Gifts for Granny

Guest Blogger — By Women Blogs on January 4, 2012 8:03 am

Giving gifts to grandparents can be pretty hard to do. You’re not sure what they need, what they use daily, what they enjoy doing or even what they are able to do. And, while you don’t want to ask and ruin the fun of the surprise, you want to be sure your gift is appropriate, right?

Check out these suggestions for what to get Grandma or Grandpa for their next birthday, family event or upcoming holiday.

The Gift of Safety

• Home Alert: Safety is important for everyone, but especially for the elderly and especially if your grandparent lives alone. Investing in a life alert system can help keep Grandma or Grandpa safe even if they’re home alone, and give your family much needed peace of mind. A life alert is the perfect gift to give as an individual or even as a family.

• New Bathtub/Shower: One of the biggest dangers for the elderly is the possibility of a serious slip or fall, and the bathtub or shower is one of the most common dangers. A new walk-in tub or shower will eliminate the need to step up and over a wet surface, lessening the possibility of a fall. With this risk eliminated, you’ll know that your grandparent is safe and sound each time they’re in the bathroom.

The Gift of Memories

• Photo Album: Grandparents love to relive memories, but most probably aren’t too savvy with the latest point-and-shoot or SLR cameras. If you have photos lying around on your memory card of family gatherings for the past year, having them all printed and placing them in an album makes the perfect gift. Be sure to include labels, captions, dates or any other notes so Grandma and Grandpa know exactly what they’re looking at for years to come!

• Home Videos: Your family undoubtedly has a few videos of birthdays, holidays, reunions or assorted get-togethers. Using a local editing service to have these older videos collected, converted to newer formats and complied onto one disc will make them easily accessible for the whole family, especially the grandparents.

The Gift of Company

• Dinner, Movie or Shopping: If your grandparents don’t get out much, taking them out to lunch, dinner, a movie or even to the store could be great change of pace and a chance for them to get out of the house. Be sure to plan well in advance to give them time to get ready and save the date. Ask them what they like to eat and definitely let them choose the restaurant. If you go to a movie, do your research beforehand and be sure it’s something they would enjoy.

• Bring Lunch or Dinner Over: If your grandparents aren’t able to get out of the house, bringing them a meal, cooking for them and hanging around the house with them for an afternoon or evening is a gift all on its own. Plan ahead, ask them what they’d like to eat, or what they’d like to have cooked. Maybe bring one of their favorite old movies to pop in as well. An afternoon or evening in is always great way to spend time with family.

These gifts are a great way to give your grandparents what they need the most, spend time together and reconnect if necessary. If you can’t afford items on your own, splitting with a family member or two makes the cost much more affordable!

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Tags: Women