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The art of gift giving comes easily to some people. They just have a knack for choosing the right gift. How do they do it? Seniors can be especially tough to get a gift for because they already have accumulated a lifetime of stuff and appear not to need anything else or have room for anything else in their homes.

Adult children of seniors are often in a challenging gift-giving position. Adult children usually seek gifts that represent appreciation for their parents as well as a deeper understanding about their parents. Meaningful gift giving can be difficult to manage. To give a gift that is unique and shows thoughtfulness at the same time may take more than just a trip to the mall.

The creator of Zen Habits, Leo Babauta, explains that the general idea of showing appreciation for someone through gift giving is to “first identify what’s essential: that we show the person … how much we appreciate them. It’s not essential that the gift be big or expensive. No matter how small, the person will likely appreciate the gesture.” He continues, “The gift should also be appropriate to the person – if it’s personal, it’s likely to mean more. Take a moment to consider the person, what they like and the times you’ve spent together.” Some ideas he shares are:

• A framed picture from an experience together
• A photo album of special people or special memories
• Favorite, homemade baked goods
• A CD of favorite songs
• An “I appreciate you because” jar filled will slips of paper, each with a reason that you appreciate that loved one
• A book on the senior’s favorite topic or by their favorite author
• A gift certificate to a favorite restaurant
• A keepsake DVD with a video of special moments or a slideshow presentation of photos
• A handmade piece of art such as a painting, drawing, piece of pottery or poem

A safe place to begin
A good start to finding a practical gift that that a senior would appreciate is to cover immediate needs of the senior first. The senior may be in need of something that will make their home more comfortable and even safer to live in. This could include installing grab bars in the bathroom, purchasing a higher toilet seat or adding a shower seat. Other useful items that can help a senior be more comfortable are an automatic can opener or a body pillow; both are small gifts that can make a world of difference. Gifts like these will show care for a senior loved one’s well-being, positively influence their daily lives and have a lasting impact.

Meaningful gifts from the whole family
A unique way of showing a senior that the whole family appreciates them is to engage participation from everyone in the family on one gift. These types of gifts take time to put together and coordinate, but the effort that all of the family members make will be touching and well worth the time and effort.

Gift ideas include:

• Pick a day and volunteer at the senior’s favorite charity. Engaging with charity that means something to the senior and is the perfect way to support a cause that is close to their heart. Consider volunteering at a food bank sorting canned goods, working with children or serving meals at a food kitchen. Whether or not the senior can participate in the volunteer efforts, it is sure to touch them deeply.
• Make the senior’s favorite dinner and hand-deliver it to their house. Many seniors are lonely, and dinner with a family member or friend is a wonderful gift. Think about doing this monthly as a “meal of the month” club. This is a fun reason to come together as a family, or each family member can rotate turns so that someone is making dinner and eating with the senior a couple of times a week.
• Install Skype and a video camera on the senior’s computer. Seniors are easily connected to family and friends with Skype, a free video-chatting tool.
• Create a list of the reasons why the family loves that senior. Ask all family members to write a few items and then compile a list on colorful paper and frame it. Create a list for a birthday and match the number of reasons to the birthday. For example, if the senior is turning 73, compile a list of “73 Reasons Why We Love Sherry.”

Loneliness brings opportunity
President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Jeff Huber of Home Instead, Inc., franchisor of the Home Instead Senior Care® network of independently owned and operated franchise offices says, “Loneliness could be a big problem. So the most valuable gift that a senior could get would be that of companionship.”

Quality time is a gift that means so much to seniors. For seniors who are homebound, this is especially true, but even for seniors who are active and lead busy lives, time with loved ones can never be beat.

With the senior’s interests as the focus, create an opportunities to get together. If the senior doesn’t easily get out of the house, bring the fun to them. Bring the fixings for dinner over to the senior’s home and socialize while preparing the meal. Set the table with extra care – fine china, a tablecloth, candles, a beautiful centerpiece – to show that this is a special occasion.

An in-home movie night can be a lot of fun. Bring DVDs and some popcorn or treats and cozy up on the couch. If the senior would enjoy it, think about bringing classic movies instead of newly released movies. This can spur conversations about the senior’s past and generate good feelings about their lives.

For active seniors, play golf or take a trip to a favorite local or out of town destination. Seniors will appreciate time with their children, grandchildren and loved ones.

An invitation to do something together, especially something that the senior loves to do, shows value for that person. It is truly a gift that has meaning beyond measure.

While finding the right gift can be challenging, using some of the ideas mentioned here can help spark new ideas. When in doubt, think about the senior’s interests and daily experiences to guide gifting choices. A gift doesn’t have to be given only for a holiday or birthday. These types of gifts can be given at any time and on a regular basis, making the senior feel unexpectedly special.