ALT-1 Where to Find the Perfect Holiday Gift for your Aging Parents
Whether you have a little or a lot to spend on the perfect holiday gift for your aging parents, there are a lot of locations that provide a variety of options. Typically, the best gifts for this age group are things that get used up food, toiletries, lingerie, and such. Hopefully you know as well as anyone what your parents favorites are; if not, talk to someone who spends a lot of time with them and find out what they need, or what special treats they might enjoy.
First, decide if you want to buy it at a traditional store or online. Purchasing online can be a particularly good option if you are shipping the gift, or if you are unable to find the treats that they most enjoy. If your parents live nearby, and you have stores where you can find what they would like, then shopping in a traditional store is probably the better choice.
If you choose a traditional store, consider your budget and choose accordingly. While not a particularly innovative choice, Walmart may very well be have the best prices on the items you are looking for. Whether it is toiletries, books, CD's or basic foods, they will likely have the best prices around.
While you could wonder the malls looking for gifts there are other options you might want to consider. More expensive yet typically half the price of a department store are stores such as T J Maxx and Marshalls. With large discounts, many of which are on quality merchandise, you can find department store quality lingerie, clothing, toiletries, linens, and even some specialty foods.
Of course, if money is no object you can easily find traditional items such as designer perfumes and elegant chocolates at the mall stores. Certain brands and fabrics tend to be preferred by aging parents, both for comfort and familiarity. If you are buying clothing, remember that they may be shorter than they used to be, and that their feet may be larger. Check their closet and see what brands their favorite worn out clothes are.
As people age, they frequently find that their favorite products are no longer available. Shoe styles, clothing brands or fabric types, particular brands or types of food, tend to be phased out over time. In days past, you had to live in New York City to find these items, but with the help of the Internet these are available to most of us. Large distributor websites such as shoes.com can help you find that difficult to find item.
If money is a concern for your parents, a gift card is always a nice gift, since it allows them to purchase items that they may otherwise have to do without. For computer savvy aging parents, the Internet allows them extensive choices without having to leave the comfort of their chair. For drugstore items, consider looking at drugstore.com. If your parent loves great food, but rarely has the chance to eat it, you might want to consider Zabars.com. For some people audio books and large print books, both available at Amazon.com may provide some welcome entertainment.
For many people, aging means a fixed income and limited physical abilities. Gifts that help them afford the things they most enjoy, or ones that help them make the most of life even if they can no longer enjoy the same activities, make excellent gifts. Though the most special gifts come from the heart, sometimes people enjoy items that help them enjoy day-to-day life.
