What do you get your loved one for Christmas?

All your loved one needs (for everyone) is to love them for the time they have left, keep them safe, and feed them anything they want. Having others visit maybe stressful for your loved one because words are mostly absent, and what are visitors going to talk about? Most people are very uncomfortable facing death, and they certainly don't want to be reminded of it by visiting someone who is dying. Go to the Dollar Tree or 99 cent store and buy some puzzles (the kind they need to spell the word forward, backward or diagonal). That should keep your loved one busy for hours. Mine finds it a challenge and likes to cheat (the word puzzles' correct answers are in the back)! I never mind as this is enjoyment for him. Merry Christmas!

I bought my mom with dementia a transistor radio . She's visually impaired too. She loves it. Keeps her updated with the news, preaching and music . I bought my dad a portable turntable to play all those vinyl albums they acquired throughout the years and a cassette tape player. He's 94. He said it gave him
New life. Magazine subscriptions are great. They love mail. Picture books of familiar old time movies and actors and actresses. I tried books on tape. Too confusing for my 91 yr old mom . If they can string beads, if vision is good... Or if they can still croquet or knit. Jellies cookies teas. Easy to use items. Hand towels . Make a memory book with pics if friends and family. Cvs walgreens
Maybe Walmart has that machine ... Amazon has great prices on the radio, record player etc. playing cards and puzzles with large pieces too.

A bit of self promotion here :) I am an OT and own an online store selling carefully curated products that promote dignity and independence. Some of the items I have been recommending are walker bags that convert to shoulder bags, an adult clothing protector ("bib" that looks like a scarf), a reacher to help get things from high and low places, magnifiers (we have pretty pendants that look like necklaces, pens etc). For something a little more whimsical we have canes that reflect interests like ones covered with dogs or cats, golf, hunting, camo etc.
When my grandmother was living in assisted living with dementia one of her favorite gifts was a scarf. She didn't need any more clothes but she was still a woman who liked something pretty!
Let me know if you need any more suggestions.

Last year I got my dad one of those novelty colored poinsettias. It was a pretty blue with lots of glitter. It was fun and a conversation piece.

Here are a few more- gift cards to family style or other favorite restaurants so you can bring home take out would be nice. Such an easier way to dine. Much easier to split a meal for those with smaller appetites. If they can have ice cream, a gift card to a high quality ice cream shop is nice.

At our local dollar store they have mens cotton socks, usually thin black cotton dressier ones as well as thicker cotton diabetic ones. They are both nice in that they have much looser, stretchier cuffs compared to the ones you see in pricier stores.

What about music from older time singers such as Perry Como, Andy Williams, Glen Campbell, Nat King Cole, or whoever their favorites were?

ooh ooh I lie we do have them - oh I am so excited

Rosie what a brilliant and I mean brilliant idea - we don't have those over here dammit

I give Mum a body and foot massage every single day so not an option for a gift I am afraid. We use a foot spa for her and she adores it.(I don't know who this 'we' I keep blethering on about is I mean 'I' not 'we'!)

So options for gifts that won't just be stowed away and not used and are actually useful

Those foot stretcher elastic bands things are great for rehab stacey
Thermal bed socks - with grips on the feet so if she does get out of bed she won't slip
Slippers - we seem to go through them very quickly as I won't keep them if they start to smell even after a wash - I only ever buy washable slippers these days - ain't incontinence great? NOT
Taking Mum to see the lights used to be a big fave of hers but the local council has put a stop to that Bah Humbug.
Ive recorded carol services from last year so she can listen to them whenever she wants
A CD with some really lovely Christmassy songs from days gone by that I have burned
Im planning to make some Christmas decs with Mum so I will make some bakable dough for that and once they are baked we will hang them up. I usually glue and glitter them for effect so plastic and vacuum cleaner at the ready for the mess it will make. Don't forget to make the holes before you bake them - forget and they will just break
Oh I have bought more decoupage stuff for her as she loves that. We will be making a snowman for my Grandson (how you may ask when we don't get snow?) I have one huge flower arranging ball and one not so big I wire up cotton balls - oooh not sure what you call cotton wool but I think cotton balls is right - and then Mum pushes them into the flower ball until it is totally cover we use a remnant of cloth for his scarf, two very small pompoms for his coat buttons (and I mean VERY small) I have found a party hat in the shape of a bowler that is a little big but it will be OK and I think I will just glue some felt on for his eyes. its nothing much but she likes doing it and H will appreciate it. Its as much a pre christmas gift for Mum as a gift for H
I have also bought a very large clock so she can read the time more easily (Now digital as she can't see the hands very easily any more)
A large cuddly toy - don't ask me why but she sleeps much better with one than without one and hers needs washing so I have to buy a second so she will let me take the first one away to wash and they seem to take forever to flaming dry

