5 Ways to Include Senior Adults in Your Holiday Plans + Gift Ideas

The senior adult members of our families add so much to our holiday celebrations! A couple of years ago, Bob lost his dad about a month before Christmas, and we still really miss his presence after years of being together. Still, after watching him struggle with dementia for over 10 years. We were comforted to think of him celebrating the birthday of his Savior in heaven, fully restored and rejoicing!

The Greatest Grid Mug | A Prayer a Day For Hope & Encouragement Devotional | Welcome to House Custom Doormat | Vintage National Parks Puzzle | Gender Inclusive Hands-Free Knit Sneaker | Monogrammed Sweatshirt Cardigan | Gardening Folding Seat w/ Tools | Grid Gallery Fleece Photo Blanket | Smart Bird Feeder with Camera | Plush Robe | Fuzzy Lined Suede Moccasin Slippers

We’re so happy that Bob’s mom is in good health and able to be with us this year, and I’m grateful for my parents, and the fact that I’ll be going to see them sometime in January. Whether our senior adult loved ones are near or far, including them in our holiday celebration is really important! It makes it richer for everyone.

Our adult kids feel blessed to have their grandparents involved in their lives, and their relationships with them are so meaningful. As you may remember, Bob and I became grandparents in January 2023! We are loving life with Lily and only wish we could see her more often! Although we think of our parents as the senior adults in our family, we realize that at 59, we’re technically considered senior adults, too! 🤣

LouLou & PopPop love being grandparents to Lily!

Today, I’m sharing five ways that you can include the most senior members of your family in your holiday festivities. Every year is different, of course, and you may not be able to get together in person as in past years, but there are still lots of ways you can make them feel loved and special. Think creatively about how you can still make some of these things happen over Zoom or FaceTime.

I’m also sharing some of my favorite gift ideas for senior adults from the Gifts for Senior Adults category of the Empty Nest Blessed Holiday Gift Guide. Let’s jump right in, okay?

1. Help Them With Gifts

Whether they need help coming up with gift ideas, shopping online, or even gift wrapping, taking the time to help senior adults with gifts can be a real blessing to them.

A few years ago, Bob’s bachelor uncle had open heart surgery near the holidays. He’d always taken such pleasure and pride in gift-giving and receiving, and he couldn’t order gifts the way he always had. So, I grabbed my laptop, went up to his hospital room, and we did it together! It was easy for me, and it brought him so much joy to be able to continue with this tradition, even though he wasn’t in top physical condition. We ordered a bunch of beautiful Old World Christmas ornaments from Amazon, which he thoughtfully personalized for each recipient—all gift-wrapped and delivered right to their door.

My adult kids all make wish lists on Amazon, and this is so helpful to their grandparents. (Instructions for how to do that HERE.) Just seeing the kids’ wish lists makes their grandparents feel like they know them better.

Last year, I could tell some of the 80-something-year-old seniors in our family were really stressing about gift-giving. I told them the grandkids knew they loved them and that it was fine for them to stop. They wrote a beautiful letter to the family in early November, expressing their love and explaining why they needed to stop. Everyone understood and was so supportive!

2. Ask For Their Input

Whether it’s sharing a cherished family recipe, or even asking their advice on the menu and holiday schedule, the senior adults in your family will appreciate that their opinions and advice matter. You want to make the holidays joyous for everyone, regardless of their age or stage. You can do this by asking for their thoughts on the celebration. (BTW, I recommend doing the same with your young adult kids who have littles. Respecting meal times and nap times makes the day better for everyone!)

3. Start New Traditions That They’ll Enjoy

I’ve shared our family tradition of playing the game LCR at all of our family gatherings. A few years ago, we put a new twist on the game by replacing the chips provided with $1 bills, so everyone starts the game with three $1 bills instead of the three chips provided. (Bob and I provide the $1 bills.) It’s entertaining for the whole family. One year at Christmas, my mother-in-law won, and she split her winnings amongst the grandkids! We could not believe it!!! (The next year, she won at Thanksgiving and kept every penny!) This is definitely one of those traditions the whole family looks forward to every year!

We also have a tradition of driving through a nearby street that is decorated in the Twelve Days of Christmas. We sing at the top of our lungs! We started that tradition with an elderly family member who is no longer with us, and we still do it in his memory.

