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available, arrange for a house call, or make chauffeur service part of the gift. If you choose to give a toiletry gift basket, inquire about possible skin issues, and avoid bubble bath and bath oil unless you are sure that the elder is still able to take tub baths.

Unless the person is completely housebound, an outing can provide a welcome break. A grocery card or other gift card will be doubly appreciated if it includes transportation and personal assistance when needed. Coffee or a meal, a stroll through a museum, art gallery or park, or even a simple mall crawl all have the potential of becoming memorable experiences. Don't overlook the possibility of a trip to church!

Would your senior friend appreciate a pet? There is a wide range of possibilities beyond the classic cats and dogs. Consider fish, parakeets, or even a lizard or tarantula (a great conversation piece!). If all else fails, consider a motion or voice-activated battery-operated model that will respond to its owner. Perhaps it is feasible to set up a bird feeder where your friend can easily observe the birds that come to use it. If your friend likes pets but is not able to have them where s/he lives, share yours or make a trip to a petting zoo, perhaps with a small child to double the delight.

For the walker and wheelchair set, consider bright utility bags that attach to the chair or walker, ergonomic seat cushions, a lap quit or home-made afghan, a reach extender to pick things up or reach inaccessible places, or a safety flag. Voice-activated or remote-controlled lamps and light switches will make life easier.

Those who are homesick for the good old days will appreciate retro gifts of music or videos, magazines that feature bygone times, nostalgia books and games, or a retro food basket. A birth date newspaper, coin, or "your birthday is history" poster may also bring a smile.

Gifts of service are especially appreciated by those who are less active than they used to be. Do they need someone to go to the post-office or the pharmacy? Could their yards and flower beds use some attention? Are there simple maintenance chores which you could do? You can't just charge in and take over their home and their lives, but you could offer them a home-made booklet of coupons for various services, give them a piece of paper and ask them to write down half a dozen chores they would like done, or offer to be "your slave for a day" or even a couple of hours.

The well-heeled senior who literally has everything might appreciate a charitable donation in his or her name. Find out what his or her pet projects are, and find a way to contribute.

Websites such as http://www.seniorstore.com and firststreetonline.com specialize in gifts for seniors, including solar-powered security lights, shower stools, non-slip microfiber bath mats, senior-friendly Jitterbug cell phones with big buttons and simple controls, enhanced-sound phones, vintage duck-shooting games, vinyl record players with CD-recording capability, and many other entertaining and useful items.

Whatever gift you choose, budget some extra time to stop and chat when you drop it off. If you give a game or a jigsaw puzzle, make a date for doing it together. If you give something electronic, show the recipient how to use it, and be open to the idea of returning the gift if it turns out to be too much to master. If you choose a safety handle for the bathtub, install it. Warm, friendly human presence, focused attention, care and concern are the best gifts of all.

Learn more about this author, Christine G..
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