Stocking for Mom (and older people)

[happybratpack]

Hi all...

I know several of us do stockings for our parents or older friends so I am looking for some new ideas. I feel like I've exhausted everything over the years. My Mom is 74 so she's closer to a grandparent for most people my age. Anyway, not the point. I also don't want to spend a fortune and stockings can quickly add up.

This year so far I have: (This list isn't impressive yet)

A few Scentsy bars
Michael Buble CD

In the past I've done: (in case anyone else is looking for ideas)

Chapstick
Socks
Lottery Tickets (will do again this year probably)
Yankee wrapped votives
small Bath & Body Works stuff
car fresheners
gift cards (she forgets to use so probably won't do again)
gloves
CD's
DVD's (but she doesn't use much)
Food stuff - jerky, small granola packs, hard candy, etc (will prob do again)
Small packs of coffee/tea/hot chocolate (but she has a Keurig now)
Small frames from Hobby Lobby with old pics & her dog pics (might do again)

Soooo...any new and exciting ideas are appreciated!

 

[mom2cookies]

does she keep in touch with friends or relatives, pay her bills by mail? How about a book of stamps and note cards. I know stamps are cheap, but they are useful. You can get small notecards for a $1. : )

 

[kisaacs]

She has a Keurig now, so you could do Kcups. My grandpa (around that age) likes to go to the casino occasionally, so we do rolls of quarters.

 

[dizluvah]

Does she have the Keurig reusable filter - makes it like a single serving reg. coffee pot - she can use any coffee or lose tea inside...I still use Kcups but love some of my favorite teas using the filter - as they don't come in kcups. Not sure if it is too pricey for stocking stuffer - its about $25 I think.

Also, what about puzzle books - crosswords, soduku, word search etc - I love to do those occasionally - they have large print versions if sight is an issue...I usually pick them at the dollar store - in the "book" aisle.

Our family might be weird but we alway toss in body wash, deodorant, new toothbrush, floss etc into stockings - you get some small sizes at bath and body works, etc - if she doesn't like the scent you pick - she can exchange at bath and body for another with no problem

Happy shopping - stockings are always my favorite part!

edited: sorry op - I see you already did bath and body I missed it on my first quick read through - great minds....

 

[KristinU]

Gift Cards for restaurants she likes? Or other places she goes? Maybe wrap up a few individual K-cups with a little tag on them that says "I have friends in the pantry" and sneak the rest of the box(es) into her pantry? How about a fancy mug for her to use with her K cup machine?

 

[happygirl]

puzzles
word searches
even though you can't fit this in a stocking, but what a subscription to her fav mags

 

[gracie1]

Hi all...

I know several of us do stockings for our parents or older friends so I am looking for some new ideas. I feel like I've exhausted everything over the years. My Mom is 74 so she's closer to a grandparent for most people my age. Anyway, not the point. I also don't want to spend a fortune and stockings can quickly add up.

This year so far I have: (This list isn't impressive yet)

A few Scentsy bars
Michael Buble CD

In the past I've done: (in case anyone else is looking for ideas)

Chapstick
Socks
Lottery Tickets (will do again this year probably)
Yankee wrapped votives
small Bath & Body Works stuff
car fresheners
gift cards (she forgets to use so probably won't do again)
gloves
CD's
DVD's (but she doesn't use much)
Food stuff - jerky, small granola packs, hard candy, etc (will prob do again)
Small packs of coffee/tea/hot chocolate (but she has a Keurig now)
Small frames from Hobby Lobby with old pics & her dog pics (might do again)

Soooo...any new and exciting ideas are appreciated!

This gave me some great ideas! Thank you! I never thought about car freshners!!

 

[NotUrsula]

Some things that I've found go over well with the older set:

Postage stamps
Magnifiers -- the card-shaped kind and the bar kind.
Small flashlights that are easy to operate. She can stash them all over the house. Also, batteries for the flashlights (Do not choose the kind with button batteries. It is often difficult for older folks to handle those batteries to change them.)
Magazine subs, especially large-print versions if she prefers them.

An appt. book, preferably one that is half-page size. Last month I took my MIL to three stores before we found one with large enough spaces for her to write to see, but small enough to still fit in her handbag.

Gadgets for opening jars and bottles, preferably made so that you can lever it with your whole arm rather than your wrist. My MIL *loves* these.

This one is going to sound a bit odd, but a lightweight power screwdriver. Lots of older folks lose their hand strength (see the thing about jar openers), and it comes in handy for tightening loose screws around the house, on things like drawer pulls and pot lids.

A universal remote control with larger buttons, and a large laminated card detailing what every button is for (because the instructions that come with them tend to ironically have print too small to read.)

My mother used to like scented soaps, but she didn't use them as soap -- she put them in little cloth bags in drawers to scent her clothing.

Gift cards/certs:

-for restaurants that deliver; I find that older folks like to use these when the grandchildren come over for the evening.
-for her favorite hairdresser (better yet, if possible, just have it entered as a credit with the shop, so that they can take care of keeping track of the credit for her.)
-for catalog companies that she likes; she will probably use those more than the ones for stores if she is a catalog shopper, like my MIL.

