If you’re looking for Christmas gifts for older parents and grandparents, we’re here to help. Lots of us haven’t been able to see our elderly relatives in a long time, so it’s only natural to want to find the best Christmas presents for them. After all, gift-giving is a wonderful way to show that you care. Take a look at our recommendations and get some great Christmas gifts for your elderly parents.
1. Ancestry DNA Kit
Does your parent love watching Who Do You Think You Are or Long Lost Family? If so, this could be the ideal gift for mum or dad. An Ancestry DNA kit allows your loved one to learn more about their family history and start tracing their family tree. They’ll send off a DNA sample for testing and in just a few weeks their results will be ready. Plus, they’ll be able to search online for others who share their DNA – you might discover a few cousins you never knew you had!
Available at ancestry.co.uk – £59 plus shipping.
2. Long Distance Lamps
This year, we haven’t been able to see our older relatives as much as we’d like. Let your loved one know whenever you’re thinking of them with a pair of long-distance touch lamps. You’ll give one lamp to your parent and keep the other one in your home. Whenever you touch your lamp, the one in your parent’s house will light up or change colour! Similarly, your parent can touch their lamp to make yours light up. This is the ideal gift for elderly parents who live far away or are particularly vulnerable. These lamps also make great gifts for grandparents – why not put one in your child’s bedroom and give the other to your parents – great for little ones who are missing grandma and grandpa. The two lamps connect to each other via Wi-Fi, so your parents will need to have an internet connection at home.
Available at friendlamps.co.uk – £135 for set of two, free UK shipping.
3. Careline Alarm
This year, lots of our older parents have spent a lot of time at home by themselves. We all know how important it is to stay independent as we get older, but it’s only natural to want a little more support or reassurance. A Careline Alarm can provide just that. The simple system consists of a base unit and a pendant, which can be worn comfortably around the wrist or neck. In an emergency, the user can press the pendant button to call for assistance and the Care Team will make sure help is on the way quickly. The pendant has a range of 100 metres from the base unit and is waterproof for use in the bath or shower too.
Brand new for 2020! There is also a GPS-enabled alarm, which allows the user to call for help no matter where they are.
Available at careline.co.uk – from just £13.89 per month. Order online or on 0808 304 4510
4. Coffee Machine
These dark winter mornings make it that little bit harder to get out of bed each day. For the coffee-lovers out there, a good quality coffee machine would be an excellent Christmas present. You don’t need to spend a fortune either. You can pick up a classy French press for around £15. Mid-range options, like a Nespresso machine which uses disposable coffee pods, are also a popular choice. If you want to splash out on a top of the range machine with all the bells and whistles, you could spend hundreds (or even thousands!) of pounds, so do your research.
Available from various online retailers.
5. Meal Kit Subscription
Continuing on the foodie theme, meal plan subscription boxes make great Christmas gifts for older parents. These days, we all understand the importance of healthy eating, but lots of us just don’t have time to whip up three healthy, home-cooked meals every day. Planning meals can take up a significant chunk of time, which is where this next gift idea can help. Companies like HelloFresh and Gousto offer meal kits, which you can have delivered to your door. Each week, you can choose from a rotating selection of recipes (with lots of options for vegetarians, vegans, and other dietary needs). Your ingredients will be delivered alongside handy recipe cards to guide you through the cooking process. Alternatively, if your loved one is struggling to cook for themselves, opt for a subscription like Pasta Evangelists, which provides fresh pasta and pre-made sauces that just need heating up.
Available from various online retailers.
6. Sunlight Alarm Clock
In the summertime, it’s easy to get all the vitamin D our bodies need from sunlight. However, in the winter months (especially here in the UK) this can be quite a challenge. A lack of vitamin D can contribute to Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD – otherwise known as the winter blues. To combat this, many people use sunlight lamps. These LED lamps mimic sunlight, helping your body absorb vitamin D, while filtering out harmful UV radiation. You can also get sunlight alarm clocks, which use a combination of slowly-brightening light and gentle sounds to wake you up smoothly. No more harsh, buzzing alarms jolting you awake.
Available on Amazon – prices from £24.99
7. Gardening Seat
A gardening seat or kneeler is a great Christmas gift for elderly parents who love gardening. Choose one with storage pockets for them to keep their tools in so that they can keep their hands free and it won’t throw off their balance. Lots of models also have wheels – this is great because your loved one won’t need to lift it up or bear the weight of the seat and all their gardening tools inside it. Some even come with cupholders! Take a look at some other great gardening tools right here on the Careline blog. We found a basic gardening seat from Homebase – it has storage pockets and can be turned upside down for use as a kneeler too.
Available from Homebase – £17.95 plus shipping (Click & Collect also available)
8. Record Player
Nowadays, most of us listen to music via services like Spotify. However, vinyl has made a huge comeback in recent years and is currently trendier than ever. If your older parents have any old vinyl records up in the loft, why not get them a trendy record player? For real music aficionados, you might want to splurge on a top of the range model in order to get the best sound quality and maintain the vinyl better. However, most of us won’t notice these subtle differences, so there’s no need to spend big. Chic suitcase-style record players are very affordable and available from high-street and online retailers.
Available from Argos – prices from £29.99
9. Reusable Hand Warmers
For the mother or father who always feels the cold, reusable hand warmers make wonderful Christmas gifts for older parents. They’re an affordable little stocking-stuffer which your older parents can use all the time! Just bend and flex the hand warmers to activate them and feel the warmth immediately. Pop them inside your gloves to stay cosy while you’re out and about. Then, when you’re done, pop them in a pan of hot water to reset them so they’re ready to be used again.
Available from trespass.com – £4.99
10. Fall Detector
As we get older, unfortunately, we face a bigger risk of falls. In fact, 1 in 3 people aged 65 will have a fall each year, according to the NHS. We know it’s not a nice topic to think about, but it’s important to be prepared, which is why we recommend giving the gift of peace of mind this Christmas. A Fall Detector Alarm can raise the alarm automatically if it detects a sudden drop in height. The detector itself is sleek and lightweight, designed to be worn comfortably around the wrist like a watch. Lots of people say that a fall detector gives them a massive boost in confidence, allowing them to feel safe and secure in their daily life.
Available from careline.co.uk – £184, includes 12 months monitoring service, setup fee, and free delivery
For more information about the Fall Detector or any of the personal alarms we offer here at Careline365, please get in touch with our friendly team. You can call 0808 304 4510, email info@careline.co.uk, or use our handy contact form online.
