conj Posted October 5, 2006 Share Posted October 5, 2006 Ok, the woman lives alone in a retirement village. She can't go anywhere unless someone drives her... so GC usually mean one of my inlaws - who live closer- will have to take her somewhere, and i get an earful. We've done GC, Craft supplies (but her eyes and hands aren't so good) we even tried a seasons lottery ticket (to which she muttered: waste of &%%# money...) We've done corny jewlery boxes, pictures of the kids... all of it with luke warm response... Any ideas as to what she might actually enjoy??? Oh - we live 3+ hours away... visiting is not much of an option... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrn8 Posted October 5, 2006 Share Posted October 5, 2006 Maybe a nice sweater or something like that? Possibly a _____ of the month club, so the item is delivered to her monthly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sns128 Posted October 5, 2006 Share Posted October 5, 2006 I'm not sure how much help this will be but every year our Walmart does an angel tree with one of the local resthomes. The things they ask for mostly are calenders, socks, lotions, and books on tape. Maybe someone else has some better ideas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bugsette Posted October 5, 2006 Share Posted October 5, 2006 my mom is 80 and she likes food like to snack on at night and teas, chips, crackers, candy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
able Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 well as much as nothing will be as good as a visit,id suggest something she can see for a while.IF the place she is in has a haIR DRESSER Come in,thats a good thing ..pay for a few..if not SEND one to her!!!!! trust that she will appreaciate that!.. it is a important thing when in those places.you never know till your in there.!! the edible thing is a ok idea if her diet is not restricted. what about flowers? does she have a phone in her room? maybe a fish tank? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersunshine Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 a nice, warm blanket (most of the elderly like them due to decreased circulation), socks, slippers with rubber soles, soap, shampoo, enlarged word puzzles, magnifying glass (the kind that fits a whole page), a tv with remote (and batteries) for her room, the hair dresser come see her for a day is a good idea, sugar free snacks, or maybe a basket with a few of the toiletries listed above, a warm button up sweater, sweatshirts, sweatpants, large fitting clothes, a radio/tape/cd player with a few of her favorite songs from her era... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shopping mom Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 How about some kind of driver service once a month to take her where she wants to go. My aunt has actually done this for people. She drives them to the grocery store, the doctor, Wal-mart or wherever. She is paid by the hour. I also like the blanket idea, and I think there are places that will even put a family photo onto the blanket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conj Posted October 6, 2006 Author Share Posted October 6, 2006 these are all good ideas. I will ask my SIL who helps her out most of the time what she would need/want. Make sure, if we go the socks route we have a size, if we go food - we know restrictions, etc. Keep them coming, though, this is a dilemma we face every year :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreaInNC Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 How about a personalized books on tape .. meaning a book that is read by a family member? does the retirement community provide her food? If not, a gc to a local grocery store is a good idea. Or a gift card to her local pharmacy? A new pillow for her bed, or a warm bathrobe or even a "bed buddy" one of those microwavable thingies that are great for body aches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersunshine Posted October 7, 2006 Share Posted October 7, 2006 get the socks with the "treads" on the bottom so this will help prevent falls. cough drops, hair brushes, combs, hair ties (rubberband like), t-shirt (undershirts), a stuffed animal, stationary with stamps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dealluvr Posted October 7, 2006 Share Posted October 7, 2006 definitel one of those cards,i think mainly they are for birthdays but you could make your own up,that lists everything going on in the year she was born.she can have fun with that list and reminise about the things back then and the prices. a portable radio my mom used to have one all the time if she has access to a vcr make a tape of everyone so she can see you all year round Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pampam Posted October 7, 2006 Share Posted October 7, 2006 My late husband's grandmother was very difficult to buy for. We usually gave her food or gift certificates for her favorite grocery store. One of the gifts she liked and used the most was a set of nice assorted greeting cards plus a book of postage stamps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pinkroses4mommy Posted October 9, 2006 Share Posted October 9, 2006 I did the greeting cards and postage stamps for my husband's late grandmother one year (which I thought was a good idea!) and she promptly told me that her eyes were getting too bad to write to people! :) I still think it's a great idea, though. Also, how about flannel sheets for her bed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pinkroses4mommy Posted October 9, 2006 Share Posted October 9, 2006 Just had another idea- how about a photo calendar with pictures of the family? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holly2hottie Posted October 9, 2006 Share Posted October 9, 2006 What about a memory book/photo album. Ask family members to send you their favorite pictures of her and write their favorite memory down. Put everything together in a pretty album. It would mean alot and make her happy when she might be lonely in the home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conj Posted October 9, 2006 Author Share Posted October 9, 2006 I did the greeting cards and postage stamps for my husband's late grandmother one year (which I thought was a good idea!) and she promptly told me that her eyes were getting too bad to write to people! :) I still think it's a great idea, though. Also, how about flannel sheets for her bed?yup, sounds like they are related! :) I know she is not the one who writes cards at this point... