Father’s Day Gifts for Seniors
Father’s Day falls on Sunday, June 19th this year, which means you have a little more than two weeks to come up with a gift that will delight your dad. If your father is one of those great guys who drops hints or comes right out and tells you what he’d like, consider yourself lucky. Everyone else can use a little help with ideas that are fun, functional, and special enough for Dad’s big day. Here are some of our favorite Father’s Day gifts for seniors.
Help Dad stay connected
Give your dad a tablet and show him how to use Skype or FaceTime to video chat with family and friends. Then make it a point to reach out to him from time to time. Bundle in one of the many new tech guidebooks for seniors (there are options for Android tablets and the iPad) to help him keep up with the news, find his favorite music online, and build his own worlds with the Minecraft Pocket Edition app.
Make “someday” this Father’s Day
There’s probably something your father has talked about trying “maybe someday.” It could be cooking, wine appreciation, woodcarving, or tango dancing. Whatever he’s interested in, you can move someday up a little with a gift certificate to beginner classes in his area of interest. Talk with the instructor or school beforehand to make sure their class offerings mesh well with your dad’s schedule, experience, and mobility level.
Help Dad live better and look good
Most of us need a little boost as we age, and most of us would rather not call attention to that fact with bulky or unfashionable gear. Gift your dad a fashion statement that also lends him a hand. It could be a designer watch with an easier-to-read display, stylish sunglasses that offer great protection against glare, or a rustic walking stick that lends a Highland flair to evening strolls. If it looks good, he’s more likely to use and enjoy it.
Make new memories of familiar places
If your dad hasn’t been to his old neighborhood in a while and it’s still a good place to visit, make a day of stopping by places he remembers fondly. Stroll or drive the block where his first house was. Go to the burger place where he and his pals used to meet after school. Take the grandkids to the park he used to play in. Take lots of keepsake photos as you go.
Dish out his favorite foods
Can your dad eat whatever he wants? If he can, or if you can work with his dietary needs, you and your family can treat Dad to a day of his favorite dishes at each meal. Even better, track down an old family recipe he hasn’t eaten in a while (maybe his grandmother’s pineapple cake or your cousin’s ratatouille) and surprise him with a culinary trip down memory lane.
Do something silly
Is your dad one of those guys who always says he doesn’t want anything for Father’s Day? If so, try something completely off the wall. Show up with a collection of water guns for a spray battle in the backyard or hand out an assortment of kids’ musical instruments for a Father’s Day jam session. These are low-cost, high fun potential ways to make your dad’s day special without a lot of fuss.
Casey Kelly-Barton
Casey Kelly-Barton is an Austin-based freelance writer whose childhood was made awesome by her grandmothers, great-grandmother, great-aunts and -uncles, and their friends.