by Garden Gerty

Created on: August 13, 2008

Everyone loves to be treated in a special manner, but many also abhor waste, and useless items. They have enough knick knacks to dust. With the tight economy, we all want to get the most for our gift giving money. In your stocking first of all, you may want to place some nostalgia. My mom remembered that it was in her stocking that she got to have that winter taste of fresh fruit. Usually an apple and an orange. Peppermint candy or ribbon candy, or the candy with the pictures in the middle were all staples of that stocking as well. Those, as well as individually wrapped chocolate might be the place to start.

My family has had a more modern tradition: Socks for your stockings. It might be that you will take the time to find just the right knee high hose, with reinforced toe, in a certain shade, that will make this part of the stocking up. Or it could be special diabetic socks, that do not bind or injure toes. The ever present non skid sock is a good choice as well, and may prevent a nasty accident. For the younger senior, like me, maybe some toe socks, or character socks, something to make me smile. Senior is after all, a broad category. Some of us are spry, some are older, and in a nursing home, and alone.
While I am thinking of those seniors in nursing homes, I might add: If the senior is supported by Medicaid, you can not give them money outright. Check with social services in the facility to see if gift cards are an option. I imagine they would be. Give gift cards for outside the home, and give gift certificates to places like the beauty or barber shop. I knew a family that got together and purchased a perm, a hair color session and cut and style on a regular basis, they gave it to there mom for part of her Christmas.
Most seniors I know like service gifts and social gifts. Offers to take them shopping, or out to a favorite eating establishment. Make these items into certificates, then honor them, all year round. Give someone a fishing license, then offer to take him or her to use it.You will be making new memories right along the way. Take pictures, have them developed. Buy neat stuff for a hobby, like scrapbooking, or sewing, fishing or fixing, or games that they play.An avid letter writer will like a good pen, stamps and cards or stationery. If they are a crafter, they may want the tools to pursue it, like small chisels and files,wood carving tools, a set of crochet hooks or knitting needles. Many stores offer free patterns, and those can be tucked right down into the stocking with everything else.How about golf tees, and golf gloves? Season passes to sporting events. Just one ticket to a sporting event. An offer to go with the recipient to a sporting event. A new universal remote and the promise to program it for your senior is nice. A digital photo frame in a small size would be nice as well. With electronics make sure it is something they will use. Some seniors are very resistant.
Even a stocking gift should be prepared with great thought. That is the most valuable part of the contents.
When you give your gift picture yourself telling them what they mean to you, or why you chose the gifts you did. Your senior will be touched.

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