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To say that someone has "everything" is to look at things from a materialistic view. A beloved senior may have all the money and possessions they could desire, and they probably don't really need or want any more stuff. Shopping for such a person is difficult, but shopping is not the only way to get a gift for someone.

TIME
Time is a precious commodity. Even in youth there never seems to be enough of it to go around. As people age, they become more aware that their remaining time is finite. Often the time is of a lesser quality, as mobility decreases and children are wrapped up in their own adult lives. Giving the gift of your time to a senior is an act of love that can be truly meaningful. It can take the form of a visit, an outing to the park, or a favorite landmark. Include the senior in a family vacation, or bring them along to visit their grandchild at college. Make a fresh home-cooked meal for them, the way they used to for you. Teach them some new skills e-mail for instance that will let them not only spend time with you, but also to spend more time in enrichment later on. Time given is never time wasted, and it doesn't create any clutter either.

CHARITY
When a senior has no need of anything more for themselves, you can always give to someone else in their honor. Most charities are more than happy to accept donations in someone's honor. They will often provide some sort of recognition to the honored person as well. In this fashion you not only contribute to a good cause (one that will appeal to the senior, hopefully), but you do something which may continue to benefit people long after the senior has passed a fact that they may appreciate. My personal favorite charity is Heifer International (http://heifer.org) which provides livestock to families who then "pass on the gift" by giving away some of the baby animals to their neighbors. In this way, the initial gift truly creates a legacy that can touch generations. For the tight-pursed, remember that gifts of charity are also tax-deductible.

MEMORIES
Very rarely does a senior get to spend as much time with the younger generations as she might wish. Some of those missed moments can be given in the form of a homemade gift. A recording of a grandchild singing, or acting in a play, or blocking a shot on the goal...any of these can be given easily and they capture a set of experiences that the senior missed out on, and allow him to enjoy them as often as he wishes. This may be especially valuable if the senior's own memories are beginning to fade. Memories can also be written down, recorded in a neatly printed or typed journal. Making such a gift takes time, but its value is beyond computation.

HUGS, SMILES, LAUGHTER...
Many seniors have learned what is truly valuable in life, and these are just the beginning. Letting them know that they are loved, appreciated, and really do matter to you is a potent gift. Not only are smiles and laughter contagious, they can even promote better health, so you're even giving the gift of more time when you spread your warmth. Best of all, these are gifts that you can give at any time, so please don't feel that you have to wait until Christmases and Birthdays.

Happy Giving!

Learn more about this author, Ernest Capraro.
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