What is the Best Gift for an Elderly Father?

Give your father a gift that supports his interests.

By the time your parents are in the age group that most of us call "elderly," they have probably simplified their lives to the point of having little use for frivolous knick-knacks and might not value elaborate or fancy gifts the way younger people do. When selecting a gift for your elderly father, consider his interests -- both lifelong and recent -- and support him in those hobbies.

Arts and Literature

Give your father a book or digital reader.

Buy your father an acrylic paint starter kit or a "plein air painter's kit" and a canvas so he can paint outdoors. A pad of watercolor paper, a good-quality brush and a set of watercolor paints is a less expensive option for painting indoors. If your father is the type of man who would rather read than paint, find a coffee table book full of images that bring back find memories -- a book about a place he once visited, wine-making, the sea, vintage automobiles or airplanes. Look online or at used bookstores for vintage copies. A digital reader is a good gift if your father likes to read current publications. Give him a gift card good for a few books to get him started.

Music

Take your father to a performance of his favorite kind of music -- the opera, symphony or a jazz concert. He'll be glad that you're making time to share his interest. A video recording of a musical or concert is a more affordable option. Give him an audio recording of the soundtrack to accompany the gift.

Outdoor Living

Give a gift that your dad will enjoy outdoors.

Get your dad outside with gifts that help him enjoy the great outdoors. A comfy patio chair provides a place for your father to sit and enjoy a view or read a book. Binoculars give him a good view of birds, animals and sights in the distance. A patio umbrella provides a shady spot for hot days, and a garden sculpture, wind chime or potted plant will add interest to the patio or landscape.

Services

Have specialty foods sent to dad's door.

Give your father the peace if mind that comes from knowing that the chores and responsibilities are taken care of. Hire a lawn service to tend to his yard, a mobile groomer to bathe and brush his pet or a cleaning service to keep the house tidy. If your father neither wants nor needs this kind of help, sign him up for a gift-of-the-month club. There are bread, flower, cheese and fruit of the month gift packages that you can buy. Sign up for as few as three months to see how he likes receiving these gifts before committing to a yearlong subscription.

Family Time

Enjoy a meal with your father.

The best and most heartfelt gifts don't come in a box. Life, especially life with kids, can get hectic, and making time for an elderly parent can be difficult. But schedule time to visit with your elderly father. Sit and talk about current events, watch a ball game on TV together or just go for a walk. Bring his grandchildren to see him and share a meal with him. Take photographs of your time together and put them in picture frames for your father. They are reminders of the most precious gift -- time together.

References

• Williams- Sonoma: Bread of the Month
• Parent Giving