Date published: 2023-06-02
By Connie Chow, Founder at DailyCaring
Wonderful holiday gifts for dementia and Alzheimer’s
We’ve rounded up 47 of the best gift ideas that are perfect for people with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
This is a huge list – within each gift idea are dozens of product suggestions for people at all levels of cognitive ability.
There are fun and engaging games, gifts that comfort anxiety and soothe agitation, activities that give a sense of accomplishment, and more.
We bet there’s something here that your older adult is sure to enjoy.
Browse 8 categories of holiday gifts for people with dementia
To make it easier to browse these gift ideas for people with Alzheimer’s or dementia, click these links below to jump directly to one of the eight categories on this page or keep scrolling to browse the full list.
- 5 innovative technology gifts that keep them connected
- 9 fun, specially-designed puzzles and activities
- 5 activities that give a sense of accomplishment
- 7 gifts that comfort and soothe seniors who are anxious or fidgety
- 4 gifts that seniors can cuddle and care for
- 9 simple, entertaining books that bring back the joy of reading
- 6 practical gifts that make life easier and more pleasant
- 2 gifts that encourage conversation and reminiscence
5 innovative technology gifts that keep them connected
1) Amazon Echo Show “Alexa” voice assistant with video calling
The Amazon Echo Show is an Alexa personal voice assistant with a video screen. It’s similar to the Echo or Echo Dot, with the addition of a video screen.
To make video calls without your older adult needing to take action to accept the call, use the Echo’s “drop in” feature.
There are three types of these devices at different price points based on screen size, camera quality, and release date:
- $35 Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen, 2021 release) – 5.5 inch smart display with Alexa and 2 MP camera makes video calling easy and is great for watching videos or TV shows too
- $70 Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen, 2021 release) – 8 inch HD smart display with Alexa and 13 MP camera makes video calls and watching videos/TV even more enjoyable
- $170 Echo Show 15 – 15.6″ full HD (1080p) smart display and 5 MP camera with Alexa lets you make video calls, stream music and books, and watch videos, movies, and TV shows
2) $50 Amazon Echo (4th Gen) “Alexa” voice assistant with voice calling
This hands-free, voice-controlled device has a spherical design with rich sound, smart home hub, and Alexa.
It makes voice calls, plays music, gives weather reports, reads the news, answers questions, tells jokes, reads audiobooks, checks sports scores, and more.
Set up the “drop in” feature to make voice calls to people who aren’t able to actively answer a call. Find out more about how Echo can help people with dementia.
3) $25 Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen, 2022 release) “Alexa” voice assistant with voice calling
The Echo Dot has vibrant sound and the Alexa voice assistant in a compact smart speaker.
Set up the “drop in” feature to make voice calls to people who aren’t able to actively answer a call. Find out more about how Echo can help people with dementia.
4) From $219 ViewClix Smart Frame
These smart picture frames display digital photos in a 10.1-inch screen size ($219) or 15.6-inch screen size ($299).
Both sizes have video calling with an auto-answer mode. When auto-answer is set up, the older adult doesn’t need to do anything to receive a video call.
This is especially helpful for making video calls to someone with dementia or who isn’t able to physically answer a call.
Plus, the frame can be remotely managed, which means the older adult doesn’t need to do anything at all.
Tip: When choosing a screen size, think about your family member’s vision: is it poor or starting to decline? If so, go with the largest screen size that your budget allows.
We discuss the ViewClix Smart Frame in greater detail here.
5) RAZ Memory Cell Phone, $309 + monthly service
This dementia-friendly mobile phone is a cell phone that someone with cognitive impairment can actually use.
It has a single screen that never turns off, calling by picture, and emergency services.
Plus, Remote Manage provides families with the unprecedented ability to remotely manage ALL aspects of the mobile phone through a simple app or online portal.
It also has an optional alternative service that answers emergency calls if someone with dementia frequently makes unwanted 911 calls.
9 fun, specially-designed puzzles and activities
1) Activities for Alzheimer’s and Dementia
These wonderful, non-childish activities help people with dementia feel a sense of enjoyment, satisfaction, and accomplishment.
