Your time is the most priceless gift to seniors

Now that Thanksgiving is behind us, it is time to kick our holiday spirit into high gear. Colorful department store fliers abound, promising shoppers the lowest prices of the season on things they can’t possibly live without.

The holidays are hectic for everyone, except those few individuals who have their shopping done by Labor Day, only to gloat about it later. But some homebound seniors, or those without transportation, face special challenges when trying to buy gifts for family and friends.

While some seniors with credit cards, catalogs and home shopping channels fair quite well ordering gifts over the phone, others want a more personal touch. Think about inviting an older person out to a favorite store, or just for a drive to see the Christmas lights.

Contemplating just the right gift for a senior, who clearly doesn’t need more knick-knacks or fluffy slippers, can be daunting at best.

“If you don’t know the person well, it is best to ask them if there is something they would like or need. Let them make suggestions,” said Amy Cotton, nurse practitioner and program director for Rosscare’s Center for Healthy Aging. But this is not a one-gift-fits-all proposition.

“It all comes down to knowing your senior,” she said. “Homemade treats are a good choice if the person has no dietary restrictions. Also, keep in mind their environment if they have downsized from a house to a small apartment.” There may not be room for more “things,” no matter how pretty.

Cotton suggests asking yourself a few questions before heading to the mall:

. Does the senior follow a special diet? Homemade goodies or chocolates may not be the best idea in this case. On the other hand, homemade meals that can be frozen are very convenient and require little energy on the senior’s part.

. Does the person live alone? An invitation for a hot meal in your home serves a duel purpose – good nutrition and companionship.

. Do they enjoy dining in restaurants? Think gift certificates to their favorite spot.

. Are their finances tight? Sensitivity toward any adult’s financial situation is wise. While some folks would be most appreciative of a gift certificate to the local grocer or a paid subscription for a year’s newspapers, others might be embarrassed.

“If you are considering this type of thoughtfulness, I would encourage you to talk with the person about what might be most helpful,” said Cotton. “And when giving gifts of clothing, unless you know the person’s personal choices well, consider gift certificates to clothing stores. This gives the individual flexibility to choose what they might like to have. And offering to drive them to the store is a nice touch.”

Which brings us to transportation. Taxi vouchers or offers of rides to appointments would be a much-appreciated gift to a senior who doesn’t drive.

Other useful suggestions for seniors who have a hard time getting out include assorted greeting cards with stamps on the envelopes, yarn for the knitters on your list, craft supplies for creative types and a cordless phone that can be kept at one’s side, eliminating the need to rush when someone calls.

“However, time and companionship are the best gifts many of my patients have received,” said Cotton. “Committing to a weekly or monthly visit, phone call or outing costs very little – but cannot be assigned a value by the senior. I constantly hear elders say that they would rather have a visit from family than any gift. And some seniors have received handmade coupons for things like card games, a home-cooked meal or the doing of odd jobs such as sweeping the floor and washing windows.”

Time may be money, but in this instance time is priceless.

Carol Higgins is director of communications at Eastern Agency on Aging. For information on EAA, call 941-2865 or log on www.eaaa.org.