My moms aunt cousins are giving their mom a surprise birthday party. I have no idea what to get her. What would someone that age possibly need?
Pens!
We laugh at work because every time we get an elder on the phone, they say, "Hold on, let me get a pen", then you hear them muttering, "Aw, that pen doesn't write, neither does this one, none of them write".
So I went to my mothers house and asked for a pen and she brought me one that didn't write. She took it back to put it back in the pen cup!
Spending time with her is probably the best gift. Ie. Give her a gift certificate to brunch and promise to take her.
Are you close to your aunt? I found that as my parents got older the best gift I could give them was the gift of time. This past Christmas I gave my Mom (my Dad passed away) an IOU for a breakfast out at a local place we love for the first Monday of every month. I'll end up costing me $240.00 and 18 hrs of my time but she'll talk about it all year and look forward to going.
What does she like?
Something to read. (Fiction, magazine subscription, ebook/gift card)
Something to wear. (Scarf, pjs, jewelry, socks, gloves)
Something to eat. (Godiva chocolates, homemade cookies, fruit bouquet)
Something to do. (Puzzles, game, cards, etc.)
Something to pamper. (Slippers, socks, hand cream, scented body wash/soaps)
Or--bail out idea--$90!
time, not stuff. trip to her favorite zoo, museum or play. restaurant trip (not a gift card, but a promise to take her.) full-blown english tea at a real teahouse. a month of movie afternoons, where you show up with a video of an old favey of hers, and some sort of treat to share, once a week.
khairete
S.
We gave my husband's grandmother an empty photo album for her 90th birthday. We took a bunch of pictures at the party and explained to her that we would print the pictures and fill the album with them after the party. She loved it.
Easy and pretty inexpensive too.
I would suggest that a calendar be made where everyone who is over age 15 signs up for a day to spend an hour with her each month.
That's what I'd want!
No matter how active or able bodied a person may be at that age, a woman that age, needs help, with cleaning because they have physical limitations at that age. With stuff that is dangerous or anything that requires they get on a ladder to do it.
ie: washing windows.
Cleaning the gutters
washing their car even
Mowing the lawn etc.
heavy lifting etc.
Does she live alone or in her own home still?
If so, home maintenance still has to be done. But at that age, they cannot do it by themselves.
So, you all can help her do it, on a weekend.
My Mom, is a part of a community group, that does "handy-man" things in the neighborhood. And MOST of the help that people need help with, are with the senior citizens... whose homes are in disarray and lawns not kept up, and roofs that are falling apart, or even a screen door that is broken, or their house paint is all old and peeling off etc. And their homes are in disarray, because at that age, they cannot do it themselves. And they NEED help to do, it.
So that is my suggestion.
See what your Aunt, may need help with.
At that age, well photos might be nice too.
Or an album.
But help with house maintenance, by caring relatives, are very helpful.
And also at that age, many seniors are on a limited budget.
Or they have health problems or vision problems etc. or are physically limited, or are frail, so even a massage may "hurt" them.
My Mother in law is 85 and loves to go to the movies. A movie date?
A warm throw
Warm fuzzy socks
A family picture (everyone) framed to put by her bedside
Your time & attention. Talk to her about herself & her family. Ask her to
tell you about herself.
How active is she?
Bath salts, lotions, note cards, postage, a favorite food, flower, donation to her favorite organization.
When my FIL turned 90, his children got together and gave him 90 gold dollars. No, he didn't need it, but he was tickled pink - er, gold.
When my mother turned 90, her friends presented her with a list entitled, "What's Good About Being 90." She loved it so much that I have used it since for other people who hit that age - modifying it to their personalities and experiences. Some of the possible items are:
You can sit back and watch your family tree grow taller and wider.
You have more time to hear about your exceptional grandchildren.
You are wise enough to remember that "How are you?" is a greeting, not a serious question. So everyone is glad to greet you!
89-year-olds envy you.
You can have your 100th birthday party at ANY date you choose in the next ten years. Next week's fine.
People go out of their way to help you with anything you want - you can even stop traffic and cross the street wherever you like.
Your to-do list is as long or as short as you want it to be.
If you forget things, nobody minds. They're just amazed that you're still around!
You can eat chocolate cake and jelly beans for breakfast with nobody lifting an eyebrow.
You can flirt with younger men (those dudes in their 80s).
You have the excitement, and sometimes the pride, of having lived through history that the rest of us have only read about.
In roman numerals, you are XC-llent!
You can also add a few good quotes and poems. Make it serious or funny or sweet (or all of the above), as you prefer. Make sure it's read out loud at the party.
Depends on the person. Most of the older people I know couldn't give a hoot about stuff. They started fussing about not needing anything and how most gifts were a bother because they were duplicates, clutter, dustcollectors.
I have an aunt who would love a night at a nudy bar/ strip show. I have another who would like a matine'e opera. Another would like some landscaping work done, another would enjoy a poetry reading at a local coffee house, one would probably like a hookah joint, baklava, strong mint tea, and to lay her eyes on swarthy young men, another bet is to gift to a charity of their choice.
Best,
F. B.
I love to give older women a nice, plush but not heavy bed jacket. Something that is easy to put on and use while seated in a chair while reading or watching TV. Older people don't have the best circulation so they get cold. This would keep her warm.
I give my Baba (she is now 88) a gift of "dinner on the last Friday of every month" with me and my kids. Sometimes we pick her up and take her out or sometimes we bring something to her and cook it there. She has everything she needs, more trinkets, pictures etc (other than one of those digital picture frames that scrolls hundreds of pictures) is not what they need. They want to spend time with loved ones, give her your time. Oh and we clean her house when we are there!
B.
My grandma (96) loves photos of her grandkids and especially her great grandkids. Make her a photo collage to hang on the wall or a photo book (either prints or a digital one though shutterfly/snapfish).
a nice framed family picture
