What are the best gifts for older women?

What do older women enjoy? Everyone has different preferences when it comes to food, comforts, hobbies, entertainment, and more. Here is a gift guide for senior women that will make your gift giving a breeze. These ideas were inspired and approved by my own mother!

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Comfort & Relaxation

Everyone enjoys a little comfort and relaxation. These gifts can really be on anyone’s gift list.

Soft blanket or throw

Perfect for naps or chilly evenings. Consider beautiful throws as well as throws that are personalized for Mom or Grandmothers. Also consider those throws that you make yourself! Also consider heated blankets for some seniors.

Slippers with non-slip soles

Consider comfortable and safe slippers that will keep her feet warm.

Spa materials

Spa materials grouped together in a basket such as nail polish, nail files, plush towels, and hand and body lotions. Purchase the items yourself to place in a basket or purchase a premade basket.

Comfortable Chairs

Sitting in the perfect chair makes a huge difference. Some chairs have the perfect combination of sitting, getting up, lying back to watch TV, sleeping, and a heated massage all in one. Lift chairs can make a difference to an older person trying to get out of a chair. My parents had one that they loved. Check out this kind of chair here!

Personal Care & Beauty

Personal care and beauty gifts are always popular and always make a nice gift.

Bath robe

For after baths or just to wear to keep warm. Bath robes always seem to be plush and cozy.

Moisturizing Lotion Set

Great for after baths and keeping skin from getting dry.

Makeup

At 92 years old, my mother still enjoys wearing makeup when she goes out. Of course this is a personal preference, but it’s always fun to try something new like a new eye shadow, a new lipstick, or a blush.

Clothes and Accessories

There are many items in this category and much depends on preferences.

Clothes

For those older women who may struggle with putting on and taking off clothes, consider clothes like shirts or blouses that open to the front. Pants with elastic waistbands are also helpful as well as bras that hook in the front. Here is some apparel for seniors that is colorful and stylish and most open to the front.

Purses

Every woman loves a good, but comfortable purse. There are big and small ones, but the crossbody purses seem to be popular with the senior women I know. Not too big, but just enough space for money, cards, and a phone. 

Hats, scarves, and gloves

These can be matching or separate pieces. Scarves can be winter scarves or for everyday wearing.

Jewelry 

Jewelry is a matter of preference especially when it comes to earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. Personalized jewelry is always nice, such as a locket with a family photo, or an engraving on something. 

Technology and Gadgets

Seniors are enjoying and embracing technology more and more. 

Cell Phones

Whether a senior has their own service, or you add them to your own family plan like we do, it’s great for keeping in touch with others.

E Readers

My mother has an e-reader which she loves. Buy one and pre-load it with favorite books or magazines.

Computers

Computers and laptops are great for seniors who want to keep in touch with everything going on in the world. Check out this computer designed for seniors. This WOW computer is a touch screen with videos, chat, email, photos, news, and games.

Audio Books

Some seniors who struggle to read because of poor eyesight will enjoy audio books. They are available in different formats such as digital downloads, which can be listened to on smart devices, and audio cd’s.

The Libby App is an app for a smart device and lets you check out books to read or check out books to listen to, sort of like your own public library. All you need is a library card and the Libby App.

Fitness Tracker or Watches

Sometimes we all want to know how many steps we take or how our health is on a daily basis. Now with all the new technology you can! 

Home & Garden

Something new to decorate the home and garden is always a welcome gift.

Decorative Wall Art

Inspirational quotes, nostalgic prints, or nature prints are great ideas.

Indoor or outdoor plants

Plants of any kind brighten up a home, especially those who love plants and gardens. Plants that are easy to care for and seasonal plants are great gifts. Also, unique pots like animal pots and beautiful gardener pots make great gifts for the plant lover. 

Personalized Calendar

Make one by featuring family photos for each month of the year.

Fairy Garden Materials

Fairy gardens are not just for kids, they’re for adults too. See this post on how to make your own. 

Flowers

You can’t go wrong with flowers, whether they are a potted plant or cut flowers in a beautiful vase.

Bird feeders, birdhouses, and other bird items

Bird houses and bird feeders bring the birds to back yard areas. Many folks love watching birds. Gifts can include binoculars, bird books, unique bird feeders, hummingbird swings, and so much more.

Food & Treats

Below find a variety of food and snack ideas to appeal to different tastes.

Gourmet coffee or tea sets

And don’t forget the hot chocolate! You can make your own sets or purchase them online.

Homemade cookie or bread mix

These you can make on your own with recipes on the internet or purchase the mixes.

Fruit Baskets

There are a variety of fruit basket companies that can provide you with beautiful fruit!

Candy Assortment

Buy instore and online or make your own basket to give.

Ready-made meals or homemade meals & treats

Looking to give homemade meals or baked treats? Baked treats have been a tradition in my family since I was a young girl. My grandmother canned homemade peaches and baked lots of bags of cookies to give away during the holidays. You can’t beat homemade!

Entertainment & Hobbies

Many folks have varied interests when it comes to entertainment and hobbies. 

Movies or streaming services

Find movies or give a subscription for a streaming service. Last year I bought my mother “The Sound of Music” DVD and she loved it.

Music

Find favorite digital music and make a playlist with their favorites so they can listen anytime. Consider musical instruments, or music lessons for an instrument they have always wanted to learn.

Books & Subscriptions

Books and reading clubs are still popular as forms of entertainment. Find out what genre interests your senior and purchase a set of books or get a subscription for them. Some of the favorites in the magazine category are Reader’s Digest, Birds and Blooms, Reminisce Magazine, Recipe Magazines like Taste of Home, etc.

Crafts & Hobbies

There are so many crafts and hobbies for women that we added a whole other gift guide. Please see that page here! (Coming Soon!)

Sentimental Gifts

Sentimental gifts are gifts of the heart. They can be gifts that make us remember and feel loved.

Memory journal

For those who like to write and record their thoughts and memories, a journal is a perfect gift. There are blank journals and journals with prompts like this beautiful, guided book for grandmothers to fill in and help reflect. There’s also a beautiful one for Mothers.

Custom-made items

Custom-made throws with family photos or meaningful messages add a special touch to a gift. Gifts for a grandparent such as this grandchildren birth flower digital print.

Handwritten letters or cards

A heartfelt note from loved ones can be very meaningful. 

Customized photo books

Send in your pictures to create a custom photo book with a company or make one of your own. These types of books are wonderful for reminiscing with seniors and will brighten their days.

Other

Gift cards

Gift cards to favorite stores (on-line and instore), restaurants, donut shops, sandwich shops, or coffee shops. Consider services like maid services, lawn services, and meal services that just makes life easier.

Homemade Gifts

Homemade gifts like photo albums, memory bears, memory quilts, coupons, shadow boxes and any talent you might have to create something rare and cherished. See also this post of Kids Gifts for Grandparents for ideas from kids.

Religious Gifts

Many seniors likely have their own bibles if they are religious, but consider other gifts such as books, home decor, etc.

Sporting Equipment

Does your senior play a sport, or want to play one? A new golf club, a yoga mat, or exercise class might be fun.

Stationery Sets

Stationery sets are still relevant today. There are some beautiful sets available that anyone would love to write a letter on to someone she loves!

Collections

Collections have been popular for ages, and they still are. Many seniors collected things over the years. Is there anything you can add to their collection that is unique?

Aids to make life easier

Everything from exercise peddlers, floor lamps, heated blankets, overbed tables, and a WOW computer designed for seniors. Journey Health and Lifestyle also has wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, chairs, and other aids to make seniors lives easier.