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Want to make life easier on your elderly loved one who lives alone? There are plenty of helpful devices available to improve their daily living, even if they don’t live by themselves. Here are 15 helpful, thoughtful gift ideas for elderly people, whether they live alone or not:
Adaptive Clothing
Sure, you can fuss with button hooks and zipper pulls — or you can skip the hassle altogether with adaptive clothing specially designed for elderly people with mobility limitations. Easy-wear options such as pull-on sweaters and duster house dresses make it easier for elderly people to dress themselves without help, as do magnetic closures and other innovations. Check out our adaptive clothing for senior men and women and (learn more about what adaptive clothing is).
Non-Skid Shoes
Wearing shoes all the time, even inside, is one of the best ways to prevent falls. Your elderly loved one should absolutely have shoes for swollen feet with a non-skid sole that they can wear inside the house. Look for a slip-on style with Velcro closures that your loved one can easily adjust. Laces are hard for people with arthritis in their hands to tie. Explore more of the best walking shoes for seniors that accommodate various health needs.
Automatic Can and Jar Openers
Speaking of arthritis in the hands, elderly people absolutely love automatic can and jar openers. These battery- powered devices make a great gift because they do all the work for you, making it a breeze to open jars and cans. The can openers also cut in such a way that eliminates sharp edges, making it safer for older adults with shaky hands.
Motion-Activated Night Lights
Dimly lit areas greatly increase chances of falls, which is why an elderly person might often trip when they get up in the middle of the night. Help keep them safe by installing motion sensor night lights in bathrooms and hallways as well as other areas of the house. You can even get battery-powered ones to stick on the sides of the stairs if they have a multi-level home.
Large Button Remote Control
It’s almost impossible to operate the tiny buttons on a TV control even if you have 20/20 vision, so a remote with bigger buttons makes a perfect gift. Get a large button remote control specifically meant for elderly people and set it up for them so they’ll never hit the wrong button again.
Grab Bars
Grab bars are an absolute must for staying safe in the bathroom and should be placed near the toilet, shower and other high-use areas. Make sure that they are installed properly and that your loved one can put their full weight on them so that the bar will not pull out of the wall accidentally.
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Toilet Seat and Rails
Many toilet seats are too low for elderly people to use safely, so get them a raised toilet seat is a thoughtful gift that makes it safe for them to use the bathroom on their own. You can also give them a set of toilet rails, which sit on either side of the seat and make it easier for them to raise and lower themselves.
Bath Mat
Anti-skid bath mats keep your loved one safe in the shower or bath and help protect against falls. Make sure that they are installed properly, as the mats can bunch up or slide if they are not, which can actually increase the risk of falls.
Shower Chair
If your loved one gets too tired standing up for an entire shower, a shower chair makes a practical gift that lets them sit down while they wash themselves. Shower chairs prevent falls and promote personal hygiene for a win-win solution for your aging parent, family member, or loved one.
Pill Organizers and Accessories
Many older people need to take many different pills, sometimes multiple times a day. Make it easier on them with accessories such as a weekly or monthly pill organizer, pill splitters and pill crushers that will do all the work for them and simplify daily living.
Reacher Grabber
Reacher grabbers help elderly people reach items that are just a little too far away. They come in a standard model as well as a telescoping, extendable version that can be adjusted as needed to reach objects at different distances. This is a must-get gift idea for seniors with limited mobility.
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Step Stool with Handle
Sometimes a reacher grabber just won’t cut it, and you need an actual step stool. Choose a step stool with a sturdy base that will not tip over, as well as an integrated handle that your family member or loved one can hold onto to keep themselves steady while on top of the stool.
Medical Alert System
If your elderly loved one lives alone, you can rest easy knowing that they can call for help when needed with a medical alert system. These systems allow for them to call for help with the press of a button if they fall or experience another medical emergency.
Elder-Friendly Tablet or Phone
If you’re looking for a more advanced communication device than the medical alert system or more advanced entertainment options than TV, consider buying your senior loved one a tablet. Look into models tailored specifically to older people, with features like enlarged buttons and text. Some devices designed for senior men and women go as far as offering live customer support and consistent how-to tutorials. This practical gift will cover entertainment and touch-of-a-button communication in one.
These devices can also work to expand your senior loved one’s sense of autonomy – pre-install apps that cater to their interests, from audiobook apps to drawing programs, and allow them to surf the web for their own items, including Silverts wide range of products tailored to seniors.
Subscription Services
For those stuck at home, subscription services are endlessly convenient. If your elderly parent or loved one lives alone and spends their days indoors, signing them up for a subscription service is a thoughtful gift that can bring a myriad of services directly to their home. From routine grocery or food delivery services to music, streaming, and audiobook providers, there are plenty of subscription service options that make unique, practical gifts well suited to their needs while helping them navigate independent living. This is also an ideal gift for people with dementia in your life, as the automatic, routine services lighten the load when it comes to remembering and safely executing tasks, limiting stress for caretaker and patient alike.
Start with Silverts
Ready to find great gifts for elderly people living alone, gifts for seniors in assisted living, or something for every elder in between? Start with Silverts for an affordable selection of adaptive clothing for both men and women in a variety of sizes and styles, from elastic waist pants to adaptive bras and undergarments. Order today and get free shipping on U.S. orders!
Sources:
- Ratnaike, Danny. “Mobile phones designed to be easier to use if you have dementia.” Alzheimer’s Society, 1 Feb. 2023, https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/publications-and-factsheets/dementia-together/mobile-phones-designed-easier-dementia. Accessed on June 27, 2024.
- National Institute on Aging. Services for Older Adults Living at Home. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/caregiving/services-older-adults-living-home. Accessed on June 27, 2024.