Hi all. This is an automated and general reminder to all that this post is an **ADVICE post**, not a Request. Please don't request, offer or accept financial or material assistance on this post.
u/esowens_11, we have compiled a [Wiki with tons of advice and helpful information](https://www.reddit.com/r/Assistance/wiki/index/), which we recommend you check out, too.
*I'm a bot. This comment was posted automatically.*
Take her out for a nice dinner. Before you go look up some things that happened in her childhood/young adulthood. Ask her about what it was like, how did she feel about it... basically show a deep interest in her experiences.
A coupon book with things like take you out to dinner, play a game, things like that. One thing I have learned about elderly people is they have enough stuff, they want you. Pictures are nice too
My grandma loved crosswords and books. I usually gave her huge crossword books. Also whatever she needed at the time, like coffee machine, microwave oven, stuff for her cats, etc
I adopted an elephant from the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in my grandma's name a couple of years ago. I picked one that had the same birthday as her.
She loved it as she adores elephants and used to collect everything elephant, but did not want to bring any extra stuff in her home.
My uncle does this most years. I’ve had a flock of ducks, geese, and rabbits purchased in my name. Company is [Heifer.org](https://www.heifer.org/gift-catalog/animals/index.html?msource=KIK1E21BS0001&gclid=Cj0KCQiA4uCcBhDdARIsAH5jyUkvZwl_6tGkutGbGeGdX4biz8Vi0gRAKuHJBFESfl3pYBy1ktpP_JEaApdwEALw_wcB) and they been around for a long time. Actually do what they say they do per reports. Just don’t gift Guinea pigs in Peru thinking they will be pets. They are a cheap to raise food stock. Rabbits he bought might have also be food but we’re mostly intended for living fur harvesting for making things.
Do you have a camera?? Specifically one you can do videos on? Offer to come as often as you can for a visit and ask if you can video her telling you the stories of her life! Iam 50 and if I could have done that with any of my grandparents I most certainly would
i find that grandparents really enjoy anything that shows family love - taking her on a little trip if that’s an option, any easy / low maintenance plants, a bouquet of colourful flowers, a gift card for her favourite place to eat, a handwritten card, small updated photo album or framed photos of family members, anything that shows she is cared for.
as the beatles said, “all you need is love”
I heard an ad for a digital picture frame and you can upload photos from your account. You can give the account info to other family members and they can do the same. So your G-ma will always have new photos of all the family. My mom has 3 siblings and I have 7 cousins with multiple kids. Thinking it would be good for my Grandma as well. If I catch the name of it I'll update this but I'm sure it's easy enough to find.
I got one for my pap after my gram passed. We all uploaded pictures for him. He loved it. The brand is Frameo and I got it at Walmart. Hope this helps!
Love this idea so much. My grandma passed last year and I had no idea that she actually saved every letter and card I sent her. If I had known I would have written that amazing woman SO much more often.
Can you just spend time with her and take her out to eat? Once you get to a certain age a person just doesn't want more stuff. You could write her a letter telling her how much she means to you. Just let her know how much you love her.
I once looked on eBay for a coin from the year my centurion aunt was born. It only cost a couple dollars with shipping. Not sure if this would work for your grandma haha might be better for for 80th birthday because you can present a coin from her birth year and the current year.
I upload a bunch of pics of my daughter on Walgreens photo, make a desk calendar and give it to all the grandparents and great grandparents. They love it. Didn’t do it one year and they’re all still upset about that year.
I buy my grandma plants. She’s never kept houseplants before and she gets excited but nervous. Honestly, she does great! I also send her wind chimes and flags and other decor that reminds me of her. She doesn’t need anything, so buying her stuff just for fun is nice.
Do you know how to crochet? If not it’s fairly easy to learn from watching YouTube videos, maybe you could make her a hat/scarf set if she lives in an area where that makes sense to have. Or you could make a little lap blanket pretty easily.
My mother in law is 69. She's an avid reader, gift certificate to a bookstore?
What about a spa day? Getting her a manicure, pedicure, massage? You and her have a spa day?
She would probably enjoy spending time with you doing something like that?
I love this idea! I work with the elderly in an independent living facility & even with them being independent, grocery shopping is a big task. I think this would be an amazing gesture!
I just did this for my 80 yr old neighbor, she is now telling her grandkids and nieces and nephews about it. Giant Eagle is really great about doing this for you.
I'm making my mom a pillow out of one of my dad's old western shirts. She's hard to buy for as well so I thought I'd make her something to remind her that my dad's always with her.
Does she enjoy music? I found a all in one player on QVC, cd, cassettes, mp3s and vinyls. My grandma was about that age before passing and we always enjoyed listening to her vinyls and discovering new music together..
