Christmas Gift for Elderly Grandmother

We go the way too practical route and get her a gift card for her grocery store. Also, anything edible is good so long as it can be frozen (like banana bread) or doesn't get moldy (like chocolate). I agree that spending time with you and the kids will make her happier longer than anything else.

Books on CD.
Really nice slippers.
Manicure.
Soft massage.
Super soft sweater.
Subscription to a magazine.. Southern living or whatever her interest are.
Membership to a local museum or nature center.
If she plays cards.. A battery operated card shuffler and pretty playing cards.
A bird feeder with bird food, placed close to her window..
A squirrel bungie with the dried corn cobs, placed close to her window.

my grandmother is the same age and these are some of the things we've done for her in the past.

-made a fleece blanket that you tie together
-photo calendar
-downloadable picture frame where you can put pictures on it & it plays a constant slideshow
-anything with the birthstones of the family-we're catholic so we made her a rosary with each bead as a different birthstone of her 8 kids 30 grandkids and 20 great grandkids- it took awhile but she loved it-she said it helps her keep track of us when she prays for us:)
-last year we bought her a camera. thought she might like to take her own pics.
-also i think the gift of time is huge for people as they age. my grandma just wants someone to tell her stories to and maybe go shopping and get her hair done.
good luck! i'm sure she'll love whatever you decide to get her:)

my grandma (just turned 80) loves to go to Olive Garden, but Grandpa wont go anywhere but Cracker Barrel (something about bad cooks during the war, he doesnt like to try new things) so we like to take her out to eat when we can. Maybe if your grandma likes movies or something you can take her? I took mine to the new Star Wars when they came out and we had a really good time, even though they sucked. :-)

Hello R., Have you considered paying a reputable person to clean her house once or twice a month? That would probably be very helpful and much appreciated. I hope I am not doing all my own cleaning at 85!
Or, how about making up a cute presentation and giving her the gift of you and your family's company for dinner every other Sunday?? Include in the gift that you will pick her up and bring her home. Being with family is probably the nicest and most meaningful gift you could give. Her days are probably a bit lonely.
Hope this was helpful. E. Taft

Sometimes it's the practical things that really matter. Here are the things that my mom really enjoyed receiving as gifts before she passed away:

* Beautiful stationary, blank postcards and stamps
* A journal for her to write in.
* Big Band, Lawrence Welk and similar music CDs.
* Special snack foods (cookies, peanut brittle, butter toffee popcorn, etc).
* If she is religious, a video or audio recording of a particular church service if that is something that her church does.
* Slippers, robe, nightgowns.
* Super soft throw blanket.
* Grooming supplies like a really nice brush, manicure kit, special shampoos and conditioners, and luxurious body washes and lotions.
* Maybe a video tape of you, your husband, the kids and various family members sing songs for her, telling stories and what not that she can watch between visits.

That's all that I can come up with for now. I'm sure that whatever you end up picking out for her, she'll treasure it with all her heart.

Happy holidays.

Not sure what she's into or how mobile she is, but we just got my grannie a "build your own" subscription to the Boston Symphony Orchestra. 2x tix to each show so she could bring a friend. They have a number of shows on in the afternoons on Fridays and you can pick the price band you want to be in (you have to buy for a minimum of 3 shows). I split it with my brother so it was relatively affordable (about $100 each). We wanted to give her something she'd enjoy and could DO instead of giving her more "stuff" (as she calls it!). I'm sure there are similar things for different types of events if she's not into classical music though. Good luck!

I know an 85 year old grandmother would love the gift of time. Spend the whole day with her, bring over a wonderful lunch or make it at her home just the two of you. You cant paint her nails , comb her hair , make her feel really special.

Unless a diabetic, precooked meals and snacks are always appropriate as she probally won't cook just for herself. Also, a coupon book of things you can do for her when she calls. "Rake leaves." "clean house"
That is so sweet you did all those DVDs.

All these ideas sound great but also, make a donation to her favorite charity under her name? Habitat for Humanity, Audubon Society, local food bank, etc. she might like the sentiment without anything but an acknowledgement card cluttering her house.

Happy Holidays, N.

My grandma was really impressed with a small edible arrangement delivered right to her door. If you are not going to be seeing her this Christmas, it might be a nice surprise. ANother good grandparent/great grandparent gift is a photo calender. It takes a little bit of effort but they are treasured!!!

By 85 my grandmother really didn't want to accumulate more stuff. When it came to receiving gifts she seemed to take the most pleasure from frivolous things such as chocolate covered cherries (her favorite), fun pink ankle socks (her favorite color), framed pictures of the grand kids, new make-up (ie blush and brush) and even a mani-pedi. Good luck!

My husbands Grandma is a movie buff, and mine was too (she passed away 3 years ago on Thanksgiving day sadly, but she was younger, only 70, but had some mobility issues, so movies were a great thing for her!)

We did a Netflix membership for them both. We managed it for my Mom (my brother did as he lived close by)..Mom would write down Movies she thought of, my brother would print lists or something for her, and they made it work. With the older Grandma, who is actually very computer savvy (thanks to classes at the community center!), she did it all online herself! She LOVES it. She can see all her golden oldies and some new ones that attract her attention.

Both loved a cleaning lady we arranged for them, craft magazines as both were crafters, updated recording devices to record their craft shows to watch over and over. Grandma is on a fixed budget so she likes the gift cards, renewal of her newspaper (for the puzzles on Sunday!)....and anything she offers on a list (usually good quality rubber bottom slippers, a good, but small fry pan as she is cooking for one, etc). We did alot of craft supplies (fancy paper for the Grandma as she makes her own cards)

For both, rides places and bringing some nice easy leftovers (like when I make a big pot of soup or pan of casserole..things that warm well...neither liked cooking for one.

Both LOVED LOVED the tied together fleece blankets my then pre-teen daughter made for both of them. A nice lap blanket size for watching TV or to fold at the end of the bed to pull up on colder nights or for a quick nap without mussing the whole bed up.

Good luck and happy gifting!

Have a holiday floral arrangement delivered?

Photo calender?

Gourmet candy (Godiva, etc)

Sometimes what older people like spent on them the most is time, so what about a nice girls out time like lunch and a manicure together?