Some people include senior adults in activities like decorating gingerbread houses, baking cookies, cookie decorating, or crafts. (I love THIS Jingle Bell Wreath Ornament Kit!) Even seniors with mobility or memory issues enjoy those activities!

4. Ask for Their Help

If your dad always carved the holiday ham, but it’s someone else’s job now, ask your dad to assist and give advice and direction. Even when Bob’s dad had dementia, he still enjoyed providing helpful input as Bob carved the ham! It made him feel special, and that’s what’s important.

5. Ask Them to Share Memories

Even seniors with memory issues may remember things from childhood that they can share. Ask them about the Christmas traditions they remember from their early years or what their favorite gifts were when they were growing up. Reminiscing can be enjoyable for everyone and a valuable way of sharing precious family history with younger generations.

One year, we asked the grandparents to share some of the most significant changes they’ve seen in the world over the course of their lifetimes. My adult kids sat mesmerized as their grandparents talked about everything from the first man on the moon and the invention of the television to their amazement over life without the iPhone! It made the seniors feel valued and gave the grandkids a new perspective. 

Gift Ideas for Senior Adults

The collage below is clickable for more information on anything you see! It represents only a TINY portion of what’s in the Empty Nest Blessed Gifts for Senior Adults section of the Gift Guide! Head to the bottom of this post to check out the rest!

Gift Ideas for Senior Adults: My Personal Favorites

These are the gifts I’ve given to the senior adults in our family! They loved them!

1.  Acrylic Suction-on Window Bird Feeder – This pretty bird feeder was voted the BEST bird feeder by National Geographic and has over 27K five-star reviews on Amazon! It features super-strong suction cups and will provide hours of enjoyment for a senior adult! It measures 12″L x 4″W x 5″H, and it’s squirrel-proof! Click through HERE to learn more!

2. Senior Citizens Texting Codes Tee – This tee was a hit with my dad when I gave it to him a few years ago! It features hilarious texting abbreviations like “ATD – At the Doctor’s” and “IMHO – Is my Hearing Aid on?” 🤣

3. Shea Butter Hand Lotion Set of 6 Lotions – This set of six Shea Butter lotions is an Empty Nest Blessed Holiday Gift Guide Best Seller every year! It comes in pretty packaging, and the price is around $10, so it’s no wonder! Click HERE for details!

4. My Family Cookbook – This beautiful cookbook will be a treasure for future generations! Don’t let cherished family recipes die off over time! Filling it out would be a fun project for a senior adult who loves to cook and has the heart to help younger family members appreciate life before DoorDash and Uber Eats! If you like this idea, but you’re looking for a more budget-friendly version, check out this one.

5. Digital Photo Frame – Send photos or small videos (Max.15 seconds) directly to the app from anywhere in the world, and they will appear on this digital photo frame in seconds! At 10″ and 1280*800 Resolution, it’s sized right for senior adults. Change from portrait or landscape mode just by turning the frame.

6. Great Words Round Jigsaw Puzzle – I gave this puzzle to my parents last year, and they had the best time doing it and talking about the words. It was a big hit!

7. Toilet Bowl Night Light – This fun multi-color rotation night light is motion-sensitive, so it lights up at night when someone approaches. It takes 3 AAA batteries, which last about six months with active use. It takes seconds to install and is under $10!

8. Internet Password Keeper Book – This practical and easy-to-use spiral notebook will help keep your senior organized! It has 75 pages, 10 pages for notes and tips, and 65 alphabetical tabbed pages! The cover is sturdy plastic.

9. Butterfly Garden Kit – I sent this butterfly garden kit to my parents a few years ago, and they had a blast with it! It comes with a voucher to redeem for five baby caterpillars and all the food they need. I got multiple photos and reports about the caterpillars’ progress! (Also a great gift idea for elementary school grandkids!)

10. Flickering Flameless Candles – Many senior adults cannot burn candles where they live, so these realistic-looking flickering flameless candles can add a sweet warmth to their home. My parents set theirs on timer so they go on and off at set times every night!

Be sure to check out the full Gifts for Senior Adults gift guide below or on the Gift for Senior Adults section of the Empty Nest Blessed Holiday Gift Guide!

Want to shop on Amazon? Click HERE to check out the Gifts for Senior Adults Section of my Amazon Gift Guide.