Any ideas for Christmas gifts?

One of my co-workers gave the best gift to his mom. He took a few days off work and he drove her around to different relatives' homes whom she had not seen in a while. They even went out of state. His mother enjoyed it immensely.

Hello:
How about a ride to see the Christmas lights or to Christmas villages? Holiday events that are a ride away. He will spend time with you and your sibling and maybe enjoy the event. Lunch out while you are doing it. He can't misplace it since it's not a "thing".
Would he like something like that?

There are some great ideas here and I wouldn’t hesitate to use any of them that seem appropriate for your dad but my first thought reading your question also still applies. Is your dad happy with the pantry items you have been gifting him? I’m just wondering if your desire to find other ideas is more about you and your sibling feeling the need to give him more or his disappointment. He may be happier with the stocking of his pantry than he would be about a more extravagant gift and you can fulfill your need to make it special and put time into wrapping everything individually and putting in a big basket or Christmas bag. I know both of my parents feel uncomfortable with their children giving them larger gifts than they give us. They feel like we do enough throughout the year and are as lost about what to give us as we are about what to give them plus they are on limited incomes. Every few years when we have a really good idea for one of them or something the three of us (their children) might get together on a gift but I have come to learn that simply doing simple things out of love takes the pressure off and makes them far happier. That and simply having their family around. We focus on stocking stuffers and practical items for the most part now. That and feasting all day!

An Alzheimer's clock is a great gift while your dad is still cognizant enough to look at it; it will remind him of the day of the week, the time, whether it's AM or PM, the date, the month and the year:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=alzheimers+clock+for+adults&crid=34Y5IG8TMDTLB&sprefix=alzheimers+clock%2Caps%2C194&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_2_16

My mother loved it until her dementia advanced to the point where she can't remember to look at it anymore.

When my dad was still living alone I made him small frozen meals. When I cooked things that I know he liked that would freeze well, I’d make up a portion for him. He was living on canned soup and TV dinners at that point and the homemade stuff (especially ethnic dishes from his heritage that were much too complicated for him to cook) were a nice treat for him. He lived an hour away so when we went to see him I’d load up a cooler with all the goodies to take to him.

My MIL was always moving/hiding/accusing of stealing her calendars. Last year we bought a wall hanging frame for her wall calendar. It was a little too difficult for her to remove from the wall 😂

People !
Ask volunteers to visit him.
Contact local colleges / churches to see if interns or volunteers would visit - or do an activity with him, i.e., finger painting or doing a puzzle together.
Don't know if this is possible - I LOVE taking AmTrak everywhere I can figure out where to go. A short ride - a few hours ? the scenery is often spectacular although that isn't as important as the experience and being able to enjoy - being engaged - looking out the window.
* I am in Marin County and have taken AmTrak train (from Emeryville) to Reno many times over the years due to the beauty of nature / the (hopefully) snow in the Sierras. I only go in the winter time hoping to experience the snow. Once I saw a blizzard. While I go for the views, the hotel (El Dorado) is 1/2 block away . . . some of the best restaurants in there . . . and the roulette table calls me over.
* * *
Gena

I got both GGma's a SKYLIGHT which rotates pictures through on a small screen. You set up a gmail acct with their info on it and turn it on.

So--no piles of family pics to sort through--just digital photos. I send and email a couple times a year to the entire family and tell them to send new pics to the skylights. It's small and unobtrusive.

It's a good group gift and can be updated via your cellphone.


Neither mother not MIL will leave their homes for any kind of holiday party or dinner, so this kind of keeps them updated on the kids' lives.

Visit, call, be there for him. Gifts are just things, love and companionship are what is important. My siblings always went through this for my parents and I knew the only thing they wanted was some connection with thier children and grandchildren.

The Alzheimer's store has many gifts and dependent on the capabilities of your dad, you can probably find something. My mom loved the music maker. She only had to lift the lid on to hear music. It's loaded with old time big band music, but can be loaded with anything. No buttons or stations to scroll through. I eventually got her the dog and cat that respond to voice and touch. She thought they were real, which seems strange, but they gave her great pleasure.