Present for an Auld Wan

clairewithani

My next door neighbour is 80 tomorrow and I just found out today from her son. I would like to buy her something. She is still active enough but has dementia. Any suggestions? Budget €20-€50.

fleet_admiral

€50 voucher for Rom Massey

clairewithani

fleet_admiral wrote: »

€50 voucher for Rom Massey

I didn't know who or what Rom Massey was so I googled it. You are so bad.:D

neonsofa

Does she like to garden? Or maybe a picture type history book- there's a few nice ones about dublin, maybe if you know where she is from you could get one about that area? Depends how bad her dementia is though. A woman I know loved discussing where she grew up when she had dementia so it might be same for her or she may have forgotten.

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy

You're a decent skin. Rather than an actual present, I'd take her out for lunch. Probably appreciate your company more. My grandad is the exact same.

When my Mum turned 80 she got a lot of birthday mass cards along with flowers which she loves, and Lily O'Briens chocolates, which she hid away from the family and had 2 a night! She also got some flower boxes filled with seasonal plants that she has still by the front door.

clairewithani

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy wrote: »

You're a decent skin. Rather than an actual present, I'd take her out for lunch. Probably appreciate your company more. My grandad is the exact same.

Now that is a great idea. You are right, company is important.

clairewithani

neonsofa wrote: »

Does she like to garden? Or maybe a picture type history book- there's a few nice ones about dublin, maybe if you know where she is from you could get one about that area? Depends how bad her dementia is though. A woman I know loved discussing where she grew up when she had dementia so it might be same for her or she may have forgotten.

She cannot remember if she ate the same day or not but talks constantly of her family (parents and siblings). They are all dead but she talks about them as if they were still alive and calling to see her.

neonsofa

clairewithani wrote: »

She cannot remember if she ate the same day or not but talks constantly of her family (parents and siblings). They are all dead but she talks about them as if they were still alive and calling to see her.

Yeah the woman I knew didn't recognise her family but would talk about people and places where she grew up. So she recognised the photos etc. She was living in her past kind of thing. Sad for everybody else but she was happy as Larry so that was something.

indioblack

clairewithani wrote: »

She cannot remember if she ate the same day or not but talks constantly of her family (parents and siblings). They are all dead but she talks about them as if they were still alive and calling to see her.

I think the other posters are right. Give her a little of your time - just some companionship, however brief.

DrGreenthumb

Get her some flowers, perhaps some forget me not's?

Graces7

so many lovely ideas.... and yes, time with her letting her talk and listening.


Coul d you combine it with her favourite foods and maybe instead of flowers a healthy flowering plant? Hyacinths or similar?

clairewithani

Graces7 wrote: »

so many lovely ideas.... and yes, time with her letting her talk and listening.


Coul d you combine it with her favourite foods and maybe instead of flowers a healthy flowering plant? Hyacinths or similar?

Have combined few ideas together and come up with this:
There is a garden centre not too far away that serves food so I will bring her to lunch there next Tuesday when I am off and then we will pick out something.

neonsofa

clairewithani wrote: »

Have combined few ideas together and come up with this:
There is a garden centre not too far away that serves food so I will bring her to lunch there next Tuesday when I am off and then we will pick out something.

Lovely idea. She may not want to pick something out if it means you buying it though. I know a lot of older people would only accept something as a gift after it has been bought but would hate the idea of picking one out and letting you buy it. Just to keep that in mind. The lunch alone is probably perfect in itself.

ED E

clairewithani wrote: »

Have combined few ideas together and come up with this:
There is a garden centre not too far away that serves food so I will bring her to lunch there next Tuesday when I am off and then we will pick out something.

After reading about the utter scum that killed Shane Patton you've restored some of my faith in humanity. Fair play.

clairewithani

neonsofa wrote: »

Lovely idea. She may not want to pick something out if it means you buying it though. I know a lot of older people would only accept something as a gift after it has been bought but would hate the idea of picking one out and letting you buy it. Just to keep that in mind. The lunch alone is probably perfect in itself.