- $14 Relish – Matching Card Game, Large Images
Each pack of cards contains 3 games of varying difficulty: Snap, Pairs, and Full House. Designed for people with early to mid-stage dementia, the illustrated cards feature easily recognisable images in bold contrasting colors, so players can enjoy a lively game with friends and family with little to no assistance. - $40 Relish Musical Bingo Game
As dementia progresses, music can be used to enhance communication and wellbeing. Designed for all stages of dementia, this game features evocative melodies carefully selected to trigger memories. - $42 BEAT-THE-BOX Fun Game for All Seniors. Ideal for People w Memory Loss or Early Stages of Dementia
This game is a great activity to improve concentration and focus! Simple math and the luck of the dice keeps players entertained for long periods of time. Can be played with 2-4 players or individually.
2) Activity and puzzle books for Alzheimer’s and Dementia
- $6 Grandma & Grandpa’s Word Searches Volume 1 and Volume 2
Each volume of this activity book has 27 simple, large-print word searches designed for people with cognitive impairment. There are only horizontal words, no diagonal ones. - $8 The Fun and Easy Memory Activity Book for Adults
This activity book includes a selection of activities, puzzles, and games that target short-term and long-term memory as well as easy puzzles and brain games. - $8 Easy Relaxing Puzzles
This fun puzzle book has simple instructions, large print, and clear pictures. It includes extra-easy Spot the Odd One Out puzzles, simple-to-solve mazes, large-print word search puzzles, and Find the Differences puzzles. - $10 Little Moments of Joy Adult Activity Book
Another fantastic book packed full of entertaining activities including easy puzzles, brain games, writing activities, and coloring pages. - $10 The Fun and Relaxing Adult Activity Book
This book is full of easy puzzles, brain games, writing activities and coloring pages. Some of the puzzles include crosswords, word searches, mazes, find the differences, trivia, and more. - $10 Delightful! Easy Puzzles, Memory Activities and Brain Games for Adults
This activity book has large print and easy-to-see images. It includes classic puzzles like word searches, Find the Differences, mazes, sudoku, and Spot the Odd One Out. It also includes fun memory activities and brain games.
3) Recreate handy hobbies
Help someone recreate memories of past projects with these tool-based activities.
- $15 Melissa & Doug Latches Board
Keep busy hands occupied with latches that hook, snap, click, and slide. - $13 MEROCO Montessori Screw Driver Board
Practice using two different tools to remove and re-insert five different screws. - $55 GeriGuard Solutions Memory Loss & Alzheimer’s Dementia Fidget Board Activity Center
This non-childish activity board features everyday items and tasks like a barrel bolt, chain lock, sash lock, light switch, wheel, door stop and a zipper. It works best when placed flat on a table or placed on the lap.
4) Encourage creative expression with simple art activities
- $8 Extra soft, reusable, non-toxic modeling clay
These colorful clays won’t dry out, no matter how much they’re used or if they’re accidentally left out. Cleanup is easy too. There’s no tacky residue that sticks to hands, fingers, and clothing. - $25 Relish Aquapaint Water Painting Packs
Each of these painting packs include 5 vibrant images. Use plain water to “paint” these colorful paintings and give a sense of accomplishment. The color fades as the paper dries so they can be used over and over again.
5) Enjoy block puzzles and free-form building
- $11 Bristle Blocks by Battat – 112 Pieces
These blocks have soft, interlocking bristles that stick together at any angle for frustration-free building. - $16 Vanmor Wooden Tangram Pattern Blocks Set, 60 Design Cards with 120 Patterns
This tangram set includes 7 different color and shape wooden blocks and 60 double-sided pattern cards with 120 different numbers, letters, geometric figures, and animal shape cards. It all comes in a handy tin storage box.
6) Springbok Puzzles to Remember, from $17
Springbok has designed 36 and 100 piece jigsaw puzzles in a wide variety of beautiful designs for people with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
The large pieces are easier to grip and see and the pictures are vibrant and artistic – not at all childish.
