Lonely elders long to spend some time with their family members. Even if it’s just a chat on the phone or a Sunday afternoon visit. Unfortunately though, if the family lives in another city, it is hard to make that wish come true.
I can understand this because my grandmother felt this way for 15 years after my grandfather passed.
That’s why I came up with a few gift ideas that I think will cheer up any lonely elder. Many of these gifts will help them pass the time, communicate with loved ones, or make them feel safer in general.
Gifts That Will Cheer up Lonely Seniors
Flower of the Month Club
Get fresh cut seasonal bouquets that were cut just days before they arrive. Only top quality blooms and greens. Shipped overnight for ultimate freshness. Includes a monthly newsletter that highlights the flower’s history and source.
RazMobility Easy to Use Cell Phone
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.
Silver Cuisine Senior Home Meal Delivery by bistroMD
This senior meal delivery service send chef-prepared meals from doctor-designed diets straight to the door. Simply select your meals from a menu online or via phone and set your delivery schedule. Rest assured knowing your loved one is easting well.
Send Seniors Love Subscription Box
The Send Senior Citizens Love Subscription Box is sent out once a month and makes a great little care package for a lonely senior or elderly person. Each donated box contains pair of socks, an activity, lotion, a sugar-free treat, a handcrafted card, and more!
Orthofeet BioSoft Padded Sole Socks
The BioSoft line of socks from Orthofeet are specifically designed to address foot pain and increase overall foot comfort. They are made of super-soft, moisture-wicking, anti-bacterial bamboo fibers and come with padded soles and super stretchy cuffs to better fit swollen feet, ankle, and calves.
ZooVaa Sensory Weighted Lap Blanket
Experts believe that sensory lap blankets can help calm the nerves of those who have early dementia. They help to increase melatonin and serotonin levels overnight. This helps them to sleep comfortably for long periods.
Learn more about lap blankets for the elderly here.
Decade Candy Gift Box from Old Time Candy
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 Magazine
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.
Sleep Easy Sound Conditioner
Don’t go by the name of this gift. In fact, it makes pleasing sounds that can help elders go to sleep quickly. They have a variety of sound variations and also active noise cancellation facilities, allowing lonely elders to drift off to sleep.
Therabox – Self Care Subscription Box
For lonely seniors, check out Crate Joy’s TheraBox Self Care Box. Each box has healthy ways to spend your time by concentrating on your self and your own care. You get a happiness activity and several self care wellness products to try out. The best part? Each box’s selections are chose by therapists!
American Diner 1000pc Puzzle
Nostalgia abounds in this flashback puzzle – you’ll quickly be transported back to your days as a child. Features images of common items and visitors of diners in the 19050’s. 1000 pcs. 19.25″ X 26.75″ when completed.
Great Clubs Monthly Fresh Flower Delivery
With this gift, your loved one will receive 1 fresh bouquet of exotic and fragrant flowers for the best growers throughout the world. Included in each shipment is a newsletter and a personalized gift letter from you. 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12 month options.
invisaWear Smart Jewelry with Panic Button
This well made jewelry features a hidden panic button that you can press when you need any kind of assistance from friends, family, or even the authorities. Once received, the jewelry syncs up to an app on your cell phone. Then, once the panic button is pressed, your cell phone will notify the people that your designate.
Safe Sound Personal Alarm
Accidents don’t come invited and lonely adults with severe health conditions have a higher chance of emergencies. So, gifting a personal alarm makes sense. Whenever they feel something wrong about their health or they are in the middle of an emergency, they can push the alarm button to alert the neighbors or anyone around.
Poppy’s Hobbies Seasonal Craft Kits
This subscription box has craft projects that seniors and beginning crafters will love. Each box is themed around a particular season or holiday and are usually decor items that are show-off worthy! Each box includes complete instructions and all accessories needed.
AncestryDNA® Kit
As we age, many of us begin to wonder where we came from and where our roots begin. AncestryDNA® now offers even more ways for aging adults to discover their family story. Help them begin their journey with an AncestryDNA® Collection Kit.
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.
TaoTronics Light Therapy Lamp
In winter, you could have 16 to 18 hours of darkness. This keeps elders from getting out in the sun which can depress some elders. A light therapy lamp mimics natural outdoor light so that elders don’t feel they are missing out on anything outside.
Vive Neck and Back Shiatsu Massager
Perfect for heating, massaging, and relaxing sore back and neck muscles, this is a great gift that can provide much needed relief to muscle soreness, muscle tightness, or even pain resulting from these issues. All without having to book an appointment, go across town, and deal with the uncomfortable aspects of getting a massage from a professional.
Hunt A Killer – Do You Have What It Takes?
Enjoy a good mystery? Can’t put down an Agatha Christie novel once you get started? Then HuntAKiller.com may be just the subscription service for you.
Each month you get a box of clues to help you solve a murder. These monthly boxes are laid out like an episode of a TV show and they tell a bigger story. Six episodes complete a season. There are puzzles and ciphers to solve too for the puzzle lover.