Ok what about a voucher for the garden centre then and I will call for her Tuesday for lunch and she can cash in the voucher.

neonsofa

clairewithani wrote: »

Ok what about a voucher for the garden centre then and I will call for her Tuesday for lunch and she can cash in the voucher.

Perfect!! Great idea!

clairewithani

ED E wrote: »

After reading about the utter scum that killed Shane Patton you've restored some of my faith in humanity. Fair play.

Most people are decent people in my experience. There are people doing selfless things all the time. I try to do at least one random act of kindness a day because you never know who might actually need it. it costs me very little and it could be the difference between a person getting through the day or not. That scumbag who killed that young lad is not the norm we need to fight against, don't ever think that.

Pinch Flat

Nice bottle of gin. Auld wans love gin.

Graces7

Pinch Flat wrote: »

Nice bottle of gin. Auld wans love gin.

roflol!. I am heading for 80 and never had gin!

Saoirse1981

I would frame pictures of those she talks about the most and surround her with them, then take her out somewhere peaceful and let her talk away about them to her hearts content. For whatever time she has left, whatever makes her happy. I would hope someone would do that for me.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Graces7 wrote: »

roflol!. I am heading for 80 and never had gin!

I thought you were heading for mid 70s like myself.

You can't leave this earth without first trying some quality Gin. It will change your life.

Barry Badrinath

Graces7 and Srameen need to get it on.

Alf Veedersane

Senor Fancy Pants wrote: »

Graces7 and Srameen need to get it on.

AH: sorting presents for auld wans since 2017

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Senor Fancy Pants wrote: »

Graces7 and Srameen need to get it on.

It's ok, I have my own special lady here with me for the past 45 years. Every day with her is a gift.

Irish Guitarist

Does she have any old family photos she likes? Maybe get one of them blown up and retouched and put in a frame.

Barry Badrinath

Samuel Rough Walker wrote: »

It's ok, I have my own special lady here with me for the past 45 years. Every day with her is a gift.

Ah Fritzel, hows she cuttin' bai?

nkav86

clairewithani wrote:

Have combined few ideas together and come up with this: There is a garden centre not too far away that serves food so I will bring her to lunch there next Tuesday when I am off and then we will pick out something.

Just reading through this thread, obviously you're not here looking for praise but it's really good to know there are still decent people out there. A lovely idea OP fair play, hope you both enjoy the day out

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Senor Fancy Pants wrote: »

Ah Fritzel, hows she cuttin' bai?

I have no idea what that's meant to refer to.

elperello

Samuel Rough Walker wrote: »

I thought you were heading for mid 70s like myself.

You can't leave this earth without first trying some quality Gin. It will change your life.

And it's good for the kidneys!

endacl

clairewithani wrote: »

She cannot remember if she ate the same day or not but talks constantly of her family (parents and siblings). They are all dead but she talks about them as if they were still alive and calling to see her.

Dress up as one of them and call in to her.

jimmy180sx

Graces7 wrote:

roflol!. I am heading for 80 and never had gin!

I'm heading into my thirties and I don't know what roflol is

PARlance

Lots of great suggestions: you could combine a few of them.

Get a nice photo of the 2 of ye framed. When her family are gone, call over and start telling her that you're her real daughter, give her a €50 voucher for a solicitor and provide companionship while she's re-doing her Will.

LynnGrace

clairewithani wrote: »

Ok what about a voucher for the garden centre then and I will call for her Tuesday for lunch and she can cash in the voucher.

Lovely idea.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

jimmy180sx wrote: »

I'm heading into my thirties and I don't know what roflol is

It's an old one from the 50s telegrams. Rolling on floor laughing out loud.

You young foxes didn't invent text speak. The cost of words on telegrams did.

ToddyDoody

If she still drives what pops into my mind is those back support throws... they used to be made of wooden balls... for the driver's seat.

gravityisalie

Op mentioned she had dementia.
Reallllllly hope she will not be driving!

ToddyDoody

gravityisalie wrote: »

Op mentioned she had dementia.
Reallllllly hope she will not be driving!

Who's going to stop her though?.... you?