Gifts for seniors – the 2026 edition
The holiday season rolls round again, and again we’re asking ourselves, what can we give to our older family and friends that they will truly appreciate?
We’ve put out feelers about gifts that could be fun, entertaining, luxurious or unusual. We’ve sampled quite a few – and we’ve made it clear in our listings where we’ve been supplied with review products. We have also included some very practical ideas for those with deteriorating capabilities, such as sight and dexterity, without being too gloomy about it.
We hope that the presents we have put on this list will inspire ideas, and meet a variety of budgets and tastes.
The plan is to update this list in the next few weeks as review products become available or new good ideas come our way. Do pop back to check.
Ordnance Survey custom maps
Do you have a stash of Ordance Survey maps that you used to use but not so much now that digital can guide us where we want to go? We certainly have, and my father before me. So I’m very pleased to see that OS is meeting the digital challenge with ideas such as a custom-made paper map, giving gift-givers a chance to create a unique map centred on a location that means something special to the recipient. A personal photograph can also be added to the cover, creating a thoughtful keepsake to celebrates cherished memories.
We tried out the gift idea of small custom made maps – £7.99 from the OS shop. The map is A3 size, created from a standard OS map – and with the same folds! So far, I’ve been able to identify where the local river flows, how the open spaces and woods fit into the landscape, and how the very expensive private estate is laid out. These are things that I’ve mused upon in the 30 years I’ve lived in the area.
There are also large maps available at £21.99. This map cries out for a frame and you make add one yourself or order a framed version from the OS. Framed canvases are also available.
Communication is key
News in print
Taletrove is a monthly printed family newsletter, a little booklet of family photos, stories and updates. It’s made for grandparents who aren’t on WhatsApp or social media, so they never miss out on the family news.
Family members send their photos and messages in by WhatsApp, and Taletrove does the rest, from the design to the print to the posting. It arrives straight at their door, with nothing for them to download or set up.
Taletrove has created the promo code, WTGO, to use for your first two months free.
Easy reading for books
‘Reading to Ruth’ is a digital book reader created by Tara Button for her 101-year-old grandmother, who was almost completely blind and hard of hearing – and bored. Reading to Ruth turns any smartphone or table into one big button, using technology that’s already available, so nothing to install. The family choose the books to load onto the reader. A free library of classics such as Oliver Twist is included, and then any other audiobooks can be added by the family through the shop. As well as selecting books, family members can use the service to leave voice messages.
A new feature is the Sunday bulletin. During the week, anyone in the family can record a voice message, or paste in something to be read aloud (a letter, an article, a bit of news), and choose “Keep it for Sunday”. On Sunday morning, when the recipient presses their big button, the player tells them it’s this week’s news from their family, plays everything together, then goes back to their story. If the family choose to use this feature, they get a gentle reminder on Thursday to contribute.
We tried out the service in our family. We think it can be very helpful for people who don’t want to deal with technology too closely themselves. Things we thought worth noting:
- Control of the content is completely with the family. The recipient only needs to press the button
- This is not a Kindle-type service. There’s no skipping around the book or checking pages still to read – it simply plays the book in progress
- We had teething problems with the messaging service, but with familiarity will come competence we believe
- There’s a carer’s page option which isn’t easy to find but could be useful.
Cost is currently £49.99 once, with no subscription (the founding price until 31 December 2026; £74.99 after that), and a 60-day money-back guarantee from the day they first use it.
Telling their own story
Memories feature strongly in suggestions coming our way this year. Would your parent like to record some of their memories for their own satisfaction? Or perhaps younger generations would like to know more about their family stories? I know I wish I had asked more about my parents in their youth and my own childhood.
If you think that’s something that would go down well, then the next question is what sort of service would you like to purchase? We’ve taken a look at two.
AT a one-off price of £25 StoryPrompt asks one question a week for a year via email, which users can turn into a downloadable book to print. There’s no app, no AI and no sign-in. The monthly question is specific – about childhood homes or holidays, for example. The recipient types their response, and each answer gets added into the book.
As a present, the buyer picks the day the first question arrives and
prints a card at home.
