<p>My 91yo has a combination of cataracts (so no reading material), a fading memory (so nothing complicated), diabetes and a loss of taste (so no food) and arthritis (so nothing fiddly, or that requires much energy). </p>
<p>However, what has gone down well in recent years is
- coffee-table picture book of monkeys, which are her favourite animals. There are some great photographic books out there of various subjects, none of which require concentration or 20/20 vision
- season pass to the zoo, which is around the corner from her (she has a mobility scooter, and can take anyone else in for free as a carer, so she can just go for coffee and pop into see the gorillas on the way, as you do)
- trip to a concert - she got to choose the concert from a substantial variety available locally, and we’re taking her (this wasn’t a present, but it could have been)
- magazine subscription to something that you think might interest her - these are great because they provide some interest throughout the year and you can ‘recycle’ the idea for next birthday</p>
<p>But rather strangely, out of all the things she got for Christmas this year, one of her favourites seems to have been the $5 napkin holder I got her from Ikea!</p>