7) Relish Magnetic “Puzzles,” $28
These puzzles are designed for people unable to do traditional puzzles. They’re an alternative with the same level of satisfaction and without the stress of getting it wrong.
In these puzzles, people create their own scene using a set of magnetic pieces that can be placed on the background board.
8) $22 GoodDay Puzzles
These puzzles are specially designed for people with Alzheimer’s or dementia. They come in 16, 48, and 72 piece options to suit different stages of ability. Best of all, the box doesn’t have any mentions of Alzheimer’s or dementia.
9) $30 Portrait Puzzles custom photo puzzle
Use your own photo to create a custom 30 piece custom jigsaw puzzle, 16 x 20 inch size. These puzzles are designed for people with reduced vision, low mobility, and cognitive impairment.
5 activities that give a sense of accomplishment
1) $11 Melissa & Doug Lace and Trace Activity Set: Pets
This lacing activity is especially great for someone who enjoyed sewing. This kit includes 5 fun animal pictures that make it fun and easy to “sew” along the holes at the edges.
2) $14 Coogam 32 Piece Jumbo Nuts and Bolts Set
This set includes brightly colored plastic nuts and bolts in 4 shapes and 4 colors. Enjoy hours of safe fun by attaching and detaching the nuts and bolts or sorting by color or shape.
3) $13 Melissa & Doug Primary Lacing Beads
Large wooden beads with oversized holes are perfect for lacing. This set includes 30 brightly colored wooden beads in different shapes and 2 colorful lacing strings in a wooden storage case. Tip: Buy colorful shoelaces if you need more lacing strings.
4) $14 Melissa & Doug Wooden 24-piece Tool Box
This 24-piece set includes wooden tools, nails, screws, nuts, and bolts.
5) $16 Melissa & Doug Pattern Blocks and Boards
These fun shapes can be used in a variety of ways. Use the included boards to create colorful pictures, make free form shapes, or trace the shapes on paper.
7 gifts that comfort and soothe seniors who are anxious or fidgety
1) $8 Tangle Jr. Textured Sensory Fidget Toy
This fun twisty fidget toy has a variety of textures and colors for tactile and visual sensory stimulation. It’s silent and calming to use so it won’t disrupt or disturb others.
2) $10 Pro-Tec Spiky Massage Ball
This 3-inch diameter ball has a gently spiky outer layer that gives a massage effect.
3) Pop It fidget toys
Press the bubbles to make a slight popping sound. Then, flip it over and start over. These handy fidget toys are easy to clean and reuse.
- $8 OZZEVO 4 Pack Rainbow Pop Fidget Toys
- $10 Power Your Fun Pop Puzzle Popper Fidget Game – 27pc Jigsaw Puzzle
- $13 4 Pack Pop Fidget Toy: Basketball, Football, Baseball, Soccer Ball
4) Fidget quilts and soft items
These comforting items give nervous hands something safe and soothing to fiddle with.
- $20 Fidget Pillowcase Cover
- $37 Special Needs Sensory Activity Apron
- $55 Twiddle Cat or Twiddle Pup
- From $55 Handmade fidget quilts in a wide variety of themes and designs, custom designs upon request
5) $45 Busy Fingers Weighted Fidget Lap Pad with 3 Activity Panels
This plush weighted pillow provides soothing pressure and calming benefits. Activity panels include: find hidden objects in the pellets, push a marble through a maze, or twirl and stretch fun colored coils.
6) Weighted blankets
Weighted blankets have been scientifically proven to relieve distress and anxiety. They’re especially helpful for soothing people with Alzheimer’s or dementia – day or night.
- $27 ZZZhen Weighted Blanket – 15 lbs, 48 x 72 inches
- $40 Hypnoser Adult Weighted Blanket – 20 lbs, 60 x 80 inches
- $32 YnM Weighted Blanket – 15 lbs, 48 x 72 inches
- $36 Weighted Idea Cooling Weighted Blanket – 15 lbs, 48 x 78 inches
- $66 Sivio Weighted Blanket – 15 lbs, 48 x 72 inches
- $75 Hug Bud Weighted Blanket – 12 lbs, 60 x 80 inches
- From $30 RELAX EDEN Weighted Blanket W/Removable, Washable Duvet Cover – blankets from 5 to 20 pounds
Note: If you’re feeling crafty, we’ve also got DIY weighted blanket instructions here.
