<p>Any great ideas for a special birthday gifts given that many of these seniors can afford to buy whatever they want and yet cannot do much of what they want to do?</p>
<p>Our family just helped a 90 yo celebrate her 90th BDay. Her only child was wondering what can you get for someone who has all she needs and can’t get out much, and a grandchild (or GREAT grandchild) said, “Well, what does she like most of all?” The answer for this lady was “church”, so she got a special celebration at the church at which a number of locally well-known artists sang her favorite songs, her D, grandchildren, great grandchildren and a few extras she’d picked up along the way spoke about how she’d impacted their lives. It closed with a home-cooked meal and cake (I do cakes so that was my contribution). She was blown away, as it was all a surprise. Seeing some of the attendees for the first time in quite awhile was a thrill for her.</p>
<p>We gave the gift of time. Our family is spread out all over the place. The siblings agreed to take turns vision the parents. There are six of them, so someone goes once every couple of months,or more often if possible. </p>
<p>They appreciate this more than any tangible gift.</p>
<p>When my grandfather was aging and had all the Old Spice and white buttoned down two pocket shirts he could ever wear, we got him ‘disposable’ gifts. Lottery tickets (my uncle bought all his ‘lucky numbers’ for a year). Favorite food. A subscription to his old home town newspaper for a year. One tangible gift I got him that was a big hit was a toy milk truck - he’d been a milkman when I was young and he really liked that.</p>
<p>Other things that you could give would be housekeeping/cleaning for a year, car detailing (if 90 year olds are still driving -eek!), lawn services, tickets to a play or concert with dinner and transportation. Hair cuts for a year. It’s not really that they couldn’t pay for these things themselves, but it’s fun have a ‘freebee’. My parents gave an uncle ‘one vanilla coke per week’ for a year at the drug store across the street from his home (obviously a long time ago). Uncle Charlie would have bought his own cokes, but this was a treat for the whole year.</p>
<p>Thanks for the ideas, not to sound like a naysayer, but it is so funny. They have a weekly housekeeper, they do drive but have not liked prior detailing, they have a gardener, etc. The kids already visit regularly. Gift cards for Starbucks and usual restaurants have happened before so don’t feel special enough and he does not want any more photos of any kind. ;)</p>
<p>The event tickets are a good possibility, though.</p>
<p>Soap. Fancy food. </p>
<p>You can request a birthday card starting at age 80 from the President if you plan three months in advance, either through your Senator or Representative or directly through the White House. Of course, that may possibly not be appreciated!</p>
<p>Do they like fruit? How about Fruit of the Month? It’s different every month! </p>
<p>One cousin gives our 101 year old grandma the gift of a flower arrangement delivered once a month. It’s very cheerful, and she likes it.</p>
<p>I’m not 80 but this year for a special birthday my daughters announced that there was nothing that I needed. So, they decided that they would give me experiences. They took me to high tea (the one WITH champagne, and for two glorious hours we ate and talked and laughed. I slipped my credit card to our waiter. Rather I TRIED to give my card…and the waiter looked at me and said, "Your daughters know you. They gave me the credit card when they walked in.</p>
<p>Perfect.</p>
<p>An mp3 player loaded with all of their favorite music throughout the ages and a pair of remote speakers and/or comfortable headphones. I wonder if there are mp3 players made accessible for the elderly.</p>
<p>A netflix subscription and a list of suggested movies or shows. A roku (sp?) box or apple tv, installed. </p>
<p>A collection of audio books downloaded to the mp3 player.</p>
<p>Bound photo books with curated collection of special family photos.</p>
<p>A slideshow of same set to their favorite music and installed on their computer.</p>
<p>An iPad and internet lessons if they are not facile with the internet.</p>
<p>Chocolate</p>
<p>Wine </p>
<p>Oops just saw they don’t want photos. Scratch that one.</p>
<p>I don’t think they need more “stuff”, whether we’re talking fruit, books, or wine, etc. Would they not like a gathering of friends and family? I’m not clear though-this is three people aged 90, 95 and 100? Or a couple living together in that age range? Our “Nana” sat entranced by the performances and tributes-it wasn’t entirely religious, in case I didn’t make that clear. Seeing people who came to Seattle special for the event from out of state was a huge hit with her.</p>
<p>After my Great Aunt hit about 90 we co-ordinated birth-month flowers. Somebody sent something every 5-7 days so she had fresh blooms for a month. Given-she loved fresh flowers.
How about a card campaign…someone gathers old photos and makes them into greeting cards… And then your family will be better than mine…</p>
<p>One person, a very cranky guy, very hard to please. I thought 90-95-100 would all merit similarly special gifts</p>
<p>My in laws love Sees candies so for his 90th birthday my husband and I selected 90 pieces of chocolate and sent to UK.
He enjoyed it but I think my MIL liked it best.</p>
<p>For my FIL’s 85th birthday, MIL contacted just about everyone they’d ever known (even people they hadn’t seen for years) and asked them to send FIL a birthday card. He got dozens of cards, and loved reading them.</p>
<p>My mother (91) likes to receive books I’ve picked out for her. She’s a big reader. </p>
<p>We did a traditional party for my gma’s 95th…her only gift was a fancy tiara from a prom catalog, complete with her name engraved. She passed away at 98 and had asked to have the crown put on top of her casket! </p>