Gift Ideas For Any Season

When buying gifts for seniors, keep in mind that most seniors have more than their share of dusting powder and aftershave, and have run out of room for bud vases and bird feeders. Here are some practical alternatives.

• A gift certificate for their favorite grocery store, deli, or pharmacy.

• An assortment of greeting cards for birthdays and anniversaries, as well as get-well and condolence cards.

• A “paid in advance” certificate for 10 lawn mowings or snow shovelings by a neighborhood youngster.

• A “certificate” for a service you can perform that is difficult for them - a thorough house cleaning, a month’s laundry, a handyman visit for home safety inspection and minor repairs.

• An offer to rewrite their address book in large, more legible print.

• A month of Sunday drives to church, or to the country, the museum or the park.

• If the person on your list is on a limited income, a check in any amount will be appreciated.

• A subscription to the newspaper.

• A basket of goodies assembled especially for them: cans of ham, tuna, chicken, hearty soups, chili and stew; instant coffee and tea bags; crackers; instant soup mixes.

• A selection of their treasured, tattered photos retouched and placed into a new album, with captions.

• A drive to see the Christmas lights and decorations, as well as store windows.

If a senior says, “Please don’t give me anything,” that usually means, “I have more things than I need.” However, a gift of your time will be appreciated and remembered long after the holiday has passed and the material gifts are stored away.