We’ve had a quick dip into StoryPrompt and so far are finding it easy to use. We like the further ideas and information that are on the website, and would recommend having a browse there to understand how the service works.
At the more luxurious end of the market is Chronicle, more suited to those who have the inclination and time to write or speak their memories, and with more options for the finished product.
Chronicle is billed as a gift for a parent or grandparent whose stories have never been written down. On the day you choose, perhaps Christmas morning itself, they get an invitation to start their story-telling, when they’re ready. An AI interviewer guides the structure and questions across 13 conversations, and the interviewee can type or speak their responses. There’s no app to download. With each chapter, the recipient can tell their story, refine it, design how it will appear, and finally order the book.
Their answers become their life story: a digital edition (Life Story, £99) or a printed A5 hardback, printed and bound in the UK (Memoir, £199; Heirloom, £399).
We thought the price seemed high, so we asked the creator, Charlie Harries, about the cost. He agreed that Chronicle does cost more than the services that email a question each week for the person to write up on their own. The difference, he said, is the work that Chronicle does on behalf of the author:
– It’s an interview, not a questionnaire. People can simply talk, and the interviewer follows up on what they actually said, which is how we get the best stories.
– Chronicle drafts each chapter from the author’s own words (it doesn’t invent or embellish anything), and they review and approve every chapter before anything is printed.
– Memoir includes a full-colour hardback, printed and bound in the UK. Life Story at £99 is the digital-only way in, and it can be upgraded later by paying the difference.
– It’s a one-off payment, not a subscription, with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
This is not a low-cost gift but there is a discount available. As a When They Get Older friend you should be able to claim 15% off with the code OLDER15 until 31 January 2027.
To make the most of this gift, the recipient will need to see it as a long-term project to which they are willing to devote time and effort. It could work really well for people who would never keep a journal, but would be happy to type their story or talk to the AI interviewer. Because the gift is the invitation, there’s no order-by date either.
Our quick dip into using the service ourselves to answer a first question was straightforward, with an attractive and easy interface.
Active minds
Games and puzzles are always a possibility. But what’s enjoyable for one might not suit another. Is the recipient happy playing online, or would they enjoy physical contact with the pieces? Would they prefer to play against others, or be content to spend time in their own company?
A bit of brainwork
We took a look at the offerings from the Happy Puzzle Company – a range of brain games, including a single player option that doesn’t need a screen or an opponent.
The Genius Square is described as a good 10-minute daily logic puzzle, with a different layout every day. Starting with an empty grid, you use special dice to determine where the 7 ‘blocks’ are to set out for that game. The challenge then is to fill the grid completely with the different shaped bricks and working around the blocks. I thought this looked pretty difficult at the outset, but is actually very doable. The game comes in a standard Genius Square at £19.99, and an XL version, which could work very well for those with diminishing sight or reduced dexterity. The instructions are brief – and become clear once you’ve opened the box and started setting up the puzzle. One to play on a lap tray while watching Midsomer Murders perhaps.
Many of us will have grown up playing Rummy as a family game. Rummy Snap, £24.99, is built on the same format, but using soft tiles on racks rather than cards. It very much follows the rules of standard Rummy, but with a few additions, and the instructions are easy to follow. The game is packed into a neat zip-up bag, and is marketed at 8+ age group, for 2-4 players.
Language lessons
Learning or improving a language is often high on the list of things to do in retirement. Some apps are free, some are paid-for, and they can vary in ease of use and value of the lessons being learned.
I tried to get to grips with one of the leading apps for a long time but found the free version didn’t really give me the skills I wanted. So I was pleased to be offered the chance to try out a different app – Babbel – with the hope of improving my German for future trips to visit family.
Babbel started well with me, by asking simple but pertinent questions in the registration process. Why did I want to learn this language and how would I be using it? What was my current skill level? How long could I devote to lessons each day and did I want to learn alone or with others?
