Deciding what to gift an elderly senior loved one is a challenge for many.
Many seem to have what they want and aren’t into the latest trends, fashion, or gadgets.
The good news is that, with a few exceptions, most older adults aren’t impressed by expensive gifts anyway.
So, here are several inexpensive gifts for seniors and the elderly that still show you care. Without coming off as cheap!
So keep on reading to learn more – or – give your eyes a break and let our system read this article to you… Just press play!
Gifts That Entertain
Many seniors love solving puzzles, so why not provide them with puzzles to work on all year long?
Puzzles help keep the mind active and sharp, which can improve memory and keep away boredom too.
You can send your recipient nine issues a year without spending much money!
Like the puzzle books above, magazines provide many benefits for seniors: education, entertainment, and a way to pass some time.
Magazines are also a great link to the outside world.
You can pick up many magazine subscriptions for less than $20/year. Look for large print magazines for seniors with vision problems.
We love gifts that have multiple purposes! This calendar is both practical and fun.
This page-a-day calendar has full-color images and humorous examples of real-life “senior moments” throughout history. Plus, there is room for writing in reminders and appointments.
But, this is not a gift for the easily offended or people with no sense of humor.
There are many options when it comes to good brain games.
Brain games such as crossword power, sudoku books, and word searches are important for keeping the mind active and engaged. And this book is a combination of all of these.
It’s also an inexpensive option for entertaining and exercising the mind of an older adult you love!
Listening to music or talk radio is another great way to pass the time.
This easy-to-use radio with big buttons also has an easy-to-read screen. It even scans and finds stations with one touch of a button.
It’s portable, too, so it can be moved throughout the house, taken to the garage, or even on trips and vacations.
We have more recommended radios for seniors in this guide if you’d like to see a few more choices.
Practical Gifts
Sadly, when our older loved ones leave us, their stories and history go with them.
This workbook encourages them to share this history with you and provides a place to record memories through a series of meaningful questions and prompts.
The resulting stories will quickly become a treasured heirloom for the family.
This versatile nail treatment has all the tools needed for a mani/pedi at home.
It is also a great set to gift to a senior citizen because each piece is covered with a rubberized coating that helps them grip it more securely.
The zippered case holds everything together, and the bright blue color makes it easy to find.
Sometimes, keeping up with medications is a difficult task.
This stackable pill organizer holds a week’s worth of meds in convenient daily drawers. Simply pull the current day out of the bottom of the dispenser and the other days slide down a notch to replace it.
Each drawer has four different slots for the time of the day the pill should be taken. It also has stickers so you can label the drawers in 22 languages. The small, compact size is great for travelers too!
Did you know you can gift quality Gillette razors and shaving products to seniors? And you can have them delivered on a schedule that you prefer.
This starter kit includes the Gillette FlexxBall razor handle, five-blade refills, and a travel-size sensitive shave gel.
Sign up for their subscription service and get refills delivered every month, every three months, or six months.
Neon Kactus Reusable Glass Coffee Cup
This trendy but functional glass coffee mug can be used with hot and cold beverages.
The insulating silicone sleeve protects seniors’ hands from getting too hot or too cold. Its “grippiness” also helps them hold onto it more easily
The lid features a sippy cup styled spout for less chance of spills or messes.
Many basic tasks, like tying shoelaces, can be challenging when people have limited mobility.
Thankfully, you can avoid tying your shoes with these shoelaces from Xpand. These laces can be used with all kinds of shoes and consistently provide a great fit.
A present like this could make for a great stocking stuffer.
This useful snack cup is a great gift for seniors who are on the go or like to snack throughout the day.
The best part?
It keeps the wet and dry ingredients separate until you are ready. No soggy cereal or granola!
The cups are easy to care for, dishwasher safe, and BPA-free. There are lots of color choices too.
Hand to Hand Mug
Hand to Hand Mug
The Hand to Hand mug is one of our top recommended coffee mugs for seniors.
It is specifically designed for seniors and the elderly and is super lightweight. It only weighs 6.4 oz.
The large handle is easy to hold onto, even for people with weak or arthritic hands.
Because it is microwave and dishwasher-safe, it’s won’t be a burden for your loved one to take care of it.
