Get the perfect holiday gifts for seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia
We’ve rounded up 31 of the best gifts that are perfect for seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
There are ideas for people at all levels of cognitive ability – 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!
We’ve got 7 categories of thoughtful, dementia-friendly holiday gifts:
Click the links to go directly to one of the categories or scroll down to browse the full list
- 4 specially designed puzzles that are fun for everyone
- 6 activities that give a sense of accomplishment
- 5 gifts that comfort and soothe seniors who are anxious or fidgety
- 4 gifts that seniors can cuddle and care for
- 5 entertaining picture books that bring back the joy of reading
- 6 practical gifts that make life easier
- 1 innovative technology gift that makes life better
4 specially designed puzzles that are fun for everyone
1) $6 Grandma & Grandpa’s Word Searches
- 27 simple word searches for those with cognitive impairment
- Large print
- No diagonal hidden words
2) $8 Melissa and Doug Tools Wooden Chunky Puzzle (7 pieces)
- 7-piece puzzle
- Has a variety of chunky, easy-to-grasp tool shapes
3) 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 vibrant and artistic – not childish
4) $28 Portrait Puzzles custom photo puzzle
- 15 piece custom jigsaw puzzle
- Designed for people with disabilities
- Use any photo to create a custom puzzle – your older adult’s favorite family memory, nature scene, or vacation spot
6 activities that give a sense of accomplishment
1) $10 Lauri Smooth Lacing Shape Set
- Brightly colored shapes and laces make it fun and easy to “sew” along the holes
- This activity is especially great for someone who enjoyed sewing
2) $10 Melissa & Doug wooden lacing beads set
- Large wooden beads with oversized holes are perfect for lacing
- Includes 30 brightly colored wooden beads in different shapes and 2 colorful lacing strings
- Tip: Buy colorful shoelaces if you need more lacing strings
3) $13 Melissa & Doug wooden 24-piece tool box kit
- 24-piece set includes wooden tools, nails, screws, nuts, and bolts.
4) $14 Plastic nuts & bolts set with 52 pieces
- Brightly colored plastic nuts and bolts in 8 shapes and 4 colors
- Hours of safe fun – attach and detach the nuts and bolts or sort by color or shape
5) $17 Melissa & Doug 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
6) $21 Melissa & Doug 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 gifts that comfort and soothe seniors who are anxious or fidgety
1) $8 Spiky massage ball
- Ball is 3″ in diameter
- Gently spiky outer layer gives a massage effect
2) $10 Tangle Jr. Fuzzy
- 18 fuzzy linked pieces are satisfying to hold, twist, and turn
3) From $36 Fidget quilts and soft items
- Comforting and give nervous hands something safe to fiddle with
- $36 Sensory activity apron
- From $50 Handmade fidget quilts
- $50 Twiddle Cat or Dog
- $60 Activity pillow
4) From $45 Custom photo blankets
- Seniors can stay warm and cozy while looking at a favorite family photo
- From $45 – Walmart
- From $60 – Shutterfly fleece blankets, woven blankets, or custom duvets
5) From $44 Weighted blankets
- $44 YnM Weighted Blanket – 15 lbs, 48 x 72 inches
- $56 Sivio Weighted Blanket – 15 lbs, 48 x 72 inches
- $60 Good Knight Weighted Blanket – 20 lbs, 60 x 80 inches
4 gifts that seniors can cuddle and care for
1) Stuffed animals
- Cuddly stuffed animals like these give comfort and can become a pet or companion
- We especially love this puppy, this bear, and this cat
2) $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!
3) From $60 Joy for All Pet Companion robotic cat or dog
- 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
4) From $20 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
- $13 Lots to Cuddle doll (20 inches tall) – asian
- $20 My Sweet Love 18 inch Doll with Diaper Bag & Accessories – fair skin
- $20 My Sweet Love 3-piece Interactive Baby Doll Set (16 inches) in fair skin or deep skin – moves, giggles, and makes sucking noises when fed a bottle
- $20 La Baby doll (16 inches tall) – hispanic
- $22 Lots to Cuddle doll (20 inches tall) – caucasian
- $22 Lots to Cuddle doll (20 inches tall) – african american
- $32 Believable Babies Unisex baby doll (16 inches tall) – fair skin
- $32 Believable Babies Unisex baby doll (16 inches tall) – deep skin
5 entertaining picture books that bring back the joy of reading
1) $13 Blue Sky, White Clouds: A Book for Memory-Challenged Adults
- A simple, adult picture book with beautiful, realistic photographs and large, easy-to-read captions
2) From $15 Dog or Cat 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
3) From $16 DIY custom photo storybook
- Create a custom photo book and add text to tell a simple story
- Use photos of people, places, things, hobbies, or activities that have special meaning to create a book they’ll love to flip through
4) 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
5) $28 Two-Lap Books: Read-Aloud Books for Memory-Challenged Adults
- These books encourage shared reading, reminiscence, and conversation through large, simple text and colorful illustrations about universally appealing activities
- The Sunshine on My Face
- Wishing On a Star
6 practical gifts that make life easier
1) Specialized clothing for dementia needs
- Prevent spontaneous undressing with stylish back-zip jumpsuits (some even 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) $18 Jumbo Large Print 2020 Wall Calendar
- Being able to keep track of time and date decreases confusion and helps seniors stay oriented and engaged with the world
- This jumbo calendar (17 x 22 inches) is easy to see and understand and has plenty of space for making notes about appointments or special events
3) $33 Deluxe 5-piece Redware Dining Set
- In Alzheimer’s patients, red color dining ware is found to increase food intake by 24% and liquid intake by 84%
- This set includes cup, inner lip plate, partitioned plate with lid, and adaptive grip fork and spoon
4) $44 American Lifetime Extra Large Digital Day Clock
- Being able to keep track of time and date decreases confusion and helps seniors stay oriented and engaged with the world
- This clock clearly spells out the time, period of the day, full day of the week, month and date
- The display has large, clear letters with no confusing abbreviations
- The words dementia, Alzheimer’s, and memory loss are intentionally excluded from the packaging, making it a great gift
5) $94 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
6) $120 Large Retro Style One Button Dementia Radio
- This AM/FM radio is specially designed to be completely controlled by one button
- Remove the front panel to select the preferred AM or FM station and set the volume.
- Remove and store the control knob and store it in the rear compartment to prevent adjustment
- Once the initial set up has been completed, the user simply pushes the button to turn the radio on and pushes the same button to turn the radio off.
- Music can also be downloaded and played using a USB memory stick (MP3 format only). When using a USB stick, the front cover panel will remain off.
1 innovative technology gift that makes life better
1) Amazon Echo
$35 Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Generation)
$45 Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Generation) with clock
$100 Amazon Echo (3rd 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 more about how an Amazon Echo could help someone with dementia
Recommended for you:
- The Big List of Best Gifts for Seniors
- 5 Top Alzheimer’s Holiday Tips for a More Enjoyable Season
- 10 Affordable Products for People with Dementia That Increase Comfort and Calm
By DailyCaring Editorial Team
Image: SPC Care Homes
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