Happy birthday gmama?

June 27, 2011 5:44 PM

What should we get our 90-year-old grandma for her birthday?

My grandma is turning 90 this August. She is from a small town in Texas but the family is bringing her out to Seattle to celebrate.

Any brilliant ideas as to a good gift for a 90-year old? I don't know her well at all. She is pretty much set as far as blankets and crossword puzzle books go. As far as sentimental gifts (photo albums, etc), the family is not emotionally close enough to put something like that together.

A few years ago we gave a charitable donation in her name and... she didn't really get it.

I know this is a long shot but can anyone think of something to get her? We need help thinking outside of the box.

posted by jschu to Human Relations (16 answers total)

Family histories and family mementos are powerful things. Even if your whole family not emotionally close enough to put a sentimental gift together, are you organized enough to give it a shot? I think at 90, most people with families would most appreciate an album, a book of memories, or something of the sort.
posted by xingcat at 5:46 PM on June 27, 2011

Of the random things we've given to my 95 year old grandmother, the thing she seems to like best is one of those goofy fruit-of-the-month subscriptions. I think it's mostly that she likes getting stuff in the mail, it's just sort of an extra bonus that the stuff they ship her is good for her.
posted by foodgeek at 5:53 PM on June 27, 2011

A bird feeder? One of those services that delivers flowers or plants or fruit once a month? If she's out and about much, maybe movie tickets or museum memberships? A Netflix subscription? If she isn't out and about much but would like to be, you could set up an account with a cab company in her city.
posted by corey flood at 5:54 PM on June 27, 2011

Could you arrange to have a professional family portrait taken while she's there and give her a nice (big!) framed copy of it?

Or... maybe something that she'd get a kick out of "showing off" to her friends: a charm bracelet with the Seattle space needle on it, a fancy scarf/brooch/pocketbook, a big cheerful flag for her front porch, some "wacky" reading glasses, etc.

I'm sure handmade cards from the youngest generation would go over well, too.
posted by mauvest at 5:58 PM on June 27, 2011

If she likes to read, consider a Kindle (non-ad, 3G model, a family member puts the books on for her). Seriously. Many very elderly people love their Kindles and do well with them.

Another idea, if it's not too much, is an iPad ... there have been so many stories of the very elderly enjoying iPads as their first computer ... talk to those who are closest to her to find out if either of these things would add to her quality of life.
posted by batikrose at 5:58 PM on June 27, 2011 [2 favorites]

I just got my 86 year-old dad a Kindle. He loves it. I set it up and manage it for him by adding the books he wants. Get the 3G one. For my 89 year-old father-in-law, we got an easy to use CD player and some books on CDs, since he has trouble reading. It was a big hit and you can always get more CDs.

An iPad is an awesome gift too.
posted by wandering_not_lost at 6:09 PM on June 27, 2011

I've bought several of these microwaveable neck wraps for older family members. You just zap them in the microwave for a bit and they act kind of like heating pads, soothing sore muscles. They also smell really nice and the recipient doesn't have to worry about unplugging it/turning it off like a typical heating pad.

Many older people appreciate stamps, stationery, black notecards - practical stuff like that as well.

Another gift that's been a hit is an LED-lighted magnifying glass. The rimless ones are pretty nice.

Wireless indoor weather stations are great, and it would be easy for you to set a simple one up for her. Make sure to get one with large numbers.

This is a monthly medication system with an alarm - might be handy if she's on several medications.

Flowers are always appreciated, as are the fresh fruit/candy gift deliveries from Harry and David's.

Good luck!
posted by Ostara at 6:12 PM on June 27, 2011 [1 favorite]

Assuming you're flying her out: even a few hours of economy class air travel can be very rough on the elderly. If nothing else lights you up, you might consider organizing the family to pull together air miles and cash to upgrade her to business or first class.

Or, if there's someone in the family who is particularly close to her, you could put both of them on a wheelchair-accessible sleeper car on Amtrak for part or all of the trip out or back. (It's more fun to travel with a companion, plus an almost-90-year-old lady might need a bit of assistance now and again.) It's expensive but there's nothing like a sleeper train for soaking up the positive experiences of travel. The Texas Eagle runs to LA, and the Coast Starlight runs between LA and Seattle.
posted by gingerest at 6:40 PM on June 27, 2011 [2 favorites]

You might consider a digital picture frame, loaded with photos of family. That's a lot easier than a photo album, in terms of emotional requirements for creation, and old people love them.
posted by waldo at 7:28 PM on June 27, 2011 [1 favorite]

Gifts that were a hit with my 90+ grandmother: A beautiful decorative windchime, lovely soaps, a woven blanket, cardigans, a glass egg with an elephant suspended inside.

The theme was definitely comfort and enchantment.

We never gave her an Ipod but I downloaded a bunch of art/painting/drawing apps and, even though must of technology eluded her, she loved playing with those apps. Something about the touchabilty of the Ipod didn't intimidate her as much as other devices may have.
posted by Sylvia Plath's terrible fish at 8:15 PM on June 27, 2011

iPad.
posted by cabingirl at 8:21 PM on June 27, 2011

Really, really good socks.
posted by KathrynT at 11:09 PM on June 27, 2011

My 92 year old grandmother loves the digital picture frame my cousin gave her.
She also loves chocolates and gift cards to Applebees (her favorite restaurant in her town).
And a subscription to those weekly tabloid magazines like People and US - oh, how she loves that kind of gossipy stuff.
posted by jillithd at 7:34 AM on June 28, 2011

If you don't know her well, is there anyone (her friends, neighbors) that you could ask, who would know her better? Her interests, physical condition, needs, character, etc.?
posted by Busoni at 8:53 AM on June 28, 2011

My grandmothers really like gift cards from CVS. Really. When you have to buy stuff like adult diapers and test strips, every little bit helps.
posted by Biblio at 9:41 AM on June 28, 2011

From Ms. Vegetable: Stamps have been a huge hit with the relatives who still send snail mail.
posted by a robot made out of meat at 6:29 PM on June 28, 2011