Great ideas, here is one that was a hit:

A BIG digital clock that sets itself and has the temperature, date and weekday on it.

-Lena

My MIL turned 85 and we had a few issues to deal with. Mom isn't drinking enough water. She "forgets." She stopped using her dishwasher because "it's only me."

Well, her glasses are filthy and something must change. Maybe she needs more glasses in order to fill up the dishwasher. I bought her a case of glasses for Xmas. Eight each in three sizes.

I bought her a Britta filter pitcher and a years worth of filters. Six measured cups so she will know when she has drank enough water. (She gets constipated.)

Great suggestions. I send postage stamps and greeting cards. My Grandmothers, when they still lived in their own homes, had a tough time getting around and never had enough cards or stamps. Sadly, a lot of sympathy cards is a good idea.

I like the idea of the digital frame & flash drive. My mom has figured out how to download photos, but then she freaks out when she can't find them and thinks she's deleted them all.

I got my parents a huge TV remote. They watch TV constantly and between bad vision and not being able to see the tiny buttons and arthritis in the hands making tiny buttons impossible to operate they didn't use it and then had to struggle to get out of a chair to go change a channel. This works great for them. It's simplified too so they don't get confused with too much to sort out trying to use it.

One year I got them a telephone with HUGE buttons.

This cordless phone and TV combo remote looks like it could be nice for some older parents. Unfortunately I think having a combo would be too confusing for mine to operate.

{{gwi:1527328}}

Here is a link that might be useful: Phone/TV Combo

Yeah.

Imagine my surprise, last Christmas, when one of DH's presents to me was a kneeler like that. My MIL thought it would be a good gift.

Ahem, I'm only in my 50's, you know. :)

These are some great ideas. I love the idea of scanning old pictures into a digital photo frame, though my mom has macular degeneration & may not see well enough to enjoy it. Thanks for the pix of the big remotes, dilly-d.

Well, we got a TV for my dad. Spoiling him this year because his wife (my stepmother) died a few months ago. He has been talking about a flat-screen TV for probably a year, and we knew he'd never buy it himself. I also put a few $20 grocery-store gift cards in his stocking. Also, he had been telling me about how hard it was to find this particular vitamin he takes -- he is not computer savvy -- so I found them online and bought them for his stocking, too. Found a picture of us (me, DH, and kids) with him from the summer and framed it. I think he will like this "gift" the best -- DD plays viola (beginner) and DS plays euphonium, and they're going to play a Christmas song for Grampy when he's here (he lives two hours away, will be here for Christmas for a few days).

I like the digital photo frame. His birthday is February; might get him one then. Can anyone recommend a specific brand? There are so many -- I'd want to make sure to get a decent one.

I thought the YakTrax that Oakley mentioned somewhere sounded like a great gift idea, too. I'm going to look for some locally. Falling is a frequent and devastating injury for the elderly. Sometimes they're never the same, after breaking a hip, for instance.

Of course, my luck, the treads will confuse them in some way and actually make them fall. What do you think, Oakley?

Similar idea to the electronic photo frame . . . My SIL bought our MIL a Ceiva receiver several years ago. MIL has 6 married grandkids and 12 great-grandkids in three different cities, none local to her. We all send photos regularly. There's a yearly service fee plus the cost of the unit. I'd have to say it's been one of her favorite gifts ever. We kept her up to date on our build and she gets kid photos a lot. Here's the website: http://www.ceiva.com/

Last year I got her a folding grocery cart and every time we visit she tells me again how much she uses it.

Here is a link that might be useful: folding grocery cart

Some of my parents favorite gifts...

A 'weather station' that tells temperature, humidity, time, etc. A 'driveway alarm' that beeps when someone is coming up the driveway (they live in the country so they love this one). An 'alarm necklace' that calls nearby relatives and/or neighbors when the 'key' is pulled out (this was actually a gift for my 97 year old grandmother).

For those on a limited budget, I have also given gas gift cards or grocery gift cards.

One year we got together and painted the house (outside). We were thinking of giving them a 'gift' of painting a couple of rooms inside.

And - don't laugh - they also love 'the clapper'. :)

Shows you my thinking lately. I thought this thread was going to be for me, a 40 yr old mom of a 7 month old. :)

Projection alarm clocks are also a good idea.

I got my mom this atomic clock/weather station. Gives indoor/outdoor highs/lows for the last 12 hrs, predicts weather for next 12/24 hrs. They say it takes 14 days to set itself to predict weather, but mine started showing snow on screen on 3rd day, next morning we had snow. (Got one for myself, my LaCrosse bit the dust after 3 yrs). This is an Acu-Rite brand, super easy set up. I like it for her because the screen is big, easy to read. One "con" is no LCD contrast adjustment, has to be hung at a higher spot on wall so other background images don't "shadow" on the screen. (Tho it will also stand, like a picture frame.)

Another great stocking stuffer are those $15 remote light switches. (Can't find a pic of one & need to head out now, but they are everywhere now, Walgreen's, Ace, big box stores). There are two kinds. You plug a lamp into the switch, then either operate the lamp from a push button remote or wall 'flip' switch you can install in a handy spot (double faced backing or small screws). My mom took a few tumbles, so I hooked one up to her bedside lamp and set remote on her bedside table. All she has to do is press remote now, rather than reach over for lamp's switch. Those have been so handy I've given her several, she loves them!

Moonshadow, we're using one of those remotes for the backyard Christmas deer. I love it!

Squirrelhaven, the Yaktrax work great, but they require some strength to get them on your shoes or boots. It's like putting a giant rubber band around the perimeter of your shoe. I used them in last weekend's snow storm and had NO trouble walking on ice.

boopadaboo - that was a thought when I saw the thread too ;) 39 with a 10 month old. Glad to see other older parents too although this thread has me wondering what things will be like for our little girl as she grows up.

parma - I have to say I like the idea of the kneeler and would have many years ago so don't feel insulted ;)

OK, it's been 5 days with my MIL and I am so glad she didn't have any daughters. I am "much chubbier" than she remembered (I wear a size 8, I wore a size 6 when I married her son 26 years ago), my fingers are short and fat (she "never noticed that before"), my eggplant parmesan is way too cheesy and she found a spider web in my house ("sin of all sins").

My best gift would be to take her back home at this point. Tuesday is only two days away. I have been a saint. I have been extremely polite and have taken the high road every single time. (How can you be mean to an old lady?)

End venting rant. Sorry.

golddust, it sounds like you need a ((hug)).
But good for you for biting your tongue and respecting your hubby's mom. As my relationship with my late MIL evolved, we became very close. But during those early years some times I was just pushed to my limit (still bit my tongue, but boy was it hard. ) Especially when we got our house, she had input on everything, and my taste and hers were literally generations apart. I do miss her now, and the chats we had on the phone. But I remember how trying those early years were and can relate. Hang in there!

Moonshadow, does that clock light up? What brand is it. I have a similar one, but it does not light up, so is useless in the dark.
Loretta