November 9, 2023

2023 Gift Guide for Seniors

About Nicole Pajer

Nicole Pajer is a Los Angeles-based freelance published in The New York Times, Woman's Day, AARP, Parade, Wired, Glamour, People and more.

The holidays will be here before we know it. This means decorating, planning family get-togethers, and of course, shopping for the perfect gifts for our loved ones. Have a person on your list who's hard to shop for? A parent who may have everything? Or a friend who you have no idea what to buy? From the foodie to the traveler and health enthusiast, we’ve curated 15 gift ideas for 2023 that will help to make this holiday extra special!

For the foodie

Deluxe non-stick waffle maker
For the breakfast lover, a good waffle maker is an essential kitchen appliance. GreenPan, known for its non-stick pans, makes an excellent quality waffle maker using its ultra-tough ceramic nonstick coating that has a reported 10x the longevity of other, more standard nonstick surfaces. It comes with 2 sets of changeable plates to make Belgian waffles and classic waffles. Available in 2 or 4-square versions.
GreenPan™ Elite 2-Square Waffle Maker $199.95, Williams Sonoma

DIY Charcuterie board made easy
Have everything delivered to make the perfect charcuterie board. Gift a gourmet spread of delicious cheeses, crackers, meats and spreads, with modifications available including vegan and gluten free kit options. Available in various sizes as a one-time order or three- or six-month monthly subscriptions at a discount if you want the gift to keep on giving!
Charcuterie Kit $84-199+, Platterful

Pizza oven
Make the ultimate pizza that just isn’t possible with a home oven or grill. Certain pizza ovens can reach 850 °F, which is recommended for a perfect crust that is crispy on the outside and soft and airy on the inside. Cooked on a pizza stone, you’ll have the ultimate custom pizza in 20 minutes or less. For pizza lovers (aren’t we all?), this is the perfect gift. Available in a variety of sizes and models.
Ooni Pizza Ovens $299-999, Ooni

Time to unwind

The ultimate chair massager
Who doesn’t love a great massage? With this deluxe chair massage pad you can have a heated neck and back massage anytime you want, without making a trip to the spa. It has a variety of features including finger pressure-like Shiatsu, rolling, kneading, compression, and vibration. It also has adjustable rolling and spot massage so you can target exact areas of your neck and back with just the right amount of pressure.
COMFIER Shiatsu Neck and Back Massager $219.99, Amazon

Beginner paint set
How about trying out a new hobby? This watercolor paint-by-number set is designed for beginners and artists and includes a canvas, watercolor paint palette, and a fine-point paint brush. Available in succulent, produce, or coastal designs. Painting can be a great way to relax while engaging motor skills and creativity!
Faber-Castell Paint By Number Watercolor Set $13.99, Dabblesack

Dabblet fidget for Dementia/Alzheimer's patents
Is your parent/grandparent suffering from memory loss? Here’s something that might be able to provide some comfort. A dabblet is a two-sided fabric fidget - one side with engaging pictures, and the other is a soft plush fabric that is intended to help soothe and comfort. When held or stroked, these dabblets can help encourage conversation and socialization. This one is a perfect gift for dog lovers!
Adorable Dogs Dabblet Fidget $35, Dabblesack

The travel junkie

Stylish fanny pack
For that upcoming trip or just for those daily walks, a fanny pack is a comfortable and convenient place to keep all your on-the-go essentials such as your phone, keys, wallet, meds, etc. This versatile and stylish bag is made of waterproof vegan leather and features several zippered pockets for quick access as well as a hidden phone sleeve.
Hands-Free Wear Everywhere Fanny Pack $45.00, uncommon goods

Portable cell phone speaker amplifier
Amplify your cell phone speaker without any cords to plug in, Bluetooth to connect, or anything to charge. This cute little frog will amplify any cell phone’s speaker with its big mouth! This is a perfect gift for the traveler, gardener, music/audio book lover, or anyone who has trouble hearing their cell phone.
Acoustic Frog Amplifying Phone Speaker $55.00, uncommon goods

Portable rocking chair
Turn any regular chair into a comfy rocker! This light-weight portable contraption can go anywhere with you for extra support on uncomfortable seats such as a park bench, airplane, car, or just about any chair or couch around the house. The Ready Rocker helps to provide lumbar support, which can take strain off of the lower back and joints. And it got amazing customer reviews.
Ready Rocker starting at $99, available from Ready Rocker

Items for the house

Stylish humidifier
Air that is too dry can lead some to experience dry, chapped skin, nose bleeds, scratchy throat, and dry eyes. This elegant illuminating humidifier will add moisture as well as decor to your home with a gunmetal finish, copper accents, and a textured amber tank. It has two speed settings and three brightness levels to give you the perfect humidity level as well as ambience for the room.
Vornado LUCERNA 2 Alchemy Ultrasonic Humidifier $79.99, Amazon

Silk pillowcases
If you’ve ever slept on a silk pillowcase, you know the luxurious comfort it offers. Silk is less absorbent than cotton and may help your skin and hair to retain moisture. The comfort of a soft silky pillowcase may help you to sleep soundly and wake more refreshed and rejuvenated. This is a great gift idea for anyone with dry skin, hair, or who has trouble sleeping. The company also has several other silk items available including scrunchies, face masks, and headbands.
Silk Pillowcase, starting at $41.99, Celestial Silk

Air filter
Did you know that the air inside your home can sometimes be even worse than the air pollution levels outdoors? This is where an indoor air filter can help. A good air filter can help reduce everything from mold spores to bacteria inside your home. It can also help to tackle pesky dust mites and pet dander. Blue Air has a variety of small and sleek indoor air filters that are compact, lightweight and perfect for smaller spaces Including the Blue Pure 511 model, $99.99, blueair.com

Gifts for those with green thumbs

Gardening journal
Have a friend who loves to plant things? Gift them a stylish notebook that allows them to keep track of all of their plants – when they germinate the seeds, the date they harvested them, how well they grow, and more.
The Gardener’s Logbook $9.99, Amazon

Harvesting apron
Any gardener knows that the sign of a good season is when lots of fruits and veggies show up on their plants. Give a loved one the chance to harvest their fresh produce and carry it indoors with this apron with pockets perfect for storing everything from apples to kale and beyond. These pockets are also great for carrying everything from keys to gardening gloves, tools, your cell phone and beyond.
Gardening Apron, $38.90, Amazon.

A bee water bowl
A garden would not bloom without the help of bees. These adorable bee cups give back to bees by offering them a place to hydrate. These handmade porcelain cups collect a teaspoon of water for thirsty pollinators coated with a UV finish that attracts bees straight to them.
Passion Flower Bee Vision Bee Cup 5-pack, $32, bee-cups.com.