The Best Gifts For Seniors And Older People In Your Life

Digital frames, helpful gadgets, meal delivery services and more that make thoughtful gifts for seniors this holiday season.
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Age disparities between generations can create the false sense that you don’t have anything in common, that your differences are too great and that gift-giving come holiday season is an impossible feat.

In reality, the years between you don’t matter when you want to show someone important in your life that you care — and finding a meaningful gift can be great way to do it.  

If you’re on the hunt for such a gift, but need some nudging in the right direction, we’ve compiled some helpful suggestions for items and gestures that can help a grandparent, parent or older family friend stay connected with those they love, bridge the technology gap or just find a little everyday comfort. 

HuffPost may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently selected by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change.

1
A large display Kindle Oasis
This latest model in the Kindle family is lightweight enough to be held in one hand and features a just-like-paper display and quick page turn buttons to mimic reading from an actual book as closely as possible. The adaptive screen self-adjusts its brightness depending on the environment, and a warm light function is perfect for reading right before bed. This version also comes with three months free of unlimited access to Kindle's collection of over 1 million books, newspapers and audiobooks.
2
An indoor herb garden
An AeroGarden means your recipient can have a thriving fresh herb garden right in their home, all year round –– without having to kneel down in an outdoor bed. Using a hydroponic grow system and automatic full-spectrum grow lights, this garden can house up to six plants at a time and comes with seeds to grow basil, parsley, dill, thyme and more.
3
An anti-fatigue standing mat
Made with thick, high-density foam, this anti-fatigue cushioned mat can reduce knee, foot and back pain when standing for long periods of time. Available in three sizes and 13 colors, this mat is great for placing in front of the kitchen sink, at a standing desk or any other upright work space.
4
A portable record player with integrated speakers
If your loved one has some vinyl that they haven't dusted off in years, this popular no-fuss turntable can be an extra special gesture. Available in 30 colors and patterns, Crosley’s suitcase-style record player has integrated speakers and plugs directly into the wall for a super easy operation.
5
A smart home display system
Alexa's straightforward and user-friendly design is all built into the Echo Show. This compact display and bedside alarm system allows for smart home management, video calls with loved ones and a digital photo setting that turns the home screen into a virtual photo album using pictures from Amazon Photos or Facebook. Users can also easily check the news, weather forecasts, play music and connect with a Ring doorbell camera so they always know who's at the door.
6
A simple way to stream television and movies
If the idea of setting up streaming services or hopping between platforms and regular TV seems overwhelming, the Fire TV Stick is a simple and streamlined solution for many people. Just plug the TV stick directly into an HDTV, plug it into a wall outlet, connect it to the internet and browse an endless array of television, movies and more from the easy-to-use navigation portal.
7
A deep tissue kneading massage pillow
Three different deep kneading modes plus the added benefit of heat allow this versatile massage pillow to help relieve sore muscles, reduce tension and improve circulation practically anywhere on the body, including calves, neck and lower back.
8
Etsy/EmmaStudioDesigns
A hand-blown glass bird feeder
A great addition for anyone that enjoys watching birds, this hand-blown 32-ounce bird feeder provides the perfect perch for hummingbirds and other avian creatures to gather. It's made using recycled glass and includes a special moat to prevent ants from getting into the bird nectar.
9
Three pairs of everyday compression socks
These compression socks by Bombas can help mitigate the discomfort caused from leg swelling and poor circulation that can be common in later years. Knit from a durable and tear-resistant yarn, these knee-high socks offer the perfect medium level of pressure and support for everyday wear.
10
Two ergonomic bottle opening tools
These clever ergonomic twist aids are designed to make opening bottles and cans easier for people with arthritis or limited ranges of hand motion. Compatible with over 16 different sized caps, both the mini and plus also have a helpful end tab that can help pull open aluminum soda or food cans.
11
A highly rated ergonomic seat cushion
This portable back support pillow has close to 62,000 five-star Amazon ratings for its ability to relieve back pain. It's made with a cradling memory foam that adapts to the natural contours of the body to make any chair comfortable to sit in.
12
An easy-to-use video calling device
The Portal by Meta allows users to connect even with those that don't have a Portal. It has a 10-inch stable screen and doesn't require a monthly subscription to use — only an internet connection and a Facebook account. In addition to video calls, they can message, stream and listen to music.
13
A weekly meal kit delivery service
Perfect for those that don't want to meal plan or take trips to the grocery store, Green Chef's meal kit service faithfully delivers all the required instructions and pre-portioned ingredients needed to cook a nourishing meal. Meal plans are completely customizable from delivery frequency to various dietary needs.
14
A senior-accessible tablet
The GrandPad is a tablet designed specifically with older populations in mind and features a user-friendly operation screen, ongoing instructions, easy-to-see icons and 24/7 customer support. Share photos, take calls, send emails, video chat and more without causing frustration.
15
A personalized genetic testing and ancestry kit
The 23andMe genetic testing and ancestry kit can help anyone in your life connect with other relatives they may have lost contact with or even learn more about their own lineage as well as any potential health conditions for which they might be more at-risk.
16
A digital touchscreen picture frame
The Skylight digital frame keeps precious photos in one place where they can viewed over and over again. Not only that, it makes sharing and accessing photos easier thanks to a direct email function that receives and displays photos within seconds. It's effortless to set up and just requires internet connection to operate.
17
A magnified floor lamp
The perfect armchair companion, this LED magnified reading lamp features a posable arm and three-times magnification.