7) Custom photo blankets
These cozy blankets help seniors stay warm and cozy while keeping familiar faces nearby.
- Walmart – from $45
- Shutterfly custom blankets – from $60
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 cockapoo puppy, this classic teddy bear, and this striped cat.
2) $38 My Little Puppy singing plush puppy
This soft, cuddly puppy is 10 inches tall and sings “If You’re Happy And You Know It.” The best part is that it claps its hands and ears along with the song!
3) From $65 Joy for All Pet Companion robotic cat, puppy, or bird (Get 15% off cats or puppies with discount code CARE15 at checkout)
These lifelike and engaging pets are cute and cuddly soft. They’re battery powered and can purr, meow, bark, move, and respond in realistic ways when petted or hugged. Find out more in our review here.
4) Therapy dolls
Therapy dolls can provide comfort and help seniors feel useful and needed because they have something positive to focus on.
Dolls can also bring back happy memories of early parenthood for both women and men. They can also ease feelings of isolation and sadness because they have someone to love and care for.
Find out more about the positive effect of therapy dolls for dementia here.
- My Sweet Love 18 inch Doll with Plush Bunny & Accessories – Caucasian and African American
- JC Toys 20 inch Caucasian doll
- JC Toys 20 inch Asian doll
- JC Toys 16 inch Hispanic doll
- JC Toys 20 inch African American doll
- CHAREX Reborn Baby Dolls, 22 inch Sleeping Baby Girl, fair skin
- Kaydora Reborn Baby Dolls, 22 Inch Lifelike Newborn Baby Boy, fair skin
9 simple, entertaining books that bring back the joy of reading
1) Sunny Street Books – books designed specifically for dementia, $10
Each of these beautiful 40-page picture books will capture their attention, engage their mind, and encourage them to relax.
Each book has large photos accompanied by brief, large-print text captions.
- The Picture Book of Natural Wonders
- The Picture Book of Birds
- The Picture Book of Flowers
- The Picture Book of Horses
- The Picture Book of Dogs
- The Picture Book of Baby Animals
2) 100 Short Stories for Elderly: Large Print, Easy-to-Read and Short Paragraphs – Perfect to Stimulate Memory, $13
These simple, very short stories are meant to evoke memories and feelings and encourage reminiscence. They use a traditional plot and storyline format.
3) Soothing Picture Books for the Heart and Soul (100 book series, sold separately) from Lasting Happiness, $10
Each of these picture books (sold separately) are designed with dementia in mind. Themes include animals, nature, babies, farm life, holidays, and smiling children.
There’s no mention of Alzheimer’s or dementia on the cover and each book has calming full-color photos and 1 to 6 words on each page in large print.
See all 100 Soothing Picture Books for the Heart and Soul listed here.
4) Emma Rose Sparrow books for different levels of dementia, from $12
The author was inspired to write these books after both parents were diagnosed with dementia. Offered in 3 different levels, each book is formatted to be easy to read, doesn’t mention dementia or cognitive impairment, and looks just like a “real” book.
Level 3: Short stories, formatted to appear as a ‘regular book’. Each book has a pleasant and interesting story with a touch of humor thrown in. Features include: Larger text, short chapters, short paragraphs, extra white space, color photos that give visual clues to the subject.
Level 2: One large color photo with 1 to 2 short, large-print sentences below. Each page is independent of the other. Each book in this series focuses on a specific color. With titles like A Year’s Worth of Yellow and A Gathering of Green, the reader will have a full “real” book experience.
Level 1: For book lovers who have reached a point of not being able to read words, but still love to hold and flip through a book. These are colorful picture books without any text, designed for adults.
See all Emma Rose Sparrow books listed here.