![4X Large Magnifying Glass with [10 Anti-Glare & Fully Dimmable LEDs]-Evenly Lit Viewing Area-The Best Lighted Magnifier for Reading Small Fonts, Low Vision Seniors, Macular Degeneration, Inspection](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41+rOxB95qS._SL500_.jpg)
As eyesight goes, this magnifying glass helps seniors read the small print on medication, newspapers, maps, and books.
The optical glass dome provides obstruction-free viewing without distortion, keeping the text easy to read.
It even includes a light and a wide, easy-grip handle.
For comfort and pampering, this therapeutic eye pillow is infused with lavender (one of the most relaxing essential oils), which adds calm and relaxation to your loved one’s life.
Having a weighted pillow rest on your eyes can provide much relief, especially in this age of digital screens.
This is an especially thoughtful gift for seniors with sleeping problems.
Everyone of all ages loves Burt’s Bees hand care products.
So, this is a thoughtful and useful gift for senior men and women who suffer from dry, cracked, and painful hands, including gardeners and travelers.
This gift set includes two hand creams, cuticle cream, and a set of cotton gloves.
With these medical tags, it’s easy for first responders to get essential information about a patient.
The tags are laminated and completely weatherproof, so they’ll be in great shape for years.
The set includes both a keychain tag and a wallet card. It’s a wonderful way to protect the people you love most.
Tying shoes is often impossible with arthritic hands.
These elastic no-tie shoelaces are so much easier for older adults who struggle with putting on their shoes.
Just slip your feet into your shoes and lock the laces with one simple pull. They unlock just as fast, so taking them off won’t be a problem.
This smart pill organizer helps seniors manage medication by displaying the last time the bottle was opened.
This is a great gift for forgetful seniors who can’t remember if they took their medicine or not. Reduces the chance of them duplicating their meds.
See our guide to pill dispensers here if you’d like to learn more about them.
We talked earlier about how older adults might struggle to tie and untie shoes. These same people probably struggle with their boots too.
Consider a boot jack if your loved one has difficulty removing their work boots or snow boots.
Boot jacks do this because your recipient can sit down and remove their boots without bending over. No worries about them losing their balance.
This is one of those gifts that offer both functionality and fashion.
Because elderly people, especially, often feel cold, they often wear socks around the house all year round. Some of them even wear double socks to keep them warm in winter.
These socks keep the feet nice and cozy but also have an anti-slip bottom to reduce the chance of slipping and falling.
TaoTronics Light Therapy Lamp
Light Therapy Lamp, 10,000 Lux UV Free LASTAR Sunlight Lamp with Touch Control 3 Brightness...
In winter, you could have 16 to 18 hours of darkness.
The darkness and the dangerous weather lead to many more frail older adults becoming homebound and not being able to get out in the natural light and sun.
A light therapy lamp mimics natural outdoor light so that these folks don’t feel they are missing out on anything outside.
I don’t care what age you are, I bet you spend time every so often looking for your keys, right?
Key finders are a great gift for seniors because they don’t cost a lot and are very helpful too.
This one has a transmitter kept at one location and four 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!
For the Home
Does your loved one enjoy plants but doesn’t have room for a full garden?
These cute little planters are 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.
A sturdy, non-slick step stool can reach the top shelves in the bathroom, the kitchen, or the basement.
So, this reliable folding step stool is an incredibly practical and extremely useful gift for active seniors who don’t have any balance or mobility issues.
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.
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, and cozy and really will change the entire experience, whether getting a good night’s sleep or just taking a little nap.
Oh, wait! It’s not expensive at all!
Mikasa Glass Box
This covered glass trinket box is an elegant way to store your favorite accessories, small mementos, rings, or other jewelry.
It measures two inches long by two inches wide and is two inches high.
An aromatherapy diffuser is a wonderful way to release a healthful mist into the air. This gift offers various settings, so you can let it run for up to 6-8 hours with a tank of water.
Anyone living in a home with a furnace or heating system 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?
Sleep Easy Sound Conditioner
Has there ever been a more perfectly named gift?
This handy gadget contains a small fan that duplicates the pleasing sound of moving air for a true white noise experience. This helps block other noises allowing seniors to sleep easier!