I wanted to build on the German that I had learned at school, and after 6 lessons I think I am on the right track. As ever, there’s a lot of repetition, but on topics that would be useful. And there’s grammar instruction included that’s easy to understand (a challenge for me with German!) You can plot a path through the lessons in many different ways, and you get a reminder daily to continue your learning streak (which I find particularly helpful!). So far, so successful.
Food and drink
Opulent fruits preserved in luxury alcohol
This really is a tasty treat.
Opies’ Fruits with Alcohol collection comprise hand-packed fruits infused with premium Luxardo® spirits and provided in attractive and reusable jars.
There are three flavours:
- Black Cherries in Kirsch (570g) – makes the best Black Forest Gateau; or create an indulgent chocolatey trifle or rich, decadent brownies.
- Baby Pears in Amaretto (570g) – upgrade a Sticky Toffee Pudding or use to top meringue
- Peaches in 12-Year-Old Brandy (570g) – what a fruit crumble calls for or thinly slice over the top of a duck salad
Each jar includes recipe ideas on the label, with plenty more festive recipes online – from Christmas leftovers and side dishes to desserts and seasonal cocktails.
We have received all three jars for review and agree that they would make good gifts. I would say there are probably four servings in a jar, but our experience is that even opened they will keep for some while at the back of the fridge, thanks to the alcoholic content. We’ve started with pears and better-quality ice cream, and look forward to making desserts when we next have visitors.
Available from Morrisons and Morrisons.com, Amazon and specialist independent retailers (e.g. farm shops and delicatessens). RRP from £8.00.
Time for a cuppa
There are many lovely offerings of beverages that make a treat of a present. This is something a little different that we’ve not heard of before – the tea brick. It’s not something we’ve laid hands on, but it looks intriguing.
The Chinese Tea Brick is a block of compressed Keemun black tea leaves, which can be broken apart and brewed. Apparently these bricks were once used both for tea preservation and as currency. £25.83.
The company selling this particular brick, The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company, did send us samples of their tea bags. I’m very much enjoying the Earl Grey, and the Pluckley black tea, which are samples from a huge range of products. These include tea and coffee taster packs ranging from £7.85 to £15.95, and gift boxes for tea and coffee lovers, which could be a good place to start for gifts. Would definitely help if you know what sort of tea (or coffee) the recipient enjoys. Personally I love the black tea, but have yet to summon up the courage to try the flowery stuff.
Cheese please
If tastes extend beyond supermarket plastic-wrapped (which does have its place and we get through plenty of it) you could consider a cheese subscription. There are plenty of companies offering this service, with a broad range of lesser known cheeses of all strengths and blueness.
Alternatively, you could put together a hamper yourself. Sadly the company that we’ve bought cheese from before, Cheesegeek, has just ceased offering subscriptions or selling online, but they are still marketing their cheese through independent shops. At this time of year you can also buy some interesting selections in the major stores. We’ve enjoyed an M&S selection before – and even better if they come with crackers and a bit of chutney.
To supplement or not?
How do you feel about supplements? I remember smiling inwardly when my in-laws were sharing theirs out at mealtimes. Now I have a growing pile of my own that I believe are helping me stay fit and healthy.
But can you give supplements as a gift and how do you know what works? Founder of the SupplementMe UK online brand, Tarik Azirar, argues that a wellness gift should fit the person, not fill their cupboard. He has suggested a list of four checks to work through before ordering for yourself or as a gift.
- Make sure it is wanted. A supplement should fit an existing choice, not create a new routine for someone.
- Check what is already in the cupboard. Compare ingredients and serving sizes to avoid accidentally doubling up on the same nutrients.
- Read the whole label. Check the daily serving, format, vegan suitability and allergen information, rather than relying only on front-of-pack claims.
- Know when not to guess. If the recipient takes medicines, has a health condition or has received advice about supplements, encourage them to check with a pharmacist or GP first.
As Tarik says, a useful wellness gift should reduce confusion, not add another bottle to it. SupplementMe, focuses on five products priced from £12.99 to £17.99:
- Vitamin D3 1000 IU lemon gummies
- Vegan multivitamin and mineral tablets
- Probiotic complex capsules
- Vitamin C acerola immune complex capsules
- Ashwagandha raspberry gummies
Gardening indoors and out
People who love plants will often welcome gifts that make gardening a little easier. Here are a few ideas that might help, or expand gardening horizons.
