Get the perfect holiday gifts for seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia
We’ve chosen 25 of the best gifts that are perfect for seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia. There’s something to appeal to people at all levels of cognitive ability.
We’ve got fun and engaging games, gifts that comfort anxiety and soothe agitation, and activities that give a sense of accomplishment.
We bet there’s something here that your older adult will love!
4 specially designed puzzles are fun for everyone
1) $10 Melissa and Doug 7-piece tool puzzle
- 7-piece puzzle
- Has a variety of chunky, easy-to-grasp tool shapes
2) From $13 Springbok Puzzles to Remember
- 36 piece jigsaw puzzles
- Designed for people with dementia
- Large pieces are easier to grip and see
- Pictures are lovely, vibrant, and artistic – not childish
3) From $20 Vintage Saturday Evening Post 6-piece or 12-piece puzzles
- Lovely replicas of vintage prints from the Saturday Evening Post magazine – a staple in many households when seniors were young
4) $28 Portrait Puzzles custom photo puzzle
- 15 piece custom jigsaw puzzle
- Designed for people with disabilities
- Use any photo – your older adult’s favorite family memory, nature scene, or vacation spot
- Get a $2 discount by entering the promotion code “POP” at checkout – in addition, $5 will be donated to the Alzheimer’s Association
5 activities give a sense of accomplishment
1) $10 Wooden 24-piece tool box kit
- 24-piece set includes wooden tools, nails, screws, nuts, and bolts.
2) $15 Wooden lacing beads set
- 50 solid wooden beads with bright colors and shapes
- Large wooden beads with oversized holes are perfect for lacing
- 2 lacing strings included (get colorful shoelaces if you need more)
3) $17 Pattern blocks and boards
- Fun shapes can be used a variety of ways
- Use the included boards to create colorful pictures, make free form shapes, or trace shapes on paper
4) $21 Deluxe latches board
- Well-crafted board has brightly colored and has polished metal locks, latches, and clasps
- Each door opens to has a fun picture
5) $30 Plastic nuts & bolts set with 64 pieces
- Brightly colored plastic nuts and bolts
- Hours of safe fun – attach and detach the nuts and bolts or sort by color or shape
4 gifts to comfort and soothe seniors who are anxious or fidgety
1) $6 Tangle Jr. Fuzzy
- 18 fuzzy linked pieces are satisfying to hold, twist, and turn
2) $7 Spiky massage ball
- Ball is 3″ in diameter
- Gently spiky outer layer gives a massage effect
3) From $39 Fidget quilts and soft items
- Comforting and give nervous hands something safe to fiddle with
- $39 Sensory activity apron
- From $45 Handmade fidget quilts
- $50 Twiddle Cat or Dog
- $59 Activity pillow
4) From $45 Custom photo blankets
- Seniors can stay warm and cozy while looking at a favorite family photo
- From $45 Walmart custom photo blankets
- From $75 Shutterfly custom photo blankets
4 gifts to cuddle and care for
1) $29 My Little Puppy singing plush puppy
- Soft, cuddly puppy is 10″ tall
- Sings “If You’re Happy And You Know It.”
- The best part? It claps hands and ears along with the song!
2) From $73 Joy for All Pet Companion robotic cat
- Lifelike and engaging as well as cute and cuddly soft
- It can purr, meow, move, and respond in realistic ways when petted or hugged
- Battery powered
- Find out more in our review
3) From $10 Therapy dolls
- Help seniors feel useful and needed and give them something positive to focus on
- Bring back happy memories of early parenthood for both women and men
- Ease feelings of isolation and sadness because they have someone to care for
- Find out more about the positive effect of therapy dolls for dementia
- $10 My Sweet Love baby girl (20 inches tall) – light skin
- $10 My Sweet Love baby girl (13 inches tall) – dark skin
- $15 La Baby doll (16 inches tall) – hispanic
- $23 Lots to Cuddle doll (20 inches tall) – asian
- $23 Lots to Cuddle doll (20 inches tall) – african american
- $30 Lots to Cuddle doll (20 inches tall) – caucasian
- $30 Believable Babies baby doll – light skin
- $30 Believable Babies baby doll – dark skin
4) Stuffed animals
- Stuffed animals like these give comfort and can even become a pet
- We especially love this puppy and this penguin
3 entertaining picture books bring back the joy of reading
1) $13 Dogs or Cats picture books
- Hardcover books with thick, easy-to-turn pages
- Each book has large beautiful pictures of all kinds of dogs or cats
- Realistic illustrations
2) From $20 Simple Pleasures for Special Seniors books
- 4 books in the series: Fruits, Fun Foods, Hand Tools, and Life In The US Military
- Each book has large and colorful photos of everyday objects
- Realistic illustrations
3) From $16 Custom photo storybook
- Add some simple text to photos from a meaningful family event to tell a story
- Use photos of people, places, or things that have special meaning to create a book they’ll love flipping through
3 practical gifts that make life easier
1) Specialized clothing
- Prevent spontaneous undressing with stylish back-zip jumpsuits (some look like 2 piece outfits!) – for women and men
- Make dressing easier with soft fabrics and easy-to-use Velcro, snap, and zip closures – for women and men
- Practical, stylish, and comfortable
2) $46 Redware dinnerware set, deluxe
- In Alzheimer’s patients, red color dining ware increases food intake by 24% and liquid intake by 84%
- This set includes cup, inner lip plate, partitioned plate and lid, fork, and spoon
3) $100 Eatwell Assistive Tableware Set, 8 Piece
- Award-winning assistive tableware set for users with cognitive, motor and physical impairments
- Designed to increase appetite and reduce visual confusion
- Encourages independent eating and reduces the burden on caregivers
- Added stability helps prevent spills and dropped foods
- Find out more about this set
2 innovative technology gifts that make life better
1) $30 Amazon Echo Dot or $100 Amazon Echo (2nd Generation)
- Echo gives your older adult someone else to talk so you can get a break
- Instantly answers questions, like “what day is it?” or “what time is it?” and will never get annoyed or frustrated
- Plays music, tells time and weather, looks up information, and more
- It can’t completely replace human touch or real conversation, but it often does feel like a helpful friend
- Find out why Rick Phelps, dementia patient and advocate, loves his Echo
2) $190 Simple Music Player
- MP3 music box designed for people with Alzheimer’s or dementia
- Load 1000 songs via USB
- Lift or lower lid to start or stop the music
- Large button skips to the next song
- Dementia-proof volume control on the bottom
Recommended for you:
- The Big List of Gift Ideas for Seniors
- Caregiving During the Holidays: 6 Tips for Dealing with Difficult Family
- 10 Fun, No-Fail Activities for People with Dementia
By DailyCaring Editorial Team
Image: SPC Care Homes
This article wasn’t sponsored, but does contain affiliate links. All prices quoted were checked shortly before publication, but prices change often and might not match what is found online. We never link to products for the sole purpose of making a commission. Product recommendations are based on our honest opinions. For more information, see How We Make Money.
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