Before You Go

26 Things From Amazon With Such Great Reviews, You May Want To Own Them Yourself
A 12-pack of flameless floating candles that flicker for a magical holiday decoration(01 of26)
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Promising review: "Hung candles with fishing line that came with it. Looked so cool. We hung the candles and flying keys for our Harry Potter Christmas and these were perfect. At night they truly looked like they were floating." — Maria Page (credit:amazon.com)
A magnetic spice rack you can stick on the side of your fridge(02 of26)
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Promising review: "These racks are super sturdy. In fact, they are hard to move once you put them on (but that's a good thing!) They look so sleek and modern! I am definitely not worried about my glass jars falling out! Great product!" — dorothy berloni (credit:amazon.com)
A high-pressure rainfall shower head and hand-held combo(03 of26)
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Promising review: "Love it! Love it! Love it! We have somewhat light pressure in one of the bathrooms. This shower rain head solved any issues we had and the handheld shower head has so many strong variations for massage. Amazing!" — ZL25 (credit:amazon.com)
A pair of rain ankle boots now that fall is here(04 of26)
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Promising review: "I've had these boots for two years now, and they've held up so well!! I walk at least 3 miles around my neighborhood every day (often more), and wear these nearly every day in the fall and winter. I did size up (I usually wear a 9 or 9.5 in shoes and bought a 10 in these) and put thin insoles in to help with support, which I'd recommend if you have any issues with plantar fasciitis. I don't need to replace these yet, but I'm going to buy two or three more pairs, just in case they ever stop making these boots!!" — M. Hoop (credit:amazon.com)
An acrylic statement clutch that you'll want to wear to every holiday party(05 of26)
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Promising review: "Love this little clutch. I can dress it up or down! Very durable too! Love it and get so many compliments when I wear it out!" — Amazon customer (credit:amazon.com)
A panini press with over 6,500 5-star ratings because soup and sandwich season is here(06 of26)
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Promising review: "This is such a great little kitchen gadget! It is compact- which I love- easy to store. It also heats up quickly and cooks quickly. Would definitely buy again- we have made tons of easy meals on this thing!" — Lauren Bailey (credit:amazon.com)
A Nordic Ware harvest mini loaf pan that makes six cute little fall-themed loaves(07 of26)
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Promising review: "This mold made beautiful breads that came out easily. Also cleaned up like a dream. Loved it!" — Natalie Leyba (credit:amazon.com)
A woven seagrass basket that tons of shoppers use to hold plants(08 of26)
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Promising review: "Really happy with this basket! It's exactly what I was looking for! Absolutely love the way my Fiddle Leaf Fig looks and fit in it! My FLF pot is a 10' so I ordered the large basket. It was a little snug going in but it fits perfectly! Next time I would probably order the XL so I'd have room to remove the pot if necessary. The basket seems to be well made and sturdy. I definitely recommend it and will most likely order more!" — Jennifer M. (credit:amazon.com)
And to go inside your new basket, faux fiddle-leaf fig tree(09 of26)
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Promising review: "My first faux plant!! I wanted to add greenery to my home without the added stress of taking care of plants!! This looks beautiful! The leafs are life like! And shipping is always quick with Amazon! I will definitely be adding more over the next few months." — Vicki Shead (credit:amazon.com)
A pair of classic square sunglasses with more than 19,000 5-star reviews(10 of26)
