Eight Gifts for the Old-Old

When you’re buying a gift for an older person, you have to consider where they fit in the old- age spectrum. Is the person Young-Old (65-75) Middle-Old (75-85) or Old-Old (85 and beyond) While trips and tickets to musicals may be appropriate for the Young-Olds, they don’t work so well for the over 80 crowd. Because that’s when the physical limitations that come with age start to kick in, big time. Various medical conditions, failing eyesight, poor hearing–all narrow the desirable gifts suggestions considerably . So, here are eight gifts for the old-old which may not have occurred to you.

LARGE PRINT BOOKS. If you buy a book from a store, its probably going to be in regular print size. But if you’re like my husband, you can’t make it through the small print without a magnifying glass, and that’s tedious. Amazon has a large print selection which includes many best sellers. They may cost a little more, but they will be much appreciated by your 90 year old grandpa.
HAND WARMERS Many elderly folks have poor circulation. Even with the thermostat at 72, their hands may get cold if they’re sitting in a draft. These warmers have rechargeable batteries, and have three different settings. Come January, they’ll be grateful for these warmers to warm their cold fingertips.
SUGAR FREE CHOCOLATES. 11 % of the population in the United States has diabetes. After the age of 65 the chances of developing prediabetes increase dramatically. . Sugar free candy may cost a little more, but that’s what makes it a special gift for your diabetic relatives..
SOFT KNIT GLOVES. You can’t go wrong here, because most everyone loses a glove or two in the winter. It’s nice to have a back up pair when that happens.
8 GIFTS FOR THE OLD-OLD. A long reach grabber is handy for elderly and disabled.
LONG REACH GRABBER, otherwise called a trash picker.. This horrible sounding gift is actually pretty slick. Many old people can’t bend over to pick up something they dropped. Especially if it rolls away. These handy grabbers are perfect for retrieving whatever it is that fell to the floor.
FACEBOOK VIDEO CALLING DEVICE.. Sounds a little high tech, but once you set it up, it’s pretty easy to navigate. One drawback: The recipient needs a Facebook account, and if they’re not comfortable with that, this won’t work for them.
EIGHT GIFTS FOR THE OLD-OLD. If they have a facebook account;, they will enjoy this video calling device
AMARYLLIS BULBS. Whether they’re still living at home, or in an assisted living facility, there’s always room for a potted Amaryllis bulb. Old folks feel their spirits lift as they watch the miracle of beautiful amaryllis blooming right before their eyes in the dead of winter.
FRESH FRUIT IN A SMALL BOX. No bushel baskets, please. You can only consume so many apples and oranges before they start turning brown. But they’re a healthy choice for the elderly who can’t get out to shop for fresh produce.

There’s still time to shop! You can give your Old-Old relatives a gift they’ll truly enjoy.

August 2, 2021August 2, 2021

HOW TO RESCUE & RESTORE FRESH FRUIT

It’s watermelon season. Who can resist the lure of a seedless, green striped melon, straight from the farm? They’re so heavy, you can barely lug them into the house from the car. And when you crack them open, they’re that deep pink color that tells you they’re going to be delicious. The problem is, they’re way too big for a one or two person household. Sometimes, we find a friend or relative who can use the other half, but often they have one of their own, or they’re allergic. After a few days, the melon gets mushy. But wait. Cut it into chunks, put on a tray in the freezer, and pop the frozen cubes into a plastic bag. They make yummy additions to any smoothie. And, you can use them as ice cubes in a cold drink. That’s how to rescue and restore fresh fruit.

Another fruit that’s apt to shrivel is red grapes. You have to buy them by the bagful. They last quite awhile, but often they start to shrink before you’ve been able to consume all of them. Don’t throw them in the garbage can. Pluck each grape from the vine, and freeze them on a tray, just like you did the watermelon. When you blend your next fruit smoothie, you may find it a bit sour. Not to worry! Five or six frozen grapes will sweeten it up.

Bananas are a fruit with a too-short shelf life. They’re a good source of potassium. Many heart patients are advised slice at least half a banana over their morning cereal. Trouble is, bananas ripen very fast. Then, they get brown and mushy. We used to throw away a lot of old bananas, but no more. They say you shouldn’t refrigerate bananas, but actually, you can.–if you wait until after they’ve ripened. If they’re still green, they won’t ripen in the frig. But once they’ve turned ripe, they will last a few extra days in the frig, resulting in far fewer wasted bananas. And they, too, can be sliced and frozen for smoothies.

Pineapples are often on sale. When you get them home and cut open, you’ll encounter various degrees of ripeness. They may be a bit “green”, but more often, they’re on the verge of being over ripe—turning deep yellow in places. We love fresh pineapple, but it starts to turn after a few days. Once again, rescue the aging pineapple. Cut the ripening fruit into chunks and freeze them. They give your smoothies a delicious tang and sweetness.

Now, you’re in the swing of things. Freezing fresh fruit that’s begun to over ripen is great way to reduce waste. And in these inflationary times, it’s also a smart way to save money.

January 18, 2021January 18, 2021

CELEBRATE MIRACULOUS RASPBERRIES

One of the advantages of being an octogenarian is that you appreciate what others may take for granted. When my husband I were children, any fruit for dessert came from jars stored in the basement. Women didn’t work outside the home unless they had to. However, they did plenty of work at home. Both of us remember our mothers sweating over a pressure cooker on hot summer days. Most everyone drove to the farmer’s market, and bought peaches and pears by the bushel. Consequently , any self-respecting house wife did their share of “canning”–especially during World War II. Fast forward to 2021. Our frig is sight to behold—full of colorful fresh fruits and vegetables. We’re grateful for the truck drivers who deliver them, and celebrate the miraculous raspberries available in the winter.

The highlight of our days during this pandemic has been grocery shopping. Especially during these dull winter days. The produce section of any supermarket is bound to give you a lift. Isn’t it amazing that we can still purchase so much fresh fruit? Big, juicy strawberries that come from California. Pretty pink raspberries grown in Washington & California. Pineapple from Hawaii. They say we’re “at war,” with the virus. But I can’t think of any modern war zone where you could buy fresh fruits and vegetables from all over the world, any day of the week.

The covid-19 lockdown has been long, dreary and stressful. However, compared to other plagues that have occurred through the centuries, we are blessed here in the good old USA. You can download e-books from the library. Watch television. Listen to the radio. Stream movies. . E-mail, text, and zoom your friends and family. And yes, you can have a dessert of ice cream topped with fresh raspberries and whipped topping.

Let’s celebrate miraculous winter raspberries.