5) Animal- and nature-themed picture books, $10
These wonderful, calming picture books are perfect for everyone, but especially great for animal and nature lovers.
- The Calming Cat Book – 40 pages of different species of cats
- The Delightful Dog Book – 40 pages of different species of dogs
- The Fabulous Flower Book – 40 pages of beautiful flowers
6) Two-Lap Books: Read-Aloud Books for Memory-Challenged Adults, from $21
These books encourage shared reading, reminiscence, and conversation through large, simple text and colorful illustrations about universally appealing activities.
7) $20 Blue Sky, White Clouds: A Book for Memory-Challenged Adults
This is a simple picture book for adults with beautiful, realistic photographs and large, easy-to-read captions.
8) $6 1950s Memory Lane
This book is intended to help stimulate long-term memories of people who lived through the 1950s in the USA and Britain.
It has sections on music, films, fashion, sport, holidays, and more. Plus, it has large print, short easy-to-follow paragraphs, and plenty of illustrations.
9) Make your own DIY custom photo storybook, from $9
Create a custom photo book and add your own 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 again and again.
6 practical gifts that make life easier and more pleasant
1) Specialized clothing for Alzheimer’s and dementia
These practical, stylish, and comfortable outfits are specially designed for people with dementia.
Prevent spontaneous undressing with stylish back-zip jumpsuits (some even look like 2 piece outfits).
Make dressing easier with soft fabrics and easy-to-use Velcro, snap, and zip closures
- Browse Buck & Buck adaptive clothing for women and men
- Browse Silvert’s adaptive clothing for women and men
2) $20 Jumbo Large Print 2023 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) $55 Deluxe 5-piece Redware Dining Set
In Alzheimer’s patients, red colored dining ware is found to increase food intake by 24% and liquid intake by 84%.
This set includes a cup, inner lip plate, partitioned plate with lid, and adaptive grip fork and spoon.
4) $60 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 digital clock has an 8-inch large-font screen display, 5 alarms, and clearly spells out the time, period of the day, full day of the week, month and date.
We also found this same style of clock with white and black color frames – option 1, option 2.
5) $98 Eatwell Assistive Tableware Set, 8 Piece
This award-winning assistive tableware set is designed for users with cognitive, motor and physical impairments.
It encourages independent eating and is designed to increase appetite and reduce visual confusion. It also has added stability to help prevent spills and dropped foods.
Find out more about this set here.
6) Music players designed for people with dementia
These simplified music players are designed to be easy for people with cognitive impairment to use and have very few buttons or controls.
- $120 iGuerburn Upgraded 16GB Simple Music MP3 Player
- $148 SMPL One-Touch Music Player, Audiobooks + MP3
- $150 Relish Dementia and Alzheimer’s Simple Portable Radio and Music Player
2 gifts that encourage conversation and reminiscence
1) $18 Relish Home Theme Cards Conversation Game
The vivid series of pictures and gentle conversation prompts help them reminisce and smile about joys and memories.
2) $30 Conversation Cards for Adults, Nostalgic Items
These 52 two-sided cards include over 450 questions designed to encourage reminiscing and storytelling.
The front of each card has a large color photo and the name of the item in large print text.
The back of each card features nine questions that are designed to have no right or wrong answer. Questions also include open and closed-ended either/or, and “Did you know” trivia questions.
Recommended for you:
- 50 Best Gifts for Seniors: Things You’ve Never Thought Of
- 33 Wonderful Gifts for Senior Women
- 38 Great Gifts for Senior Men
Author: Connie Chow, founder at DailyCaring, was a hands-on caregiver for her grandmother for 20 years – until grandma was 101 years old! Connie has an MBA from the University of Southern California and has been featured on major news outlets, including WJCL22 Savannah (ABC), KRON4 San Francisco, NBC10 Philadelphia, 23ABC Bakersfield, KAGS Texas (NBC), and KVAL13 Oregon (CBS). She has spoken at Institute on Aging, written for Sixty and Me, and been quoted in top publications, including U.S. News & World Report, HuffPost, and Society of Senior Advisors.
Image: SPC Care Homes
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