by Nicole Williams

Created on: January 30, 2008

I adore the elderly. They have more life experience than I, they're wiser, and have seen amazing things and transformations in society throughout their lives. I have nothing but immense respect for them. So, how can we honor them and let them know how much we appreciate them? Because most elderly seem to have a lot or are very practical, these gifts require a lot of thought. Here are some gift ideas for the elderly.

Time and Attention

The top gift you can give someone who's elderly is your time. Visit them regularly and call them on the phone. Talk to them about your daily life, your children, and your pets. Most elderly don't get out in the world as much as we do. They don't work and they don't normally partake in as many social activities as they once did. So, regardless as to whether they live alone or with their spouse, they will enjoy the company.

Outings

Take them out to a nice restaurant or to a show. What does this person like? Do they like musicals? You could take them to a dinner theater. Depending on their interests, you can take them to a theme restaurant or just to a restaurant they like, but wouldn't go to themselves. Again, the key is taking them with you and spending time with them.

Sentimental Gifts

Whenever I'm at a family gathering, I look at my grandmother as she watches everything around her. She's almost 90 and is in impeccable health, but what I see is how she takes in her surroundings. Every person in the room is a part of her family. Her children have grown and had children. Their children have grown and had children, and some of those children are old enough to be starting families soon. My grandmother is the person in our family chain that has been around the longest and she's responsible for each of our existence. I see it in her eyes that she's proud of this. When you think about it in this manner, its amazing! I'm not aware of an elderly person that isn't proud of their family.

Some of the best gifts are photos and personalized keepsakes. You can give the elderly a photo album with pictures of family in it. You can even have each person write a personal message, poem, or draw a picture. Another idea involving a photo album is to use family photos to tell a humorous story about the family. Make sure to include all family members in the photos (and in the story).

There are some novelty keepsake items that exist that are personal and sentimental as well, such as talking frames. There are some picture frames that you can purchase. On

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