It offers a variety of sound variations and volume settings. It is small and compact and will fit right on the nightstand.
Sweets and Treats
I’ve had people contact me and thank me for this gift suggestion!
This cool gift box is stuffed with 2 lbs of candy that was popular in a particular decade. Decade options include the 1920s to the 1990s and all the decades in between.
People have told me that when people enjoy the same candy they did as children, stories start to flow. This is a fun way to get to know more about those older relatives and what their childhood was like.
For the true candy lover, there is a 4 lb choice and a monthly subscription box option to keep the candy (and stories) coming regularly.
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.
If healthier sweet options aren’t their thing, this cookie box has some of the best-tasting cookies they will ever eat.
This gift includes 32 bite-sized gourmet cookies in assorted flavors. They are even wrapped in packages of 8 to preserve their freshness.
Available with and without nuts too!
This simple box of assorted premium delicious chocolate squares is wrapped in a gold ribbon.
And, because it is Ghirardelli chocolate – you know they will be good.
Because it features their most popular flavors, it is a great way to sample their choices and choose your favorite.
Sweets and treats in tins are a holiday tradition that goes back decades.
These seasonal tins from Godiva hold 15 individually wrapped creamy truffles in various chocolate flavors.
The tin can even be used for decor or seasonal storage once it is emptied.
And, you know, emptying it won’t take long at all!
Chocolate + Coffee = Perfection, right?
These medium-roasted espresso coffee beans are covered in rich dark chocolate for the best of both.
Almost 1 lb of chocolatey coffee heaven!
For the Kitchen
The loose teas in this sampler pack were chosen specifically for their anti-inflammatory benefits and are loaded with antioxidants.
Oh, and they are delicious too!
Varieties included: Turmeric Bliss, Happy Belly, Skinny Tea, and Tea-Tox.
It is a great choice for seniors with arthritis who just enjoy warming themselves with a cup of tea.
Peeling eggs can even frustrate people who don’t have arthritis.
This simple egg peeler helps break up the eggshell with a few simple shakes and a little bit of water.
Then, the shell slips right off – often in one piece!
Corningware Meal Mugs
CorningWare Meal Mug with Vented Lid for Steam, 20-Oz Stoneware Soup Mug, BPA-Free Lid,...
This stoneware mug is made to go from microwave to table and includes a vented, splatter-free lid.
It is extremely useful 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.
It’s even easy to take care of, too, because it is dishwasher, freezer, and microwave safe.
Non-stick Vegetable Knife
This one-piece stainless steel handle and blade kitchen knife is durable and designed to last.
The ergonomic grip makes it easy for older hands to control.
It’s even dishwasher-safe!
Anolon Pizza Crisper
Anolon Advanced Nonstick Bakeware 13-Inch Pizza Crisper, Gray with Silicone Grips
I know that for my own grandmother, frozen pizzas became a staple of her diet.
This pizza pan is a great way for seniors to heat up frozen pizzas or leftover pizza at home for a crispy delicious crust. They can even use it to make homemade pizzas too.
Oven safe to 450 degrees and dishwasher safe for easy clean-up.
Pfaltzgraff Spoon Rest
Tea Rose
This Spoon Rest keeps your loved one from constantly wiping up messy spoon marks.
Plus, it’s as decorative as functional!
It is made of stoneware and features a delicate tea rose pattern. Dishwasher safe. The spoon rest measures 10 inches long.
If your gift recipient’s a tea lover, get them a high-quality tea set.
This one has all the accessories needed, including a beautiful but functional teapot and a tea infuser. Add to it a set of flavors you think they’ll enjoy.
She may have been using the same teapot for decades now, so she might just appreciate the upgrade.
RELATED: Helpful Gifts for Older Adults in Need
Summary
You don’t have to take out a loan or use your credit card to buy a gift that your senior loved ones will appreciate! The gifts we have listed here are creative, functional, or entertaining… and won’t cost you a fortune.
Of course, the least expensive gift is the gift of your time. Take them to dinner, visit, and attend church… just spend time with them – that’s what matters!
What other ideas do you have for inexpensive gifts for senior citizens? Tell me about them in the comments below! Also, please share this article on social if you found it helpful!
