I LOVE my Pop-pop. Dearly. So I always want to get him something nice/meaningful as gifts. This year is REALLY hard, though!
He will be 98 this month (and then obviously xmas is just around the corner). Usually, I would send his favorite foods and snacks to his house in PA, plus a photo album of my son from the past year so he could see him and also show his friends (we live in KS). Basically, he didn't need "stuff" but he was living alone and didn't cook or shop much so food or gift certificates to local restaurants were a big hit.
This year is totally different - he moved in with my parents in MO, only about a half hour away from me. So, he has food, he has books and movies, he doesn't need a cleaning service, he has clothes he doesn't even wear, he has no house of his own to decorate, he has no friends to show pictures to AND he gets to see us all the time. He is having a hard time walking so taking him places where he might need to walk even 50 yards or so (like a museum) is difficult. I am happy to take him to dinners without my parents or spoil him with special baked treats but in all honesty, I am doing that already.
Seriously, he has everything he needs/wants. I'm willing to break the bank for a good idea b/c he will most likely not be with me for this decision next year. He already gave my son what I thought was going to be his xmas present b/c I feel he is not confident of making it even that long. The move, although probably necessary, is killing him. He had a stroke - his first medical issue in AGES - within the first month of even being here.
So, what to get him?!?! Need ideas for both occasions.
I love him and want to make him happy.
Does he still read? If so, books or magazines. If he has vision issues, audio books would be nice. What about CDs of music from the 40s, 50s. My Dad is 85 and loves a DVD he got of old Dean Martin shows. There are old "I Love Lucy" & "Johnny Carson" DVDs out there that he might enjoy.
Pay for his friends' travel & stay for a celebration in MO. Pay for long distance relatives to travel & stay in MO. Simple games, movies, chat and food at home with rarely seen family and/or friends to celebrate.
Oh, honey, I would just give him your time. Buy a book that he might be interested in and commit to going and reading it to him once or twice per week. Take treats too - just to share and chat.
How old is your son? Maybe give him a "subscription" to a weekly family letter/portrait made by your son and then deliver it every week.
I think you may be over looking the obvious......He needs the company of his family.....go spend time with him and take your kids.
Do you have a drive thru Christmas light display in your area? You could take him through that. You could also take him on a drive around town to see the Christmas lights on houses. Go out for dinner and make a whole evening of it.
At that age, he doesn't want "stuff." He wants to be with you.
Bring him take out. His favorite. And just sit with him and eat and talk. Ask him to tell you a funny story about himself in his youth. Or to tell a story about your parents. I'll bet he has TONS!
Could your gift to him be a gift to your family? How about making a list of questions about his life and record him answering them. Kind of a video legacy to be passed down to your son etc..
Does he enjoy movies? My grandpa enjoyed going to the movies, even after he had a stroke. We would take him in his wheelchair and he would have this big smile on his face the whole time. It's nice to get out and do something like that when you're mostly confined to bed at home, and can't enjoy a lot of the things you used to do (go to restaurants, visit friends, etc). Even now that grandpa has passed away, we still get grandma movie tickets for her birthday, and she goes with her friends. Just a thought!
What about, getting him a walker?
You know, like these:
http://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=3776971
At that age, any elderly person, has to be careful of falls. They can break their hip. And they don't heal well after any fall.
This is for safety etc. And it will help him be more mobile, safely.
And you said he had a stroke.
My Dad had a stroke, and he had to use a walker.
He didn't mind. It meant, that he could walk.
Or, get him an iPod. So he can listen to music?
Or audio books.
And at this age and per his health, they get lonely too.
But yet, they don't want to be a "burden" to others.
Just simply having genuine company or companionship, is also what they miss.
Also, being he had a stroke, I don't know how it has affected his physical ability... but getting hand-bars in the shower and near the toilet for him... is ALSO very very, needed. Elderly, especially if they had a stroke, can slip and fall in the bathroom, and/or they will need help, with basic movements. We had to install handle-bars/grab bars in our bathrooms/shower/bath/toilet areas, for my Dad when he had a stroke.
Per his stroke, can he speak??? Can he eat or swallow normally?
My Dad could not do either very well, after his stroke. Even speaking, was very tiring for him.
Perhaps, getting him a whistle, or some kind of bell, would be useful too. So that, he can "call" anyone for help, if he needs it.
And/or a medical bracelet etc.
When a person has a stroke, it can really affect them emotionally. And they loose, mobility etc.
It really affected my Dad for example.
Any companionship he had, it really meant a lot to him.
Ask him if he would do you the honor of making a video diary about his life.
Or see if he'd be interested in filling out O. of those books about his life.
What a wonderful legacy that would be for your kids!
I have the same problem with my Grandpa.
Read this story in a british newspaper. Maybe an idea. I might just get one. Not sure if your grandfather would manage one. Just an idea. :-)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2226223/Th...
Just spend it with him. Get him out of the house. Lots of hugs and kisses. Have you thought of having a picture of him with you guys and put it on a plack that says best pop ever, we love you very much or some such. I know it sounds corney but i think that would probably do the trick. Is he into cars or such that you can take him to those old car shows. Bring back some nice memories for him
You can order personal photos made into puzzles of any size. Many pieces or a few pieces, large pieces or small pieces. How about an old photo (maybe wedding or baby).
Books on CD.
A laptop. (even an older model)
Get one of the elementary or unior high great grandchildren to help him learn to surf the web.
My husbands grandfather loved learning about the World wide web.
DVDs of old movies
Take him for a nice drive and show him some of the new things going on around town. You can borrow or rent a wheel chair.
Take a look at the Vermont Country Store website.. you may get some good ideas.
http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/store/?searchid=7SPDBR...
How about a visit? Can you visit him?
Time spent is the best at this age/stage in life.
If you can't visit, how about a videotaped message of you?
If you can't swing that, how about an audio tape message from you?
Also, sending those greeting cards where you can record your voice.
Would one of those motorized scooter chairs help him with his mobility?
http://www.hoveround.com/power-chair-accessories/power-wh...
I know I've said this before, but after my Gramm had her shoulder surgery, I got her a beautiful cable knit blanket in cream that was nice and soft and sized perfectly for her to use on the couch, a recliner, or her side of the bed. It's one of her favorite things to use and she can take it anywhere. She's nearing 90.
Even though we live close by she still loves getting pictures of my girls.
i am trying to think, what about a home video of your kids, or of all of his favorite pictures of his kids, grand kids, great grandkids all through the years growing up and everything.