Things I didn't buy!
Licorice - don't ask because the answer is messy and not from the mouthend!
Sweets - she eats too many already
Handkerchiefs - I find them everywhere and anywhere and despite me telling her she doesn't understand that they are not substitute for toilet tissue
Clothes - like others we have drawers full of the unworn already
A vibrating plate - she wanted one but although they can improve circulation for some for others they can be really dangerous
A jigsaw puzzle - I am still finding pieces from the last one which she lobbed across the room in temper
And finally god knows what meds she was on yesterday but she wants a hula hoop. now I am sorry but the whole notion of my mum using a hula hoop at 93 when she isn't stable on her feet to begin with just had me in hysterics. Hello 911 yes could you send an ambulance please ...erm how did she fall? erm she was hula hooping ....Oh yes sure ....of course I want to have that conversation with the emergency services

What about a back scratcher. There is a metal kind that is telescoping. It fits in a shirt pocket but stretches out much longer. I know two care givees that really like the ability to scratch their back when they want.

If you can afford it or get a good deal, too bad black Friday is over, cashmere sweaters are so soft and nice.

If they are allowed goodies like chocolates or cashews that might work.

Those fake fur throws, especially a high quality one, or even a drug store one, can be so soft and nice.

They are pricey but those computer readers for anyone with macular degeneration, even a used one, are really cool.

Rosie1, I just read your idea. Fantastic! Well, now I know what to get Mom. Yay!

What a great topic! Mom is in Assisted Living with latter-stage dementia. She doesn't need anything more to clutter up her room. She prefers the clothing she has been wearing for years, as they are familiar and comfortable to her. She is even past the stage of enjoying old pictures because she doesn't remember the times and it upsets her. Looking forward to hearing suggestions for everyone!

The best thing I bought my mom (who has dementia and is in a NH) is a warm picture blanket. It was about $30 from Walmart online and the order was shipped quickly, just a few days before Christmas. You just upload the pictures you want and choose the blanket style, color, fabric and message. I am not technologically inclined and found it so easy to do. I put 9 pictures of her with all family members. I couldn't believe how nice it came out and has held up through lots of washings this past year. She loves looking at it and it orients her to her room. It also becomes a source of comfort for her when she is feeling down or agitated. Thanks for all your great gift ideas too!

Staceyb, my dad loves Old Spice!

Mom liked a good foot massage. You can do that and it won't cost a dime.
For $300 you can get a women's chorale group to come and sing for the whole facility for an hour.
I assured my MIL I would continue to make cuccidatti and send them to out of town family like she did. She liked that. Continuing traditions is important to her.

We've given up on exchanging presents - what we could use just isn't available (such as body parts that aren't close to obsolescence). What I probably will do is just take Dad out for a drive to look at the decorations. We always used to do that as a family and it brings back fond memories, which on the other hand could be sad. So I'm not really sure.

We've past the point that we need anything materialistic.

I'm anxious to see what others post; maybe I can think of a better way to spend Christmas.

We will probably be getting together with family, and that's worth more than presents.

Oh, and Old Spice shaving Cream, still his favorite!

I like the idea of an armchair exerciser, as that is definitely what my FIL NEEDS to be doing to keep up the strength in his limbs, also those stretchy bands with handles, I'm thinking of those as well. I keep telling him that if he keeps falling, eventually he will break his shoulder or hip, and end up in a Nursing Home, for rehab, at the very least, his worst nightmare! But I actually had this conversation with my sister this morning, what to get the Old Man, for Christmas? As often, or almost always, he gets a gift of nice clothing, and stocks it away. I ask him why, but he just wants to wear out hisvold clothes first. But he doesn't really Do anything to Wear out his clothes, so his closets and drawers are filled with New Stuff, he will probably never wear. So, slippers, sugar free candy, a nice pen, as he really appreciates a good pen, otherwise, I'm stumped, but will come back for more idea's! Great topic!