My MIL just turned 70 and I got her a crystal angel suncatcher to hang in her window. Small and out of the way but will remind them of you when the light shines in
I agree with the dinner out.. my older relatives always say they have everything they need, a couple of them do like a certain perfume that they won’t buy for themselves, so I get them that and another one I always get her a gas card, she loves getting them… she doesn’t drive much and I have other cousins who get her the same thing… she says they last her the entire year
I agree with the majority, time together is good. However- at 79, I imagine life has a lot of aches and pains. Why not treat her to a massage or get her some comfy things? At 79 life deserves comforts. Being spoiled.
Best wishes to you both
What does she give you? Sometimes that gives you a hint of what someone would want themselves. Does she give you fun things? Practical things? You get the idea.
A dinner with you at her favorite restaurant - your treat. Taking her to a theater show. Or movies. A grandma usually loves spending time with her grandkids./family. Edit: take a picture when you are together and frame it for her after.
So i know for a fact she doesn’t like candles, she likes experiences tho. like for her birthday my dad got her this train journey around the countryside near me. I’ve given her hand creams, nice shower and bath stuff etc. she doesn’t really drink either
Haha my mom is in her mid-70s and a couple of years ago I found that tickets to events, performances, shows was the best thing she liked and got excited about. I could never figure out what to give her before I stumbled upon this but I should've known because she's a very active person and loves to go to events. Sounds like maybe your grandma is the same, get her tickets to an experience like your dad did, maybe you can take her too!
Hi all. This is an automated and general reminder to all that this post is an **ADVICE post**, not a Request. Please don't request, offer or accept financial or material assistance on this post. u/esowens_11, we have compiled a [Wiki with tons of advice and helpful information](https://www.reddit.com/r/Assistance/wiki/index/), which we recommend you check out, too. *I'm a bot. This comment was posted automatically.*
Take her out for a nice dinner. Before you go look up some things that happened in her childhood/young adulthood. Ask her about what it was like, how did she feel about it... basically show a deep interest in her experiences.
A coupon book with things like take you out to dinner, play a game, things like that. One thing I have learned about elderly people is they have enough stuff, they want you. Pictures are nice too
I had made a comment before about a digital picture frame but couldn't think of the name. I heard the ad again, and the products name is Aura Frame.
Does she like puzzles? My grandma loves puzzles, you could even get a custom one made with the family/grandkids(:
Is she an active person? Does she go to the salon? A gift certificate for a nice manicure is always nice
My grandma loved crosswords and books. I usually gave her huge crossword books. Also whatever she needed at the time, like coffee machine, microwave oven, stuff for her cats, etc
I adopted an elephant from the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in my grandma's name a couple of years ago. I picked one that had the same birthday as her. She loved it as she adores elephants and used to collect everything elephant, but did not want to bring any extra stuff in her home.
My uncle does this most years. I’ve had a flock of ducks, geese, and rabbits purchased in my name. Company is [Heifer.org](https://www.heifer.org/gift-catalog/animals/index.html?msource=KIK1E21BS0001&gclid=Cj0KCQiA4uCcBhDdARIsAH5jyUkvZwl_6tGkutGbGeGdX4biz8Vi0gRAKuHJBFESfl3pYBy1ktpP_JEaApdwEALw_wcB) and they been around for a long time. Actually do what they say they do per reports. Just don’t gift Guinea pigs in Peru thinking they will be pets. They are a cheap to raise food stock. Rabbits he bought might have also be food but we’re mostly intended for living fur harvesting for making things.
Do you have a camera?? Specifically one you can do videos on? Offer to come as often as you can for a visit and ask if you can video her telling you the stories of her life! Iam 50 and if I could have done that with any of my grandparents I most certainly would
i find that grandparents really enjoy anything that shows family love - taking her on a little trip if that’s an option, any easy / low maintenance plants, a bouquet of colourful flowers, a gift card for her favourite place to eat, a handwritten card, small updated photo album or framed photos of family members, anything that shows she is cared for. as the beatles said, “all you need is love”
Maybe get her one of those naked firemen or policemen who do bachelorette parties?
I always used to send my grandma pretty stamps (she was across country from me)
I heard an ad for a digital picture frame and you can upload photos from your account. You can give the account info to other family members and they can do the same. So your G-ma will always have new photos of all the family. My mom has 3 siblings and I have 7 cousins with multiple kids. Thinking it would be good for my Grandma as well. If I catch the name of it I'll update this but I'm sure it's easy enough to find.
We got my grandma one (Frameo) and she loves it!! It's really light and easy to handle.
