Getting the perfect present for that special person in your life is not always as easy as it should be. Often, it gets more difficult as the recipient gets older.
St. Albert's Sandra Warren recently opened Gifts for Gran, her central Edmonton store that focuses on helping local shoppers find items that are appropriate and helpful for seniors of all ages.
"I've worked with seniors for quite a few years. What I'm trying to do with opening my store is to solve the 'disconnect' or the problem if you will of gift buying for seniors," she stated.
"I think people are just frustrated because they don't know what to buy and often it may be not the right kind. You can buy gardening tools pretty much anywhere… but they're not aware of the fact that you can get ergonomical ones that help with arthritis. They do find it very frustrating."
Located at 10563 Kingsway Avenue, her store has gift options for "young seniors" of 65 to "senior seniors" that could be close to the century mark or beyond.
"Buying for a 95-year-old senior can be a lot different than a 65-year-old senior."
She suggested ergonomical gardening tools (approved by an arthritis association) for older horticulturalists that might suffer a bit of joint pain in their green thumbs. She also has cooking tools that are easier to handle for those who have diminished dexterity.
The older elderly, on the other hand, might have even more troubles working with finer things like buttons and zippers. That's why she carries adaptive clothing like blouses that use Velcro for fastening. There are nightgowns that can be put on from the front for ease. A caregiver can fasten it up in the back.
She has also found that nightlights and magnetic jewelry have become very popular. These bracelets with magnets embedded in them are purported to help with arthritis and pain relief.
Other suggestions
The issue of gift giving for seniors is a serious one, and the St. Albert Seniors' Working Group has taken it seriously.
The group is comprised of members of local organizations (including the St. Albert 50+ Club, Stop Abuse in Families, Alberta Health Services, and the St. Albert and Sturgeon Primary Care Network) all of which work extensively with seniors. Its goal is to improve seniors' lives through as broad a range of issues as possible.
Pat Phelan is the director of volunteer centre services at the Community Information and Volunteer Centre and she's also a member and co-chair of the seniors' working group. She said that it could be challenging to buy gifts for seniors for many reasons.
"Seniors – myself included – we really have everything we need for the most part, and if we don't, we get it."
She repeated Warren's comment that the seniors demographic is a complex one because it extends through ages 50 to 75 to 100 and beyond. That's why Phelan suggests thinking simply. She said that vouchers are often the best present.
"We should think about what they do in their lives on a day-to-day basis. What kinds of things does that senior enjoy now? How could I pick up some of what his or her expenses are? There are lots of little things that we don't even think of," she said.
"[The group] talked about gift certificates and gift cards. What would those be for: perhaps their favourite hairdresser or perhaps their transportation? Gift cards are so appreciated. Then the senior can go and get what they want. I really like getting gift cards and I think most of us do."
She also suggested vouchers for the Handibus, seniors-focused transportation businesses like Driving Miss Daisy or any local taxi service. There are also options regarding home cleaning and maid services, or snow removal services. Even a gift card for a grocery store is often a great idea just to help out with daily needs where they would usually be shopping anyway.
"Most seniors are a bit frugal, and depending on the age, how frugal we are. There's often times that we won't buy that special thing that we might enjoy because it costs a little bit. Also an age group like myself, a gift card would really be nice. There's seniors that go to Servus Place every day to walk on the track or there's seniors that love going to Fountain Park to the aquacize classes there.
Other ideas, she continued, included car wash passes, library memberships, Arden Theatre tickets, coffee house cards, and Meals on Wheels. This last service is available to anyone who requests it but is invaluable for homebound seniors as it also acts as a lamplighter to keep an eye on those who might not have much interaction with family or friends outside of their house.
More information on the group can be found at www.stalbert.ca/st-albert-seniors-working-group.
