Gift for an Aging Parent
What gift do you get for an aging parent?
I remember getting my mom a new microwave oven. I thought this was the perfect gift for an elderly woman living alone. Meals could be made quickly and easily, and there would no longer be the long waiting for her old crusty teapot to come to a boil.
But my mom never used this microwave – despite my persistent visits to show her how easy it was to use. I finally came to realize that the microwave wasn’t a gift that she’d ever use.
So what do you get as a gift for aging parents?
Here are a few suggestions:
A senior cruise is the ultimate gift. There are substantial discounts on cruises for groups of seniors. This offers your parent a chance to meet and socialize with others on board, as well as a chance to get out and live a little. Some cruises go for as little as $350. Of course, you have to provide transportation to the dock. To find out more on senior cruises try http://www.mustcruise.com/cruise_info/seniors.html http://www.cruisecheap.com/senior_discounts.asp
http://www.michaelstravel.com/senior_cruises2.htm
If you can’t afford a cruise, how about a computer? It’s doubtful that your aging parent may need an expensive high-velocity computer. But you may have an old computer around the house that can be made Internet-ready, and you can introduce them to the wonderful world of e-mail. If not, you can buy refurbished computers cheaply (around $400) through computer geeks at http://www.geeks.com/products.asp?cat=SYS or Frys at http://shop1.outpost.com/template/index/
How about an CD Player with an FM Radio? I remember giving my mother-in-law a Sony Walkman last year with a few CD’s and it opened up a new world to her. She walked around the house singing to herself for days. And when she got tired of the CD’s I burned her, she would listen to National Public Radio. For her, it was a great gift. If you are creative, you could buy a small mp3 player with FM and load all of your parent’s favorite songs on it. That should keep them humming their favorite tunes for months. You can find a few of these for as low as $40.
If your parents live far away, and you can’t see them, give them tickets to a theater with http://www.theatersguide.com/edwards/ Be sure and ask for the senior discount.
What ever you give them, remember the old saying “It’s the thought that counts”. A good gift is normally something a person wouldn’t lavish on themselves – even though they may want it. If your parents are over 70 make sure that your parents are lavished in love. It doesn’t cost much in material wealth, but it’s the gift that keeps on giving.
If you have other questions on your aging parent please check the Free forms at http://www.boomer-books.com