Friday, December 20, 2013

Have a Very "Geri" Christmas. Gift Ideas for Aging Parents.


Every year we go through it: the indecision, the frustration, the breathless anticipation, the faux gratitude, the gift receipts. What on earth do you get your aging parents for Christmas?! Children are relatively easy to shop for by comparison. Even the boxes have the ages listed on them. "This toy is appropriate for ages 8+." Bingo and thank you. There are, however, no such labels when it comes to shopping for an aging parent. "This Snuggie is ideally suited for ages 76+." This is my grown-up Christmas wish.

That is the age-old/old-age question I suppose. What do you get an aging parent for Christmas? After 70 Christmases worth of presents, what are the odds that Mom has any need for a new set of decorative dish towels or that Dad's workshop is lacking any tool under the sun? The obligatory item featuring this year's "Greatest Shot of the Grandkids Ever" will certainly find its way under the tree but social media tools like Facebook are beginning to render even that holiday classic obsolete. So where are you Christmas?Why can't I find you? Why have you gone away? (Admit it. You heard Faith Hill singing in your mind just then. It's alright. Only a few more days left.)

This year the fine folks at the University of California at San Fransisco have come to the holiday rescue with a list of gift ideas for the elderly which they posted on their blog, Geri-pal.

They've got a list and have clearly checked it twice because it is filled with great, thoughtful gift ideas for the aging parent in your life. The list begins with functional tools like jar openers and grab bars which are easily moveable. Do your parents still have records but no way to play them? Maybe a record player might be just the thing this year.

Edible goodies like petit fours, teas, and candies are wonderful gifts and are now available as sugar-free/ gluten-free options in a lot of fine retailers.

Medication Reminder Clocks are popular gifts and offer the feature of recording your own voice commands to take certain medications at certain times throughout the day.

Out of all the gift suggestions, my favorite is the suggestion to just do something. Aging parents will certainly appreciate any gift you give this year but they probably have enough "stuff." Offer to spend your holiday visit helping them with a project they have been putting off. Help them organize the junk drawer or make a few trips to Goodwill. Little things like that may not seem like much of a gift but to a senior who is potentially struggling with mobility problems it may be the gift that keeps on giving.

Merry Christmas Y'all!

See the full list here: http://www.geripal.org/2013/12/what-to-give-uncle-ernie-grandma-mabel.html

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