Happy Sweet Heart’s Day!

Don’t Forget Your Elderly Loved One On Valentine’s Day... and everyday.

Yesterday my 89 year old grandmother commented, "next week is Sweet Heart's Day." "Yes, grandma," my 12-year old said. "And, I am going to give you a nice present." Grandma replied, "That is nice but all I need is love."

Keep in mind that as people grow older, they do not want novelty gifts, they prefer attention, companionship and love. Gifts don't matter once you near the end of your life. That is what grandma was trying to tell my son. The gift giving brings a smile to our faces and joy to our hearts and shows our loved one we care. If you want to give a gift, think of practical things an older, less mobile or homebound person might enjoy. Complement your gift by adding your love by spending some time with your loved one. We surveyed our Cambridge Health families for a few suggestions when buying gifts for elderly loved ones.

Practical Gift Ideas

Books on Tape

We all love to read and as we get older and our eyesight diminishes, we lose that wonderful hobby of reading a good book. Nearly every book written is available on CD. This will be a winner!

Photos

Everyone, young and older, enjoys photos. No matter how you package photo,framed or in a photo album, your loved one will enjoy hours of looking at family photos and remembering old times and new. One family member said she scanned a selection of older photos for her mother and downloaded the photos in an electronic photo frame that runs in her mother’s room. This is another A+ idea.

Calendars

My grandma wants to remember every holiday and birthdays. Reality is that she has a hard time keeping up with the month much less the date. A large hanging wall calendar would be perfect for her to keep track of the days. Your loved one will appreciate this one greatly.

Magnifying Glasses

For those elderly who are struggling to see much less read, give an assortment of magnifiers, so they'll be able to read without straining their eyes.

Cards and Postage Stamps

Most elderly enjoy sending cards but rarely have the opportunity to shop. Give a variety of cards and postage stamps so they have these on hand. A good idea, especially if your elderly friend can't drive anymore to get to the store and post office. As a bonus, you can include an address book, complete with names, addresses and phone numbers of family members and friends.

Blankets and Robes

Elderly are often colder than normal and enjoy a nice soft lap blanket or robe to snuggle up with on a cool evening. Bath and Body Items Everyone enjoys a hot bath in their favorite bath oil or body wash. Often the elderly do not get the opportunity to purchase nice personal items for themselves. A nice basket of perfumes, lotions, and bath supplies will be appreciated.

Companionship

Visit your elderly loved one and spend some quality time. Ask questions and listen to stories. My late grandfather's eyes lit up when I would ask him about the “good ole days.” He had enjoyed a long life filled with hunting and fishing. He enjoyed telling his stories to me and the children. Most of all, homebound, elderly people want your attention more than your gifts. As many older people struggle with loneliness, the gift of your time is far more precious than any costly one you can buy.