love, Laugh combines Betsey’s brightly colored florals with words intended to cheer the heart, lift the spirit and inspire joy. This calendar will encourage you to enjoy life, laugh often and love deeply!
Dark Chocolate Covered Cherries | Amazon.com
A favorite of many seniors, these rich, dark chocolate covered Bing cherries are also dipped in a cherry flavored candy coating. 2.5 lb.
Super Snacker’s Gourmet Gift Box
This basket is a snacker’s dream and loaded up with chocolates, pecan cookies, peanut brittle, chocolate popcorn, white frosted pretzels, toffee coated peanuts. All packaged in a decorative gift box.
Sunbeam Microplush Heated Electric Warming Throw | Amazon.com
I have had plenty of times where I just wanted a blanket or wanted to be a little bit warmer, even inside the house. A good electric heating blanket can bring that extra bit of comforting warmth that overcomes cool weather, bad circulation, or any other reason. This is a great gift that helps provide that nice comfortable and toasty relaxing feeling at home.
Individually Packaged Gourmet Scones Subscription Box | Seven Sisters Scones
These artisan scones are backed and shipped the same day for fresh flavor and taste. Plus each is unique because they are hand scooped too. Each scone is individually package so that fresh flavor can be maintained as long as possible.
You have lots of flavor choices and flavors are changed from time to time for some variety. There are gluten-free options as well as cookies and bars too.
Choose the subscription option for monthly or quarterly deliveries of assorted scone boxes right to your loved one’s home.
Eat Me Guilt Free Subscription Service
Eat Me Guilt Free is a line of healthier formulated sweets for those late night cravings. Created by a Registered Nurse and Certified Sports Nutritionist and started in her own kitchen.
These delicious treats get rave reviews for their taste and include selections of brownies, cakes, cookies, breads and even tortillas. Sign up for their monthly subscription service and save.
Love With Food Junk-Free Snack Box | Snack Nation
This affordable subscription box ships internationally and is a good choice for those who have dietary restrictions.
It is a box of treats that includes ‘free from’ goodies. There are lots of options for those who need to avoid wheat, gluten, common allergens, and even dairy products. They offer lots of Organic and All Natural snacks too!
This box is a nice way for someone who has to avoid common snacks for the elderly to treat themselves.
Plus Snack Nation donates a meal to needy families for every box sold!
Decade Candy Gift Box | OldTimeCandy.com
This cool gift box features 2 lbs of candy that was popular in your selected decade packed into a gift box. Decade options include the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and the 1990s.
For the true candy lover, there is a 4 lb choice as well as a monthly subscription box option to keep the candy coming on a regular basis.
World of Puzzles & Games Subscription | Magazine Agent
Many seniors love working puzzles so why not provide them puzzles to work all year long. Puzzles help keep the mind active and sharp which can improve memory and keep away boredom. 9 Issues per year.
Woodlink Deluxe Cedar Bird Feeder with Suet Cages Model AT4
Bird feeders are great for when people are bored or frustrated. Sitting by the window or on a porch and watching the birds can help to calm people down. Place the birdhouse where seniors in nursing homes, assisted living or who are bedbound can see it out their window. Do some research about local birds in the area where they live so that you can also include some bird seed that attracts neighborhood guests.
Magazine Gift Subscriptions That Seniors Will Love
Magazine subscriptions provide a ton of benefits for seniors: education, entertainment, a way to pass some time. They can also be a great link to the outside world. Look for large print magazines like Reader’s Digest for seniors with vision problems.
Mini Bites Cookie Box | Cookies By Design
This gift includes 32 bite sized gourmet cookies in assorted flavors. Wrapped in packages of 8 to preserve the freshness. Available with and without nuts too!
Corningware® French White 20-ounce Meal Mug™ with Lid
This stoneware mug is made to go from microwave to table and includes a vented, splatter-free lid. Great for heating up oatmeal, hot chocolate, chilis, and soups and then eating right out of the bowl. Seniors can warm their belly and their achy hands by holding onto this warm mug/bowl combo. Dishwasher, freezer, and microwave safe.
Good for You Tea Gift Sampler – Adagio Teas
This selection of loose teas was specifically chosen for their anti-inflammatory benefits and are loaded with anti-oxidants. Oh, and they are delicious too. Varieties included: Turmeric Bliss, Happy Belly, Skinny Tea, and Tea-Tox. A great choice for seniors with arthritis or who just enjoy warming themselves with a cup of tea.
Personalizable M&M’s Candy Bags
Every senior seems to love having snacks and sweet treats on hand. Did you know that personalized M&M candies are a real thing? And, they make a great gift that is truly unique. Choose the message, the color, and even the graphics on the bag.
Animals Ceramic Flower Pot | Amazon.com
If there isn’t room for a full garden, a planter is a great little gift to put some life into the living space. Look for fun, quirky styles, like these little elephant-themed terrariums. Include some seeds, soil, or some low maintenance succulents for a complete gift.
Story of My Life: A Workbook for Preserving Your Legacy | Amazon.com
Sadly, when our senior loved ones leave us, their stories and history goes with them. This workbook encourages them to share this history with your and provides a place to record memories through a series of questions and prompts. It will quickly become a treasured heirloom for the family.