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Promising review: "I wasn't 100% sold on if I'd like these or not. But OMG. Cute, comfy (even for a gal who gravitates toward Ray-Bans because I have a slightly square face), and the tint is perfect. Not too dark, not that weird orange that makes you feel like you're stuck in the 80s, comes with a nice big cleaning cloth. Love them. And at the price, they are worth trying out. Cheaper than Target and infinitely better quality." — SMS487 (credit:amazon.com)
A programmable slow cooker so you can cook all the soups, stews and chilis this fall(11 of26)
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Promising review: "I've had this Crockpot for a couple of years now and I'm still so in love with it. Everything works perfectly still after three years. If anything ever does happen to it, I will 100% buy this same one again. Any time someone sees me using this slow cooker, they are so impressed. It does anything you need it to. I love it so much and would recommend it to anyone." — Madeline (credit:amazon.com)
A 12-pack of flameless candles that flicker and look realistic(12 of26)
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Promising review: "These are a great alternative to real flame candles! I wanted some for our mantle to go under the TV without damaging anything. The flicker is so cute and realistic. Would def purchase again." — Jared S. Bates (credit:amazon.com)
A dimmable table lamp with a USB port that's both stylish and incredibly practical(13 of26)
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Promising review: "I needed a small touch lamp that would be easy for a nursery light. Nothing that I needed to fiddle with switches or knobs, and something that was able to have dim to bright. This hits all the marks. My toddler loves it so we’re planning to buy another one for her. It’s not only functionally great, but also looks quite elegant too." — Megan Fabela (credit:amazon.com)
A soup thermos with a folding spoon so you don't have to eat a bowl of cold soup for lunch(14 of26)
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Promising review: "This food jar is what I was looking for! It’s big enough and keeps the food hot for more that 5hours. Easy to use and good quality. Very happy with my purchase " — Queen (credit:amazon.com)
A set of two fall leaf garlands that look super realistic(15 of26)
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Promising review: "Nice colors and texture. Doesn’t look too fake! Easy to bend. I added some seed lights to add a nice touch. Looks great without the lights though too! Definitely got my moneys worth." — Erin Ott (credit:amazon.com)
A nine-pack of reusable beeswax food wraps for anyone trying to eliminate waste(16 of26)
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Promising review: "LOVE!!!!! We have used them a couple of times to keep things fresh in the refrigerator and I wrapped a sandwich to take to work and the sandwich actually tasted better in my opinion!!! Super cute design too!" — Kelsey (credit:amazon.com)
A small woven oval basket you can use to corral random clutter to make your home look neat(17 of26)
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Promising review: "Love the color and it's the perfect size..I bought it to sit by my kitchen sink and to put microfiber cloths in it to replace using paper towels." — jjeannez (credit:amazon.com)
A water-resistant blanket that folds into a neat pouch and has a small pocket to hold essentials(18 of26)
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Promising review: "We wanted a durable, attractive, and functional picnic blanket at a great price, and that's exactly what we got! It may be a large blanket but it conveniently folds into a package so small that you can easily just walk to a nearby park a few minutes from the home and relax with a lunchbox full of goodies. Nothing beats a relaxing excursion to the park to relax, and this has proven to be an essential ingredient of that awesome experience." — Justin B. (credit:amazon.com)
A nonstick meat chopping tool you'll wonder how you ever lived without the second you first use it(19 of26)
