Mother’s Day gift guide: What to get your elderly parent
What do you get for a mum who has everything? As our parents get older it can be hard to find them that perfect present that can be really appreciated.
Whether your mum is still at home or has perhaps moved into care we’ve found some interesting and unusual ideas to make their lives easier, give them a good time or just spoil them a little.
Days out
With Spring about to come into full bloom Mother’s Day could be a chance to take your mum to visit a National Trust property for a cultural afternoon complete with tea and cake. Trips to the National Trust are something we would thoroughly recommend for older mums who enjoy houses that emulate those found in the pages of Jane Austen novels.
If your mum prefers the great outdoors it may be a good idea to spend Mother’s Day at a Royal Horticultural Society garden as the weather begins to get warmer this March. They have a generous selection of gardens to choose from, especially gorgeous in the summer months, so a gift membership might keep them happy year round.
Gardening
For mums with green thumbs getting out in the garden could be made more fun with a National Garden gift voucher to spend on new pots and plants or perhaps a leisurely lunch at their favourite garden centre. Vouchers start at £10 and can be used in over 2000 nurseries and suppliers in the UK.
Luxury gifts
When we don’t know what to get mum we turn to Not on the High Street to find an unusual and unique gift that’s easy to add a personal touch to. They have an online emporium of exquisite presents crafted by small businesses across the UK.
Also available from Not on the High Street is the world’s first long hot water bottle, YUYU, an ideal present for a mum who’s always cold. The YUYU Bottle is 85cm long, holds a full kettle of hot water and comes with a cashmere cover available in a range of colours – perfect for cuddling up at night and soft enough to snuggle!
Maybe your mum would like some plush new furnishings, ornaments or otherwise to refresh her home in time for Spring’s arrival. Laura Ashley has a gorgeous range of luxury items ready to install in place of a tired coffee table or shabby looking sofa to lift your mum’s living space.
As our mum’s get older it’s good to treat them to high quality make up that isn’t harsh on their ageing skin. MakeUpWorks is a British cosmetic brand that claims to flatter women over the age of 50 and help to harness their natural beauty. Their Classic Daytime Look Gift Box looks promising at £39.99.
Tasty treats
Chocolates have fast become a Mother’s Day staple that mums with a sweet tooth are eager to receive. Artisan chocolatier Chococo has created a selection box of 16 handmade chocolates and truffles which we’ve heard is something rather special. Why not indulge mum further with a 3 month membership to the Chococo Chocolate Club and cross your fingers she shares some of the sweeties with you?
If you’d rather find a fun food experience for the both of you to share Bath-based vintage tea company Velvet Teas offers a tea party service comprising of homemade cakes, scones and jam combined with beautiful china and linens for an afternoon full of nostalgia. We’re rather envious of those in Bath who get to sample what sounds like a scrumptious experience.
The Patchwork Traditional Food Company promises a luxurious mix of pates and picnic style food the kind that makes your mouth water. If your mum is fancies herself a foodie one of their hamper range could fit the bill this Mother’s Day.
With all our tempting offers we thought we’d redeem ourselves by recommending award-winning Riverford Organics who support regional farms by supplying fresh fruit and vegetables straight to people’s doors. If your mum would like her pick of Riverford’s homemade pies, tarts and pasties picking out some samplers might just make a perfect Mothering Sunday brunch.
One for those mums whose wedding china is perhaps down to the last few surviving pieces – China Search is a website dedicated to discontinued china collections where you can browse for or enquire about those missing bits to complete your mum’s set. We’ve tried it and been very happy with the results.
Accessories and jewellery
Marie Curie has teamed up with Tresor Paris to create a heart-shaped crystal earrings and bracelet set in daffodil yellow. We like that Marie Curie receive 25% of the profit and we love that we’re supporting cancer care in the process. Both the earrings and bracelet are £19 each, a bargain if you ask us.
How about a bit of Hollywood glamour for a mum who always likes to look her best? The elegant Daphne Signature watch inspired by Daphne du Maurier and designed by her grandson could be a winner. Created with a vintage feel and engraved with Daphne du Maurier’s signature it’s certainly fit for a mum who grew up reading du Maurier’s novels.
Useful wearables can make a good gift too. Mums who worry about falling may appreciate easy-to-use medical alert devices.
For mums who love to read but are constantly misplacing their reading glasses why not buy them some hand-painted brightly-coloured specs so they can’t be overlooked when the inevitable search begins! Ronit Furst have a wonderful range available across the UK.
To accompany the reading glasses Mills and Boon are releasing “Truly, Madly, Deeply” a new anthology of 24 short stories written by some of the UK’s best known romance authors such as Adele Parks and Judy Astley. They’re holding a Mother’s Day event at the BB Bakery in London to celebrate its launch, a lovely idea for mums who love a good read and big slice of cake.
Personal touches
He may not be everyone’s cup of tea but Engelbert Humperdinck is due to release his much anticipated collection of duets Engelbert Calling on the 17th March. Smooth crooning and collaborations with some greats – Elton John and Lulu to name but a few – really what’s not to like!
Forget me Not Tributes is the brainchild of ex BBC producer Maria Esposito who has turned her hand to film tributes and life story DVDs that bring together family photos, videos and personal quotes in a montage designed to capture someone’s essence. This may be a lovely idea for mums who have an extraordinary amount of family photos but not enough space for the albums they fill.
There’s nothing like the gift of time for a mum who’s retired and would like to spend more time with her children and grandchildren. Any pledge you want to make to your mum for Mother’s Day can be beautifully printed and presented for you by I Promise. Their motto is give thoughts, not things and £1 from every Mother’s Day promise will go to charity Kids Company to help disadvantaged inner-city children. We like that.
If you found this article helpful, why not join the family?
