Articles
Top 6 Geek Gifts to Give Grandma & Grandpa
Print
Email
Comments (5)You know that girl two cubicles down who decorated her desk entirely in red and green tinsel? You can’t ignore it any longer. It’s official: the holiday season is in full effect. Haven’t found a gift for your grandparents yet? We are here to help with:
- Really awesome gift ideas for grandparents
- Where to find these gifts online (You don’t even have to go to the store!)
- Ideas for what to write in the card
So listen up! Stop thumbing through catalogs, wondering if peppermint bark shows you care. This year try giving your grandparents a gadget that can make their lives more exciting, eliminate everyday hassles or simply remind them that you think about them. An added bonus: your grandparents will be showing off what their dear thoughtful grandchild got them for Christmas. Your grandparents taught you about a bunch of things. Return the favor by introducing them to new and easy-to-use technology—everyone loves getting cool gifts no matter what their age.
1. CEIVA: More Than a Digital Photo Frame
Price: Starting at $125
You might not be able to see your grandparents every day, but that doesn’t mean they can’t see you. A continually updating digital photo frame is an easy way to share your goings-on with your grandparents. CEIVA’s digital photo frame works differently from the others on the market...so pay attention:
- Upload photos to a server—every 24 hours if you want.
- Grandma plugs in the photo frame: one into an electrical outlet and another to the phone line.
- While your grandparents are tucked in bed, new photos are downloaded.
- At breakfast, your new pics make your grandparents smile.
- You magnanimously decide to share your newfound popularity by giving account access to other family members, so they can upload photos too.
The Stats:
- Grandma and Grandpa don’t need an Internet connection (just a phone and electricity)
- Buy the phone splitter so Grandma doesn’t have to get ogled at the hardware store
- Provides the local weather forecast—grandparents like that kind of thing, you know
- Captions on photos allow you to send personal messages (Try: “Check Out Your Favorite Grandson’s New Apartment” )
What to Write in the Card:
- See [fill in your name] eat. See [fill in your name] run. And see it all year long. Merry Christmas!
2. Monitored Automatic Pill Dispenser MD.2 with Voice Alarm from e-pill Medication Reminders
Price: $745
Okay, it’s pricey. Maybe you’re gasping for breath, but this could be a lifesaver for grandparents. This top-of-the-line medication dispenser and reminder leaves little to chance for grandparents who have a hard time remembering to take their medications or which ones to take at which time. The Monitored Automatic Pill Dispenser MD.2 dispenses medication or vitamins in little pre-filled cups and can also provide reminders to take non-oral medications.
The Stats:
- This part’s really cool...caregivers will be called if medications aren’t picked up on-time
- 60 medication cups can be pre-filled at one time
- Dispenses up to 6 times daily
- Non-oral medication reminders are via voice alarm, text and flashing light
- A monitoring system can be purchased for $29.95/ month (first 60 days are free)
What to Write in the Card (only choose the first option if you know it will get a laugh):
- Hugs—and drugs. Do we know how to celebrate or what? Merry Christmas.
- This is just a gentle reminder that I want you healthy for a long time.
3. TAO 1.5-Inch Digital Photo Keychain from Sharper Image
Price: $49.95
Finally! An answer to those “World’s Best Grandparent” key chains. The TAO Digital Photo Key Chain allows you to give a practical gift that’s also a reminder of all the people in your grandparent’s life. It might also win them friends (or jealous glances) at the senior center. Don’t forget to pre-load the key chain by using its USB port with photos of relatives, friends, pets and—of course—you! Offering to update the photos as you get new ones will probably only win you the coveted status of Favorite Grandkid.
The Stats:
- 1.5-inch OLED screen
- 8Mb of memory (up to 31 photos)
- Mini-USB port to transfer from your PC or Mac
- Photos can be set to display as a slideshow or an individual photo
What to Write in the Card:
- Thought you might like to look at something nice for Christmas. (Make sure your photo is the first to appear.)
4. Nintendo Wii
Price: Starting at $250 (Note: Prices are climbing during the holiday season.)
Teach your granny about the newest craze. Seriously, kids, families and seniors are all going nuts for this gadget. Bowling is less strenuous than tennis, so start off slow to win her over. Then tell her how to start a potluck bowling league so she can be the envy of the neighborhood. If she lives in an assisted living facility, then try to get everyone on board with having league games—and, of course, trophies! You can even buy the first trophy to get the ball rolling.
The Stats:
- Comes with Wii Sports (includes the highly addictive bowling game)
- Provides an opportunity to engage in sports without being too strenuous
- Strap it on! (People have hurt themselves or bashed their TV screens by not doing so.)
- Proponents say the Wii boosts hand-eye coordination among the over-60 set in a way that board and card games can’t
What to Write in the Card:
- Wii will have a bowling showdown in your living room on Christmas morning! You won’t even have to leave the house!
5. Black & Decker Lids Off ™ Jar Opener Deluxe
Price: $39
Opening a jar with a lid that’s just too tight can be impossible for people with arthritis. Give your grandparents a hand—even when you aren’t there—with Black & Decker’s Lids Off ™ Opener Deluxe. The opener is so nifty that you may just decide to get one for your own kitchen.
The Stats:
- The whole thing collapses for super-convenient storage
- Automatically adjusts itself to the correct size to open any size jar
What to Write in the Card:
- I wanted you to be able to open up stuff all year long. Merry Christmas!
6. Name Announce Caller ID Phones with Answering Machine from Gold Violin
Price: $140
Falling is the biggest concern for seniors living at home alone. And we all know the annoyance of racing to the phone to find out we’ve been pre-selected for a pre-recorded message. The Name Announce Caller ID Phone means Grandma doesn’t have to rush to the phone; she can hear who is calling ahead of time. And it also means she can make it a priority when they hear your weekly (okay, monthly) call to say “hello.”
The Stats:
- Two phones: one corded and one cordless
- Compatible with hearing aids
- When you call your name is announced and appears on a large LCD screen (You’ve finally made it to the small-screen!)
- Large backlight buttons means accidentally calling Timbuktu is less likely
- Make sure Grandma or Grandpa has caller ID
- Answering machine picks up when they can’t
What to Write in the Card:
- The “World’s Greatest Grandkid” can’t wait to talk to you!
____________________________________________________
Gilbert Guide provides independent reviews of products and services. None of the featured items in this blog posting are paid advertisements. None of the parent companies have any affiliation with Gilbert Guide. The editorial staff would also like to wish you a happy holiday season since you took the time to read the small print.
Posted in: Gilbert Guide Product Reviews, Visiting Your Loved One
[…] Senior Care - Nursing Homes - Assisted Living Blog by Gilbert Guide created an interesting post today on Top 6 Picks for Geek Gifts to Give Grandma and GrandpaHere’s a short outline […]
[…] Senior Care - Nursing Homes - Assisted Living Blog by Gilbert Guide created an interesting post today on Top 6 Geek Gifts to Give Grandma and GrandpaHere’s a short outline […]
[…] Read the rest of this great post here […]
[…] Read the rest of this great post here […]
[…] Original post by Senior Care - Nursing Homes - Assisted Living Blog by Gilbert Guide […]