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Promising review: "I made fun of my friends for ordering this....and then finally caved. WHERE HAS THIS BEEN MY WHOLE LIFE? Works great, strong heavy duty quality, easy to clean. BUY TWO LOL." — Jeanette Isley (credit:amazon.com)
A vintage-style runner rug that's soft and stylish so you finally won't have to walk on that cold floor anymore(20 of26)
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Promising review: "Love these rugs. Got this doorway rug to accompany a large area rug I was given as a gift. I love these rugs. The price is great. Going to order more for other rooms." — ASConner (credit:amazon.com)
A Cosori electric gooseneck kettle(21 of26)
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Promising review: "My wife and I have used a stove top kettle for years to make pour-over coffees and various hot teas. A friend recommended we consider changing to a hassle-free multifunction simple-to-use electric kettle. Wow! This kettle is fantastic. It has a preset button for coffee and each type of tea (white, green, oolong, black). It will hold the temperature of your choice, or automatically shut off when the water reaches the temperature of your choosing. We donated our stove top kettle to Goodwill." — E. Schrod (credit:amazon.com)
A Dash mini electric griddle that you can use to cook pancakes, eggs, bacon(22 of26)
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Promising review: "LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!! Oh my goddd 5 stars! Pancakes came out perfect and fluffy within minutes! So good!" — Kariyma king (credit:amazon.com)
A two-pack of silicone baking mats so you don't have to fiddle with parchment paper or scrub a dirty baking pan(23 of26)
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Promising review: "I dislike the way parchment paper toasts with the heat when I’m baking something, so these liners were a pleasant surprise. I’ve swapped paper for a reusable product that works wonderfully and I couldn’t be happier!" — I. Flores (credit:amazon.com)
A pair of joggers because fall is all about cozy comfort(24 of26)
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Promising review: "I only write reviews when something really blows me away...and wow. These joggers are SO soft and comfy especially for the price! If you told me these were lululemon I would believe you. I’m obsessed with these, I got two pairs! They are extremely stretchy material and the waistband stretches a lot but isn’t too big. For reference I’m 5’7” and 150lbs. I normally wear a medium and sometimes large depending on how I want things to fit. I got a large with these because I wanted them to be a bit baggier versus skin tight. If you want them a little looser size up. 12/10 recommend!!!" — Amazon customer (credit:amazon.com)
A compact jewelry travel case to hold your favorite dainty necklaces and ear party collection on your fall getaway(25 of26)
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Promising review: "This would be the perfect stocking stuffer!! I love mine and it held everything I needed. The dividers come out and can be a larger section if needed." — Rachel S (credit:amazon.com)
A collapsible microwave cover so you don't need to keep cleaning all that icky tomato sauce splatter(26 of26)
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Promising review: "I was tired of cleaning out my microwave from all the nasty gunk and food. It was especially embarrassing when guests would see the inside. I’ve only had this for about a week, so I haven’t needed to wash the product yet. But compared to other microwave covers, this one looks a lot nicer and is collapsable. I purchased the medium size, worried it would be too small for the dishes. However, it’s the perfect size. Not too small, not too big. I see that it’s for versatile use, so maybe I’ll get a different use out of it one day. Really, I’m just thankful I’m not catching paper towels on fire anymore from attempting to prevent splatter in the microwave lol. It’s a little pricier than what I would have liked to pay, however it looks nicer, more functional than your typical cover, and over time I think I will get my moneys worth." — Sho (credit:amazon.com)

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