 

[Sadie22]

NotUrsula has a good list.

I would add hearing aid batteries when appropriate.

As my mother aged people would give her scented soaps which she could not use. Bar soap = tripping hazard. If she dropped the bar in the shower, she had difficulty picking it up. Some scents can attract pests. Liquid soap was a good gift.

Socks seem like a great idea but the toe seam in many can be too rough for an older person with decreased circulation. MediPeds or socks made for diabetics were best.

Someone gave Mom a manicure kit when she was past the ability to cut her own nails. I actually had to confiscate school scissors in her later years as she tried to cut her nails with those and cut too close, causing injury.

Food gifts need to be in line with dietary limitations. Someone with full dentures would have little use for caramels or possibly candies with nuts or a can of nuts.

Gift cards can always be accompanied by a promise to take the person shopping to use the card.

Consider the ability level and any medical needs when choosing good gifts for the elderly.

 

[jenlynn0808]

Napkins..seriously. A handy item and fun. I pick them up on clearance. My Mom has gotten summer ones (they had flip flops on them), holiday, birthday, DD found ones with yellow roses on them once (my Mom's favorite flower). Useful and doesn't add to the house clutter.

 

[EllenFrasier]

Sorry if some of these are repeats:

If she doesn't have a cell phone, then prepaid phone cards.

A joke a day calendar that you tear off the page each day. Elderly people need to laugh too!

Stamps and a nice pen, maybe stationery

A magnetic pad and pen to put on the fridge

Magnifying reader for small print if she doesn't wear bifocals and occasionally needs help with small print

A pretty night light

Mints

Her favorite candy

A gift certificate to her favorite eating establishment - could be expensive or something like Friendly's or Denny's.

Movie tickets

Concert tickets (you could take her)

 

[MSSANDRA]

We do "goodie bags" at church much like stockings a lot. Here are some of the older home-bound members favorites:

stamps & note cards
small tubes of lotion
small notebooks
food- yes remember diatary restrictions- nuts, candy, small individual cups of pudding or fruit, trail mix.
If they still enjoy some baking, maybe a simple high-end mix
fruit
warm socks-non-slip please

 

[Melynny]

How about :
Nail Files and new polish
small Flash light
key ring
magnifying glass
gloves
packages of batteries for remotes, etc.
those small books that they have at the check out counter of the grocery.. maybe word search, or cross words,
stamps, I know already mentioned, but my mom loves these
foot cream
LOTTERY TICKETS-scratch offs. my mom get's confused and needs help, but she still thinks it's fun.
purse size mirror

 

[dnbent]

I love this idea and I think we will do one for my DM82.

A gift that we have gotten her in the past was one of those small digital picture frames for her key chain. Was really surprised at the quality. I think that I purchased it at Kohls.

Other suggestions:

Our town has taxi tickets
Movie passes
Gift Cards for the Grocery Store
CD's

Thanks for the idea. I love it.

 

[ILoveDisney&Cruising]

These are such FABULOUSLY AWESOME ideas!

Stockings have always been my absolute favorite part of Christmas!!

Now I just need to find some sweet old people to do this for. Aww, heck, even MIL might do!

 

[wide awake]

My mom is on a limited income so I try to fill her stocking w/ fun useful things. I love some of the ideas on this thread. Things I've used in the past...Oil of Olay face cleaning clothes, mascara, a mirror for her purse, small box of thank-you cards, sugarless hard candy, Tide pens, travel sewing kit, restaurant and movie gift cards, and knee-hi hose. Things I will add from this thread...magnifying reader, lightweight power screwdriver, and gift cards to restaurants that deliver.

 

[pink_fins]

This may sound funny...... but it you live close to her a weekly or every other week visit by you would be great.........take her out to supper etc.

also does she have a hobby? some supplies would help her out and give her something to do ....

these are the things I would like

 

[happybratpack]

Thank you guys SO much for all of the ideas, I'm taking notes!

You know....your post made me think. This might be something really fun to do for a nursing home, especially since a lot of folks do not have visitors.

These are such FABULOUSLY AWESOME ideas!

Stockings have always been my absolute favorite part of Christmas!!

Now I just need to find some sweet old people to do this for. Aww, heck, even MIL might do!

 

[ceecee]

Thank you guys SO much for all of the ideas, I'm taking notes!

You know....your post made me think. This might be something really fun to do for a nursing home, especially since a lot of folks do not have visitors.

My GS troop did this, filled little stockings and then sang carols and passed them out!

 

[scdak]

I love all the ideas, they gave me some great ideas for this year. I didn't see small packs of tissues but they come in handy , also the small packages of handiwipes/wet wipes are appreciated by my mother.

For anyone thinking about doing something for nonfamily, ask if your local meals on wheels gathers small gifts for their clients, ours does and they take it with them when the deliver a meal close to Christmas. I am sure they could tell you if they have shut ins who have no one that would be giving them a gift.