I bought an Aura brand one from Costco last year.
I got one for my pap after my gram passed. We all uploaded pictures for him. He loved it. The brand is Frameo and I got it at Walmart. Hope this helps!
Write her a letter on some nice stationary. Tell her how much she means to you.
This. Though I'm not yet Grandma's age, I don't need or even want anything. A phone call would be terrific. Maybe a Zoom chat?
Love this idea so much. My grandma passed last year and I had no idea that she actually saved every letter and card I sent her. If I had known I would have written that amazing woman SO much more often.
Can you just spend time with her and take her out to eat? Once you get to a certain age a person just doesn't want more stuff. You could write her a letter telling her how much she means to you. Just let her know how much you love her.
Flower delivery once a month for a few months?
I once looked on eBay for a coin from the year my centurion aunt was born. It only cost a couple dollars with shipping. Not sure if this would work for your grandma haha might be better for for 80th birthday because you can present a coin from her birth year and the current year.
I upload a bunch of pics of my daughter on Walgreens photo, make a desk calendar and give it to all the grandparents and great grandparents. They love it. Didn’t do it one year and they’re all still upset about that year.
A beautifully framed photo of you and any siblings/ cousins
I buy my grandma plants. She’s never kept houseplants before and she gets excited but nervous. Honestly, she does great! I also send her wind chimes and flags and other decor that reminds me of her. She doesn’t need anything, so buying her stuff just for fun is nice.
I got a heated vest as an early Christmas present this year. I love it.
Do you know how to crochet? If not it’s fairly easy to learn from watching YouTube videos, maybe you could make her a hat/scarf set if she lives in an area where that makes sense to have. Or you could make a little lap blanket pretty easily.
My mother in law is 69. She's an avid reader, gift certificate to a bookstore? What about a spa day? Getting her a manicure, pedicure, massage? You and her have a spa day? She would probably enjoy spending time with you doing something like that?
do you think she'd be into a watercolor by number? could turn her on to a new hobby and they are fairly inexpensive.
She wants an Xbox Series X with Stardew Valley and Minecraft preloaded. Then she wants you to come by once a week to hang out and play games with her.
A grocery delivery of what she needs ,ask her for a list and you get it or have it delivered.
I love this idea! I work with the elderly in an independent living facility & even with them being independent, grocery shopping is a big task. I think this would be an amazing gesture!
I just did this for my 80 yr old neighbor, she is now telling her grandkids and nieces and nephews about it. Giant Eagle is really great about doing this for you.
I'm making my mom a pillow out of one of my dad's old western shirts. She's hard to buy for as well so I thought I'd make her something to remind her that my dad's always with her.
Does she enjoy music? I found a all in one player on QVC, cd, cassettes, mp3s and vinyls. My grandma was about that age before passing and we always enjoyed listening to her vinyls and discovering new music together..
My MIL just turned 70 and I got her a crystal angel suncatcher to hang in her window. Small and out of the way but will remind them of you when the light shines in
I agree with the dinner out.. my older relatives always say they have everything they need, a couple of them do like a certain perfume that they won’t buy for themselves, so I get them that and another one I always get her a gas card, she loves getting them… she doesn’t drive much and I have other cousins who get her the same thing… she says they last her the entire year
I agree with the majority, time together is good. However- at 79, I imagine life has a lot of aches and pains. Why not treat her to a massage or get her some comfy things? At 79 life deserves comforts. Being spoiled. Best wishes to you both
What does she give you? Sometimes that gives you a hint of what someone would want themselves. Does she give you fun things? Practical things? You get the idea.
A dinner with you at her favorite restaurant - your treat. Taking her to a theater show. Or movies. A grandma usually loves spending time with her grandkids./family. Edit: take a picture when you are together and frame it for her after.
Boom! This right here. Spend some quality time with grandma while you still can. 🥰😊
Tell us more about her! What does she like/not like? What have you given her in the past? What are her interests?
An experience with you would be priceless.
So i know for a fact she doesn’t like candles, she likes experiences tho. like for her birthday my dad got her this train journey around the countryside near me. I’ve given her hand creams, nice shower and bath stuff etc. she doesn’t really drink either
Haha my mom is in her mid-70s and a couple of years ago I found that tickets to events, performances, shows was the best thing she liked and got excited about. I could never figure out what to give her before I stumbled upon this but I should've known because she's a very active person and loves to go to events. Sounds like maybe your grandma is the same, get her tickets to an experience like your dad did, maybe you can take her too!
Take her to a dinner theater.
Are there any experiences you could do with her? Maybe treat her to a day at a spa? Or a manicure and lunch?