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pogiporkchop Posted October 9, 2006 Share Posted October 9, 2006 How about a donation in her name to the charity or group of her choice? Or a "purchase" in her name from Heifer International? That's a gift that will keep on giving, and she can't complain that it's a waste of money =) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conj Posted October 9, 2006 Author Share Posted October 9, 2006 How about a donation in her name to the charity or group of her choice? Or a "purchase" in her name from Heifer International? That's a gift that will keep on giving, and she can't complain that it's a waste of money =)You'd think she couldn't complain... but she would find a way... She is honestly the most unhappy person I know. From the stories I've heard, this has nothing to do with age Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerseygirl Posted October 10, 2006 Share Posted October 10, 2006 I ordered a tin of Ms Fields Cookies for my GM's 91st birthday. They have tins of mini-cookies (so I ordered the 96 piece minis, total gift, shipped to NC was under $40) She LOVED! them ~ passed them around her retirement home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great Dane Mom Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 How about a subscription to the large print edition of Reader's Digest, Reminisce, or some other magazine? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hpowers Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 How about a tape recorder and tapes and ask her to record herself. Have her start at the beginning of time for her and then the next 80 years. It will be more of a gift for you in later years when she is gone but it will make her feel special. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neesie Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 My Grandmother loves getting the GC for manicure & pedicures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopeky94 Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 Sounds like your DH's grandmother is related to my dad! There are a lot of good suggestions here already... but based on my experiences, here's what I would probably do: find out what she does most days to occupy her time, as well as what she likes to do on "special" occasions... ask your SIL and/or other caretakers what she can always use more of... Do you (or other relatives) know something she is (or used to be) sentimental about? Then, take all these ideas (and any others you may come up with) to Wal-Mart, Target, Dollar Store, or wherever and start looking for things (big or small) that would fit into her life. You may end up with one gift or with a collection of small gifts combined into one. Or you may see something at a store that gives you an idea for something more personalized (like some of the other ideas posted here). What I've found is, with people like my dad or your DH's grandmother, it doesn't matter how original/unique/expensive your gift is-- they may or may not seem to appreciate it when you give it to them... BUT if it's something that fits into their lives in a real way, they'll appreciate it more than you may ever know and will actually get enjoyment out of it. And isn't that what gift-giving is all about: showing our love and appreciation in a more meaningful, concrete way? :) Hope this helps.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
able Posted October 12, 2006 Share Posted October 12, 2006 sometimes the little things can be great..a basket of items? i gave my roomate a magnifyingglass set when i was in the place i was stuck,and you would have thought i gave her a million $. she used this thing to read her bible and sat by the window for light..i still would think somethign pamperign liek the hair cut(and many of these places have a hairdresser come in ,all you have to do is arrange payment to them.) she will get to show it off,and the staff and other patients will amke comments.Of the 3-4 months i spent in one of those places,the thing i appreaciate the most was 1 visitors!! 2 someone getting me internet connection and bringing in a lap top(so i could come on here and try to pass time) and 3 the apt with the hair dresser,and im not even an old lady! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
copados1993 Posted October 12, 2006 Share Posted October 12, 2006 how about some phone cards so she can call whomever she wants? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Novac Posted October 12, 2006 Share Posted October 12, 2006 The XBOX360 or ElmoTMX seemed like the obvious choices here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammy50 Posted October 13, 2006 Share Posted October 13, 2006 Just an idea, but does she play any sort of instrument? Would she like new music to play? My grandmother played the piano and we got her a keyboard one year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mywarmbluefleece Posted October 13, 2006 Share Posted October 13, 2006 My grandmother is hard to buy for, then I discovered her secret love: cute pajamas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitesocks Posted October 21, 2006 Share Posted October 21, 2006 I don't know about your grandmother but definitely socks or slippers with the treads on them... But blankets are a good idea to. But also maybe a clock radio with the large numbers on them. You might have to set it and tune it into the station in the area that has the music that she likes. It would give her something to listen to that could be like company. Cookies and candy can sometimes be bad for older people because of Diabetic and health concerns. Also sometimes a good powder. House dresses are sometimes a good thing easy to get on and take off and they are not to binding. Hard candy is also a good idea (Sugar-Free are always an option). They keep your mouth from drying out. An area nursing home that I know of has someone come through and fix hair for the residents. You could always pay for an extra service from them. They would always cut their hair for free but to get a permanent or something extra it costs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfcrowe Posted October 24, 2006 Share Posted October 24, 2006 How about a recording (tape, CD, VCR, etc.) of her family expressing their sentiments (positive...of course!)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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