Christmas gift ideas for elderly parents who have everything 2024

Written by Zenya Smith • 04/12/24

Thoughtful gifts

Personalised family portrait

Bring a special family photo to life by recreating it in a unique work of art.

for example, LetterFest‘s illustrators can create line drawings and watercolours of your treasured family photos, they can also add text and a date to describe the special moment. They can also create watercolour prints of beloved family pets or your family home.

Scratch map for the seasoned traveller

If your loved one is a bit of a globe trotter, why not go the extra mile too with a gift that immortalises their travels? A scratch map is a wonderful gift for keeping track of where you’ve been – simply scratch off a location that’s been visited. They can be a great talking point too, providing an opportunity to reminisce about road trips, family holidays and significant moments. It can also provide inspiration for future trips you can take together.

For example, these British Isles maps from uncover beautiful illustrations of local landmarks.

A cosy Welsh blanket

A handwoven traditional Welsh blanket makes an ideal gift as it’s not only practical for the colder winter months, but is also a work of art that can be handed down to future generations.

These cozy blanket s from FelinFach are made from 100% wool at a mill in Pembrokeshire. They’re practical, hard-wearing and come in a wide variety of beautiful patterns and colours. They’re also available in a variety of weights, from a heavier double weave to lighter knee rugs.

Family tree portrait

If your family has used an ancestry service in the past or has their family tree mapped out, why not display it as a print.

Many options are fully customisable – you can choose the number of links you need, how you’d like the names to be displayed and whether you’d like to include additional information like birth dates or marriage dates. You’ll often receive a digital proof to make sure you’re happy with your portrait before it’s printed, and they offer a framing service too.

National Trust Membership or gift certificate

A National Trust membership can give your loved one free access to over 500 UK sites where they can take in impressive coastal views, explore sprawling gardens or parkland, or discover the history of stately homes. It’s an amazing gift idea for lovers of the great outdoors and British history, and offers the potential for lots of family days out making brilliant memories. If your loved one applies for a free Essential Companion card once they’ve received their membership, they can bring 1-2 people with them on days out, free of charge.

As well as free entry to National Trust locations, a year’s membership also includes free parking at most National Trust car parks and a welcome pack which includes a handbook to help them plan their next day out.

If your loved one has a membership already, or would struggle to get the most out of a full year’s membership then a National Trust Gift Card or gift certificate could be a great alternative. They can be spent in National Trust cafés, shops, and garden centres (including the online shop), and can also pay for entry at National Trust sites. They offer two gift card options – you can buy a physical gift card from National Trust sites and some larger supermarkets, or buy a digital card from the National Trust website.

Restoring a precious photo

If your loved one has special family photos that have become damaged overtime, restoring them to their former glory can make a really thoughtful gift.

Skilled restorers like Memory Cherish use photo editing tools to make them look like new again, adding colour to black and white pictures, clearing up blurry images, adjusting colours, and making small photos bigger. They can work quickly too, often sending your restored photos via email in 24 hours, so that you can print and frame them ready for Christmas day.

Waterproof recipe journal

If your loved one is a marvel in the kitchen with a seemingly endless supply of family recipes then gifting a recipe journal is not only practical, but creates a very special recipe book that can be passed down through generations.

This book can not only be personalised, but the pages are waterproof, protecting it from the accidental spills that often happen in the kitchen.

Entertaining gifts

Personalised board game

If your loved one is likes nothing more than spending a cosy afternoon playing classic games like backgammon, chess or Mah Jongg, then a set from Farrar & Tanner could make a very special gift. These luxury sets are handcrafted from high-quality wood, metal or leather and made to last a lifetime. Each set can be personalised too with a name or special message for a small additional cost.

Murder mystery puzzle book

Does an elderly person in your life fancy themselves as the next Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot? If so a murder mystery puzzle book could make an ideal gift and provide hours of entertainment.

These books revolve around a fictional crime, and contain hundreds of visual, logic, number and word puzzles which together offer clues that will help your loved one solve it.

Looking for more puzzles? Take a look at our guide to the best brain stimulating games.

A Little More Conversation game

This game contains hundreds of questions and is designed to spark memories and unexpected stories. There are five themed rounds – ‘warm up’, ‘back in the day’, ‘right here right now’, ‘what if’ and ‘tomorrow and beyond’. Each theme card has three questions to choose from and get enlightening conversations started with family and friends. It’s a great way for loved ones to learn more about each other, remember good times, and connect, especially at Christmas time.

All About Us game

This storytelling game has been specially developed for people with dementia. It can unlock personal stories and uses conversation to strengthen connections with friends and family. It can also be a great game to bring out on Christmas day.

Prompt cards guide players through childhood to present day, asking questions about their experiences, memories, likes and dislikes. The game was developed by dementia experts Relish, alongside people living with dementia.

Noodle Nudges game

Another game that’s great for stimulating conversation. This memory game require players to match the question card with the corresponding answer card.

It can be enjoyed by anyone and can be played in a variety of ways. The game box also looks modern and wouldn’t look out of place on any adult’s board game shelf.

Adult scrapbook

Scrapbooking is not only a fun way to record special memories, it can be a stress relieving activity too. It’s also been used as an activity for those living with dementia to reminisce and feel a sense of achievement.

A scrapbook can make a lovely gift that suits all budgets – all you need is a notebook or journal to get started.

