Christmas Gifts for a Senior Neighbor

Christmas is a wonderful opportunity to spread a little cheer within the neighborhood. Passing on the spirit of peace and goodwill to your neighbors creates a better sense of community and strengthens personal bonds. If you have a senior citizen living near you, make this holiday season one for them to remember. Give a gift that not only pleases them, but also improves their quality of life.

Spend a Day Helping to Winterize the Senior Citizen's Home. Offer your home care services to your neighbor on a weekend afternoon. Help to clear debris from the gutter, trim back bushes and hedges that could obscure vision during a snowstorm and stock up the garage with rock salt and firewood. Trim any tree branches that could come down during an ice storm and damage the house or property. Check the railings and steps to scout out any potential problems when the sub zero temperatures and inclement weather arrives. This holiday gift will help to ensure your senior friend stays safe and comfortable all through the winter.

Be a Chauffeur for a Day. Wish your senior neighbor a happy holiday season by offering to spend a day helping to run errands, visit the doctor or go to the salon for a haircut. If your senior can no longer drive independently and must rely on public transportation, this gift will surely be much appreciated. Treat your neighbor to coffee and pastries at a local cafe to keep both of your energy levels from flagging and enjoy the companionship.

A Grocery Store Gift Card Can Go a Long Way. Most seniors live on fixed incomes and have really felt the pinch of the rise in living costs. A gift card to the local grocery store can help your neighbor purchase medicine, hygiene items, cleaning supplies and food. Even the most nominal amount can really be stretched when combined with coupons and sales. Your special friend will surely appreciate this practical gift that can make the winter months a bit more comfortable.

Individually Portioned Homemade Meals are a Blessing. If your senior citizen neighbor lives alone, he or she probably spends little time cooking from scratch. It is far easier at this stage of life to have the bulk of the diet be frozen or microwave meals. Your pot roast, lasagna, roast chicken and minestrone soup will surely be a blessing to this neighbor. Begin cooking extra servings of your family's favorite meals in the weeks before Christmas and freezing the individual portions in plastic containers. Label the lid with the contents and the date it was frozen. Make a visit on Christmas Eve to offer a gift basket filled with single portions of your signature dishes. This gift takes very little extra time or money, but will surely be well loved and appreciated.

Blank Cards and Rolls of Stamps are Always in Need. Many seniors want nothing to do with text messages or emails. They prefer the old fashioned way of contacting their loved ones, either on the telephone or through the mail. The ever rising cost of stamps has made this practice a bit of a luxury. A small basket or box filled with generic note cards, stationary, and a few rolls of stamps will allow your gift recipient to reach out to family and friends without worrying about the cost.