This is the CUBE 14 planter in slate, with an RRP of £18.69. It’s marketed as a self-watering planter, and could be used, for example, as the home for a festive poinsettia, without the need to replant. Just an idea – we haven’t seen it to review.
We haven’t seen any of these either to try out, but they all look potentially interesting.
Wilkinson Sword Hori Hori trowel £14.99 from the company website. This a multi-tasker, featuring a sharp and serrated blade, a depth gauge (useful for bulb planting) and a protective pouch. Claimed to be suited to digging, weeding and cutting, as well as planting, the tool could save on carrying a bucketful of tools around the garden.
We like the idea of Make your own seedballs from the Seedball company. One for the grandchildren to help with perhaps. Each kit includes 3 plastic-free pouches of raw materials, which when mixed together with water will create enough mix for 40-60 balls.
You might like to take a look at Sophie Allport design garden toolset £32 and similar offerings from other designers.
Help around the house
We’ve seen plenty of helpful tools to make living independently a continuing possibility, by making everyday tasks easier. As examples we’ve picked out a few from Manage at Home, an organisation that has clearly put some thought into products that can really help. We liked the idea of the following, although we’ve not had hands-on experience of any:
- Coolhand Plate Gripper for gripping hot plates without burning fingers – £3.75 with VAT relief
- Digital Talking Kitchen Scales that read weights aloud, and include raised and embossed buttons – £23.42
- Uccello Kettle tilt to pour kettle – £59.95
- Motion-Sensor Night Light Torch a night light that illuminates for 20 seconds when it detects movement in the dark and can also be used as a torch – £15.90
- Foot Switch adds a foot control to any mains-powered device – £15.90
Handy stocking fillers
While we would rather suggest fun and luxurious gifts in the main, we’ve come across some ideas that would make useful add-ons.
Treating tired eyes
We’ve found in our families that NHS cataract surgery has often resulted in dry eyes. So the offer to review eye drops caught our attention. We’re aiming to try these out and will let you know what we think.
TheraTears Dry or Tired 50+ eye drops are a specially formulated aging eye treatment designed to soothe mature eyes. Easily available at Boots or Amazon. RRP £11.49. I already use a different brand, but will be trying these out in the near future.
Drink more water
At some time in their lives people may find they’re not drinking as much as is recommended – possibly because they forget, or they just don’t like the taste of today’s tap water. Air up encourages people to drink water by flavouring it through scent alone, making people reach for a drink more because it could taste like mango passion fruit, banana milkshake, or pineapple…. loads of fun scents. Perhaps a bit of a novelty but also practical for anyone in danger of dehydrations. Available in Boots and Sainsburys. Not tested by us.
Do not knock stickers
A small but useful extra gift to help with staying safe is a ‘DO NOT KNOCK‘ door sticker.
The stickers are designed to discourage unwanted doorstep salespeople, cold callers and rogue traders, helping older and vulnerable people feel more confident in their own homes. Since launching its Do Not Knock project in 2019, Able Community Care has distributed over 300,000 free stickers throughout the UK.
The stickers are completely free, including postage. Simply contact Able Community Care on 01603 764567 or email to: [email protected] to request how many you would like to receive and where to send them to. Please quote: CC. Able Community Care has confirmed that it does not pass on any details of any person or organization applying for door stickers, and they will not be approached again.
In case you were wondering
What do we do with review samples?
Edibles and drinkables get consumed by us, family and friends.
The free subscription to Babble lasts for 6 months and I have every intention of being bi-lingual by that time.
Physical gifts will mostly go to charity. We’ll keep the personalised map though.
All the cardboard boxes and shredded paper are destined for the vegetable patch to help reduce the weeds.
More ideas
We’ve been publishing gift lists for some time now. Here are a few of our previous efforts – there may be ideas that appeal here even if the specific gifts are no longer available.
Headline photo by Kira auf der Heide on Unsplash