What do you get a 92 year old woman?

Question

My hubby's grandma is 92 and her birthday falls in December. It's such a pain to figure out what to get her not only for her birthday, but then again for Christmas 3 weeks later. In the past we've given her plants, or other knickknacks that we never see up in her house ever. She's going to die eventually and I don't see why I need to give her anything that she can't use up. What are some good ideas to give to a really old person? She's diabetic, so candy is out. I've also done the pictures of the great-grandkids in a nice frame and nope, never seen that displayed either. My husband has for the last 2 years, taken her out for breakfast with the kids after Christmas time, like in January, but I don't know if that's just being cheap. I need help!

Answer 1

My grandmother is 93 and her birthday is only 5 days before Christmas, it had been 10 years before I saw her in Jan. My husband and I wanted to get her something while we were there.  So what to get her? I know that she likes cats and books (large print so her eyes don't strain) so I got her a book with short stories about cats.  She didn't really think that she would enjoy it since she usually reads novels and not short stories, but she really likes the book and I'm glad that the stories could cheer her up on a miserable rainy Florida day. If you can think of something that she likes, why not try to find a short book for her to read or does she like doing puzzles? Get a puzzle, or puzzle book (like word search or crosswords), it will keep her mind working and she'll stay "busy".  

Answer 2

eek, thats a good question, very challenging. maybe she doesnt want anything anymore? we have the same problem with our nana, we never know what to get her, and she is 92 aswell. she doesnt use anything we get her, and she wont display anything we make such as photographs, colouring-ins from the little sister, craft ornaments. i just dont think she wants anything anymore. i suppose she doesnt see a purpose in any of it, and is settled and happy with what she's got? its a little sad, but i guess that's just how the elderly become when they are reaching their last years...sorry i couldnt be of a better help to you.

p.s coming to think of it, the one thing we brought home from the supermarket for her once that she loved, which wasnt even a present for a special occasion or birthday, and wasnt even anything that we would be phased in recieving from someone,was actually one of those insect irritators that you plug into the wall! she was constantly complaing about insects and i think we experienced the first spark of interest in our gift ideas for nana, as she had been complaining about the pests around the  for some-time.

So, that same day we went back to the shops and bought her an ambi-pur air freshner that you plug into the wall which lets off odours automatically. she loves the smell, and she says that it stops her from needing to remember to unlight the incence sticks because now she has this new nice smell and its automatic! crazy right?!

Answer 3

get her some footies  

Answer 4

As a diabetic, she can have sugar-free candy, but I think a batter idea would be for you to cook a meal that you can easily transport to her house with your family and eat a meal together.  She will appreciate the company and your time is probably the best gift you can give her.

Answer 5

Get as many family member you can get together and spend a day at the park or have a nice dinner.  It's not cheap because what you're giving her is "TIME."  Older people don't usually care about materialistic things.  I know my g-ma would rather spend time with me than if I bought her stuff.  (Extreme point of view:  What if you had the same amount of time left to live?  What would you want to do?)

Answer 6

get her a nice oiutfit and perfume for wen she goes out for her bingo :)

Answer 7

make her something

its fairly easy, cheap (just use stuff u already have around the house)

and she'll probably like it cuz its "original" or whatever

Answer 8

Flowers!!!   women love flowers.  

Answer 9

buy her bubble bath set with soaps and thing and tell her u love her alot cuz thats wat matters most  

Answer 10

Try some nice home made certificates to have family time with you, like taking her out for dinner a few times or having her over. At that age, most people just want to spend time with their families more than aquiring goods. Maybe a gift certificate for the spa as well? Or for a massage?

Answer 11

i would get her something that can keep her warm, like pj's or slippers. maybe a nice pillow and blanket.

Answer 12

Have you considered giving her a personalized gift. I would suggest making her a collage of family pictures or something like that..For the last years of my grandparents life's I made then photo collages as gifts and they loved them. I also think that you idea of taking out for breakfast with the children is a great idea. I am sure she enjoys being with the children and also enjoys getting out of the house.

Answer 13

Ask her what she has always wanted to do yet has not accomplished it yet.... Make her dream come true.

Answer 14

A FLEECE BLANKET. Get a really soft, warm one. she will love it.  You can never go wrong with one of those. I got my grandma one for xmas and she uses it almost everyday and loves it.  

Answer 15

Your Husbands Idea is outstanding. At 92 there is nothing she needs but time with her family and it will be something that the kids will remember for the rest of their life as well. You should join them, it will make the memories better for everyone. Getting something is easy, spending quality time is PRICELESS.

My Aunts made my Grandmother a Family History Quilt for her 90th birthday. She LOVES it! It's on her bed and she shows it off to everyone who visits.

Answer 16

Depends

Answer 17

My uncle Kevin gave our Grandmother a leather thong for her 90th. It was a joke but everyone had a great laugh and she thought it was the best present ever. She showed it to all of her friends at the retirement center.

k

Answer 18

How about make a quilt for her of things she likes or family portraits. You don't have to give someone an expensive gift, all it matters is coming from your heart.

Answer 19

She would love nothing more than for her children/grandchildren/great grandchildren to spend time with her.  Taking her out for a meal and spending several hours just talking to her and letting her see you all is all she really wants.  Present her with a cake, make her wear a funny bday hat along with the rest of you.  She will love it.

She doesn't want material things.

At Christmas, do it again, New Years, do it again, do it every chance you get.  Someday she will die and he will have no regrets or nicknack's to sell in a garage sale.

Answer 20

A time machine.  

Answer 21

I think taking her is a very good idea and I understand that it is very hard to get something for a lady as old as she is. My mother was the very same ..she never had the things out that we bought her but I can understand...she has seen everything there is to see at her age and she is probably not interested anymore...before my mother died at 93 yrs we stopped buying her things...now you may think this is mad ,

! We often had a sing song with her and she loveeeeeeed it so much..all the old songs she remembered , it brought her great joy and also it brought us great pleasure to see her going back in time :) it's just a thought.

Answer 22

I don't know how easy it is but someone told me for their nan they looked up the family history and got it printed out on a big piece of paper. You sound like a busy woman so i realize this might not be a practical idea as it is so time consuming but its certainly quite a nice one!

Answer 23

honestly if that was me i'd just give her a birthday card and the same for christmas, just a card.

Answer 24

you could get her a gift card to her favorite restaurant or some soft socks or a book.

or even a water fountain with some flowers. that could cover both her birthday and christmas.

Answer 25

maybe put together a scrap book of her life. at that age her memory may be failing and it might be nice for her to be able to look back on things

Answer 26

Well if she is a christian, this is pretty cheap

http://www.findgift.com/gift-ideas/pid-8...

Answer 27

get her a sweater.. older people constantly feel cold.

get her a sweater, or socks, pajamas, something comfortable.. and chocolate to go along with it so it doesnt look cheap..

good luck=]

Answer 28

Hmm.... Maybe you can write her a poem or cook her a special Christmas dinner. You can buy her a pendant with a picture of her grandchildren, make a scrapbook, books, or pets like fish or puppies. =)  

Answer 29

give her something that she myt have treasured ages ago like wen she was little she had a certain necklace, you culd find a necklace that resembles the look. somethin important from her past. maybe a picture of somethin she cherishes in a beutiful frame

Answer 30

We always get my grandparents stuff they'll use up rather than decorations, etc.  They've already got everything they want and are trying to downsize so i know what you mean.

Ideas:

- soaps, lotions, bathroom stuff

- tea bags (specialty or flavored teas)

- Jam, Cookies, fruit  (diabetic friendly stuff of course)

We always make up a basket of this stuff and they love it.