Each box takes between 90 min and 3 hours to complete and can be used as a group experience too. Worried about content? The boxes are “PG-13” because some clues may be graphic (autopsy reports ans such).
Craftsman Crate Skill Building Subscription Box
The Craftsman Crate is a great way for seniors to try out new hobbies while keeping their hands active and busy. Each box is a complete project box with complete instructions and even includes the tools needed. Past boxes have included candle-making, mosaics, and soapstone carving.
Woodlink Deluxe Cedar Bird Feeder
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.
Ancestry® Gift Subscription
As we age, it’s not uncommon to begin wondering where we came from and wanting to learn more about our roots. A gift subscription for Ancestry® can help aging adults begin the journey just by plugging in what they do know about their ancestors. A gift like this can also create an opportunity to spend time together by working on the family history together!
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
Montem Trekking Poles
These walking poles are actually quite useful for those with mobility issues or those who simply want to take some of the strain off their legs. Using the sticks to simply walk incorporates more of the upper body in the walking movement much the same way as an elliptical. So, for those who have knee problems, these might help them move around easier for longer walks and hikes.
3X Large Magnifying Glass with Light
As eyesight goes, this magnifying glass helps seniors read small print on medication, newspapers, maps, and books. The optical glass dome provides obstruction free viewing without any distortion. If reading is a problem all together, think about an easy to use audio book player.
Lightweight Folding Step Stool
Whether needing a sturdy non-slick step stool to reach the top of the shelves in the bathroom, the kitchen, or the basement, a reliable folding step stool is an incredibly practical and extremely useful gift. This encourages that all-important sense of independence and self-reliance while helping to reduce the chances of preventable accidents. See more step stools for seniors here.
Audiobooks.com Monthly Audiobook Club
Many seniors can benefit from an Audiobooks.com subscriptions: 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.
Smiling Face Daisies Cookie Bouquet | Cookies by Design
Brighten someone’s day with this bright and cheery Daisy Cookie Bouquet from Cookies by design. Options include 5, 7, or 12 cookies in a garden style planter basket. Can by personalized or include a personal message
Jitterbug Smart2 Smartphone for Seniors from Lively
This easy to use smartphones for seniors has simple, list basted menus with a large, easy to see screen. Even offers voice typing and mobile internet access.
Gift Baskets Boredom Buster Care Package | GreaterGood
The Medium Boredom Buster Care Package includes: Word search book, Crossword book, Deck of cards, Wooden puzzle brain teaser game, Tootsie Rolls, Camouflage hackie sack, camouflage bandana, 2 Quaker Oaks Granola bars, Smiley face stress ball, Juicy fruit gum, Blank note cards with envelopes, Planters asst deluxe nuts, Chex mix, Oreo cookies, Combos Cheese filled pretzel nuggets, Kraft gift box.
Hello Fresh Meal Kit Delivery Service
Hello Fresh Meal Kits are a great way to provide meals for seniors and the elderly – especially if they enjoy cooking or have a caregiver to help. Choose from a variety of menus and healthy food plans. Weekly meal box deliveries.
RELATED: Best Food of the Month Clubs for Seniors & Elderly
Deal of the Day Flower Gifts at Just Flowers
Leave it to the experienced florist designers to arrange the perfect gift with the freshest and most beautiful flowers available. Choose your price and delivery date and they’ll take it from there!
Mrs Prindables Gourmet Caramel Apples
Send a beautiful and delicious jumbo caramel apple each month when signing up for a 6 or 12 month program or as a one-time purchase. Each apple comes with a festive ribbon or seasonal ornament.
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.
TIMMKOO Easy to Use MP3 Player
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.
A digital photo album is a fun way to load up and display family, vacation, and travel photos. Rather than having space for just one or two happy photos, you can add or change the pictures by uploading them from your phone to the frame when you come to visit. It can also be updated via WiFi too! For fun the senior could even use a camera to take some of the photos themselves.
Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablet and E-Reader
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.
Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Noise Cancelling Headphones
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.
399 Games, Puzzles & Trivia Challenges
There are many options when it comes to good brain games. Crossword power, Sudoku books, word searches, or something else entirely, brain games are important. This book is a great option among many for creating and interacting with games that not only pass time and keep you entertained, but also keeps the mind firing on all cylinders!
US Art Supply 82 Piece Deluxe Art Creativity Set
Help revive a senior’s old hobby or passion give your loved one the tools to take up a new one with this artistic kit. Doing creative tasks like this is good for better developing the more creative part of the brain. While challenging, it will help to teach a new skill, occupy their time, and give them something to be proud of.
Choosing a Gift for Lonely Elders
Selecting a gift for lonely elders is not a daunting task.
You should understand what would make them happy to counter their loneliness. As for me, I like the idea of the large print puzzle books and subscription boxes. Gifts like this will help them stay busy and keep their minds sharp. Plus, knowing something else is coming later will give them something to look forward to!
Do you have a gift you recommend for elderly people who might be lonely? Please share your ideas in the comments below!
I just want you to know that I think this website is an absolutely great idea. So many elderly are so lonely. I will let those I know about it and I hope it spreads across the nation for others to access as well. Thank you!