Help - gift ideas for 88 year mother in law?

[GillyGee]

My mother-in-law will be 88 in a couple of weeks time. She lives happily in sheltered accommodation on the first floor and has collected most of the things we all need and perhaps wish for during her life.

She suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and has recently suffered a couple of falls so is housebound and has daily carers to assist, she is taken out by family fairly regularly and with the aid of a wheelchair. That said she is still very mentally active and enjoys reading, puzzles and listen/watching radio and tv, she does however find it very frustrating being limited by her physical activities. We would like to buy her a birthday present that will enhance her daily life, but for the life of us cannot come up with a solution any helpful suggestions would be welcome, thanks!

[Annna]

Try a photo frame already preloaded with hundreds of family photos, they also sell ones which can play music as they scroll.

[LoftyLottie]

How about a Nintendo DS! I am serious. Lots of puzzle type things available on a DS and the new ones have a bigger screen so are better for elderly people (so my son tells me). I am hoping to get the new version for Christmas.

[hippyhoppy]

a) well done to her for getting to 88, and b) how about some fancy chocs from Hotel Chocolat. My mother used to love the little taster boxes..

[LoftyLottie]

Or a yearly subscription to a magazine she likes!

[hippyhoppy]

LL - blatent 'what I want for Christmas'-ness... nice one girl!!!

[GillyGee]

Hi thanks for these so far - magazine subscriptions are taken care of at Christmas by several members of the family. I have a Nintendo DSI which I have tried to interest her in but she says she finds it boring and this was the puzzler collections and scrabble ........ luddite frame of mind I am afraid as we have also tried to interest her in a net book with the internet and email and no go. However that said the digital photo frame might just do it - I have to admit I am mildly ignorant of these, would it be correct to suppose that you just put loads of photos onto the memory card and insert into the frame - any explanation as to how these work would be appreciated

[queencharlotte]

How about a luxury facial using the services of a travelling beautician?
For the birthday of a 99 year old friend, some of us got together and bought him an Oxfam cow and goat (the shops will tell you how it works)= the recipient of course gets a card telling him about the gift sent to Africa or wherever.

[TWR]

Hi Gilly, I went into my Mothers family tree, the firm that done research went back to the 1700s it was sent to us in a Blue Ribbond folder very presentable.

[venator]

Hotel Chocolat do a monthly tasting club - you get a box of chocs, each of which is by a different chocolatier. It's not cheap, but OH loves them.

[whiskeryron]

Trip of a lifetime http://www.virginballoonflights.co.uk/

Ron.

[funnygirl]

Ron, do you wanna give her an heart attack!! Lol.

[LoftyLottie]

LOL at Ron. At 88 with R.A, needing carers, and being in a wheelchair? I assume this suggestion was in jest ;o)

[GillyGee]

Ron - you are a star - The suggestion is not practical in any way but the idea will really make her smile :-) as it did me

[starone]

I am 84 as most of you already know, so I know what I am talking about. When you get to this ripe old age there is nothing much you want and so I do not let anyone buy me anything I have not asked for. In other words ask her what she wants. Better to do this than buy something completely useless. Personally, I pick out a book on Amazon, or at the moment I could do with a new pair of slippers. Thornton's choccies are nice, especially the soft centred ones. But mainly - ask her.

[GillyGee]

Starbuckone -you are absolutely right! We did ask and she said, as she always does, "a bit of something from Marks" the reason we have a problem is the last time I looked - a couple of weeks ago - the cupboards were full of "a bit of something from Marks" and I am not sure that should she live to be100 we would be getting through some of it.... The fact of the matter is that since she has become less mobile and this is only in the last 6 weeks she is so frustrated by her lack of physical ability and it is this we are trying to find some way of overcoming - the need to feel useful and not just to sit and vegetate - her words not mine you understand x