Teabloom Stovetop & Microwave Safe Glass Teapot | Amazon.com
If your gift recipient’s a tea lover, get them a high quality set of tea accessories including a beautiful, but functional, teapot, a tea infuser, and a set of flavors you think she’ll enjoy. She may have been using the same teapot for decades now, so she’ll appreciate the upgrade.
Esky Wireless Key Finder | Amazon.com
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!
BEDSURE Sherpa Soft and Fuzzy Fleece Blanket Throw | Amazon.com
If you’ve never spent the money on a truly special luxury blanket or quilt, you’re missing out. This one is a truly outstanding blanket that is comfortable, warm, cozy, and really will change the entire experience whether getting a good night’s sleep or just taking a little nap. See More Warm Blankets for the Elderly
Small Garden Dish Flower Arrangement – Teleflora
Lush green plants add life and fresh air to any room, and are a versatile gift for any occasion. This mix of living potted plants is arranged in a green ceramic dish for a stylish, monochromatic look.
XO Cognac Truffles Premium Chocolate Sampler | Ethel M
These handmade treats feature dark chocolate ganache (made with just cream, salt and vanilla) blended with Remy Martin XO Cognac. 5 pieces per box, choose from 2 to 6 boxes.
Peppermint Twist Glass Covered Candy Dish – Mikasa
The Mikasa Saturn collection features an elegant but traditional pattern. This candy dish features a festive ruby red color and is perfect for offering your guests (or grandkids!) candy and other sweet treats. Measures 6-1/4 inch diameter x 5-1/2 inch high (with lid). Available in clear too.
CareBoxCo Monthly and Quarterly Care Boxes | Crate Joy
CareBoxCo offers monthly and quarterly subscriptions and includes a range of practical and comfort items as well as little treats.
For example, a box might include soaps, socks, a hat, and a full-size jig saw puzzle. Another box may have hot and cold heat treatment packs as well as candy and cookies.
They even offer the option to personalize the boxes by printing out a personal note or photos that you send them. This is a great way to add a personal touch.
American Lifetime Day Clock
Even on my best days I’m not always on top of what day of the week it is or what the date is. That’s not likely to get better as I continue to age over the next several decades. This large clock/calendar is perfect as it shows the date, day of the week, time, and year all there at once to make it very handy.
PartyLite Classics Jar Sampler
This candle sampler has welcome fruit-filled fall scents in a trio of mini jar candles. PartyLite’s Harvest Fruits Sampler contains autumnal aromas that stir warm seasonal memories, including Autumn Glow, Juicy Red Apple and Cranberry. 34-45 hours of burn time in each candle!
General Gift Buying Advice for Elderly Neighbors
1. Give something useful
It could be sometimes tricky to find something that you can give to your elderly neighbor because they wouldn’t really need much material things in their life. Nevertheless, it’s always best to give something that they could actually use.
You can give your elderly neighbors with a green thumb some senior friendly gardening tools which they could use, ranging from gardening gloves and rakes to weeding knives and foldable garden carts. Even a simple calendar or a wall clock with big numbers would be a great gift to give for your elderly neighbors, since there is a possibility that they would no longer know what time or date it is.
It’s also possible that they would sometimes forget where their keys or their mobile devices are, so a locator device could be just the gadget they need. A gadget, a tool, or even a simple item like a lightweight coffee mug could make your elderly neighbor’s day great and make their lives easier.
2. Try Something D.I.Y.
As mentioned earlier, a great gift for your senior next door does not have to drain your bank account.
You can try making D.I.Y. gifts that your elderly neighbors would surely appreciate. D.I.Y candles are a great example of items that you can give to them as a gift, and there are a lot of tutorials on YouTube that you can watch to learn how to make D.I.Y. candles, such as this video from Buzzfeed Nifty.
Since we talked about mugs earlier as well, did you know that it’s possible to customize a mug and give it as a gift? Yes, you can! However, if you don’t know how to design a mug, you can either refer to tutorials on the web or ask someone to help you on this craft.
Nevertheless, D.I.Y. gifts don’t always have to revolve around crafts. In fact, you can bake some cookies for your elderly neighbor instead of having to buy a pack of cookies or you can also create a greeting card with your own design and message instead of purchasing one from Hallmark.
Let your creativity and thoughts flow as you make a perfect gift for your elderly neighbor.
3. Consider Experiences Instead of Tangible Gifts
There could be some instances when your elderly neighbor already has more stuff than they need that something material wouldn’t just be a good gift for them.
That’s okay, and you know what? You don’t necessarily need to give a tangible item to your elderly neighbors as a gift! You can spend more on experiences that they will surely never forget. You can invite them for a meal at a restaurant or purchase a movie ticket for them. Even an online class that teaches different skills will make for an excellent gift.
Most seniors tend to live alone as well, and not all of them are visited by their family members. A simple visit to someone’s house with some chit-chat might be something that most young people often take for granted, but most seniors would definitely appreciate if you give them some of your time for some talk and a warm cup of coffee or tea.
Your time and concern alone could be the greatest gift you could ever give to your elderly neighbor.
Wrapping Up!
There are so many options that you can choose from when buying or making a gift to help out an elderly neighbor. But no matter what you pick, what will always matter is the love and time that you invested in making or purchasing the gift that you will give to them.
Whether you give them a warm blanket, a D.I.Y journal, a visit to the salon for a makeover, or simply your precious time, your elderly neighbors will definitely be thankful for it, and they will treasure this moment for the rest of their lives.