Hometown colouring book

Colouring is not just for kids. In the last few years adult colouring books have become a popular pastime for reducing stress and unleashing creativity.

Colour Your Streets specialise in colouring books of locations across the UK. They can make an amazing gift that can spark memories of a special holiday, where a loved one grew up, or where they currently call home.

Practical gifts

Luxury shawl for chilly days

A shawl is a great way to stay warm in the winter, and can be a lot easier for those with stiffness or reduced mobility to take on or off, as there’s no armholes to contend with. This shawl from The Able Label comes in stylish prints and range of colours and features two helpful front pockets.

Grocery delivery service

The convenience of grocery delivery can make a big difference to older people, especially if they don’t drive, have difficulty carrying heavy shopping, or become overwhelmed or confused in a busy supermarket.

Most major supermarkets offer gift cards – so that you can cover the cost of their first order. To arrange a delivery, all you’ll need to do is set them up with their own online account. If they want to continue to use the delivery service most supermarkets also offer the option to save items from your first delivery in a favourites list, to make future orders even easier.

Simple mobile phone

Mobile devices are now an essential part of everyday life for many or us. When it comes to older loved ones, they can have many benefits too. They make it easier to stay in touch via voice calls, video calls and instant messages to check in, and are a great way to share photos and media. They can also be connected to personal alarms, and video doorbells or have in-built safety features to help keep older adults safe and provide you with greater peace of mind.

Some older people may be unsure about getting to grips with all the fancy features of modern smart phones – learning any new technology can be overwhelming at first. This is why there are a number of mobile devices specially designed for older first-time users.

For example, Doro specialise in smartphones that feature extra loud, rich sound, large clear keys, simple navigation and visual contrast. The largest screen size on offer is 6.1inches, making it great for video calls.

And if you’re looking for a simpler phone that just handles the basics, like voice calls and text messages, then TTfone might be a good choice.

Digital photo frame

A great way for older people to view happy memories and feel connected to friends family is with a digital photo frame.

Unlike regular picture frames, a digital frame allows you to build a custom slideshow of photos. You can include anything and everything you like, from pictures from your loved one’s own past, to photos of children and grandchildren, to recent family holiday snaps.

There are many options out there to suit your level of need and budget. Some frames use WiFi so that family members outside the home can upload and add to the collection at any time, from anywhere, and even add special messages to their photos. Other options require you to preload the images onto the frame using a memory card or USB stick.

Window bird feeder

Whether your loved one is a passionate ornithologist, or simply enjoys watching the birds in their garden come and go, a window bird feeder is a great way to see them up close. Plus, securing one to the centre of a window is a great way to feed garden birds while keeping those pesky squirrels out of the way.

This one from Prinlow Woodworking has a natural, minimalist design with an in-built shelter and attaches to the window with strong suction cups.

Sunrise alarm clock for gentle mornings

For some people waking up in the mornings is the least enjoyable part of their daily routine. A sunrise alarm clock can make getting out of bed a gentler, more refreshing experience.

They work by slowly waking you with gradually brightening light, along with gentle colour changes from red through to white – mimicking a natural sunrise and working with the body’s internal body clock.

Lumie offer a range of sunrise alarm clocks. This one starts to light up gradually 30 minutes before the set alarm time and features 5 natural wake up sounds, including birdsong.

House cleaning or gardening services

Cleaning and gardening tasks can become more difficult to tackle as you get older. In fact, stiffness, limited mobility, poor balance, and lower strength and stamina can make certain household tasks dangerous too. Gifting a loved one a one-off visit from a deep cleaning company, weekly domestic cleaning, or the support of a local friendly gardener could provide a real boost to a loved one’s quality of life and the enjoyment of their home.

If you’re considering this as a gift, be sure to check that your loved one will be comfortable with someone visiting them at home. Speak to friends and family, and if unsure ask your loved one how they’d feel about having a cleaner or gardener. Also be sure to source a professional through the right channels – such as review sites like Trust a Trader, Age UK’s local directories, or from personal recommendations from people you know.

Stylish slippers

Slippers may seem like an obvious gift, but a good pair of quality slippers is something we rarely treat ourselves to, and cold feet can make winter a lot more miserable.

If gifting slippers it’s important to think about the materials they’re made of. An ideal slipper will be warm yet still breathable. Moisture wicking fabric can help with comfort, and materials that don’t trap odour can add to their longevity.

For example, Westmoreland Sheepskins have a good selection of slippers for women and men in beautiful designs using hypoallergenic merino sheepskin. Their boot style slippers such as the Erin or Huw can help secure the slipper to the foot, reducing trip risk, while the solid sole makes them hard wearing.

Want to learn top tips for healthier feet this winter? Our Senior Clinical Lead Nurse Nasra Ismail has you covered.

Smart speaker or personal voice assistant

Smart speakers or personal voice assistants are connected devices, which can link up with other technology around the home. For example a mobile phone, smart thermostat, or video doorbells. They connect to the internet meaning your loved one can ‘ask’ it questions out loud and get instant answers, whether this be about the latest sports scores, finding a local service, or a completely random burning question.

They also often come with a range of useful features as standard such as an alarm clock and timer, music playing device, and the ability to make voice calls. All in all, once you’ve got the hang of it, it can quickly become an important asset to your loved one’s daily routine.

There are loads of options to choose from – the most common being the Alexa Google Nest or Amazon Echo.

Give the gift of care

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