Best Christmas Gift Ideas for Parkinson’s Disease and Dementia

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Buying Christmas gifts for someone is always difficult, even if we know that person well. If you are buying for someone with Parkinson’s Disease or Dementia or both then you can feel that buying a Christmas gift is even more difficult. You want to make sure that you are buying a Christmas gift that is safe, useful, appropriate for them and is something they would like.

This blog will show great gifts that will be sure to be well received by your loved one.

Christmas Gifts for Readers

For anyone who has Parkinson’s Disease and who likes to read it can be difficult due to tremors. It can feel very debilitating, especially if they feel that they can no longer do something they enjoy. From experience, finding a way to help them to be able to continue to do something they enjoy is the perfect gift to give.

Audiobooks on CD are a great way to listen to stories that they enjoy. You can also consider a kindle to store a variety of books that they can read or listen to. This kindle has a larger screen and is waterproof in case of ‘accidents’

Depending on stage of illness you may need to set it up for them. From personal experience, dementia led to difficulty in operating a kindle and found audio CD’s to be the better option. However a kindle was perfect in earlier stages of illness. Consider also buying a ‘stand’ to sit the kindle or book on so they can read, watch or listen.

Tremors and weak muscles can make it harder to hold anything for a period of time. I found a simple stand like this one very useful. If the person is bed bound or sits in a chair for long periods then this bedside stand is very versatile.

If a book is still an option, a large print book of short stories would make a lovely gift. A bookmark to accessorize is also a lovely small gift. There is a lovely selection of handmade bookmarks in my Etsy shop that have received positive reviews.

A tilted table is also a great idea and a good investment for someone who likes to read newspapers too aswell as books.

Gifts to keep Moving

Regular exercise can really help someone with Parkinson’s Disease in managing their symptoms and has often been highlighted by the professionals.

There are a few ideas that I have come across from the more active to the chair bound. For example, a portable bike pedal exerciser can help in keeping the circulation going and keeping the legs moving. This is a great motorised one for the chair bound or someone who is not too steady on their feet.

Light weights are good too for use when stood up or sat down and really good for arm strength, cardiovascular and energizing.

Stretch bands are also a great accessory for using with armchair exercises. These one with a hoop are good as they are easier to grip and hold.

Gifts for the Parkinson’s Gardener

Helping someone with Parkinson’s Disease and Dementia to remain interested in their garden and to be able to continue to access it is a lovely and useful gift.

There is a variety of ergonomic garden tools that can help. This gardening set has handles that allow someone with mobility issues and arthritis to hold easily. A long handled set of tools is also very useful in limiting the need to bend over.

Consider also in gifting a gardening set of seeds, potting soil and lightweight pots so they can continue to grow flowers or vegetables in their garden. They will then be able to enjoy sitting in their garden looking at their hard work.

To help sit and garden more easily, particularly if unsteady on their feet and kneeling is out of the question, this seat is a great idea as the seat height is adjustable.

For the Parkinson’s writer

Writing anything and even signing their name is extremely difficult if you have Parkinson’s and Dementia. The writing becomes extremely small and unrecognisable. Tremors and cognitive issues make it even more hard.

Gifting a weighted pen can really help manage the shakiness as the weight and chunkiness can help control the hands.

The tilted table as mentioned above in readers section is great for writing also.

A lovely writing set to write letters would be a lovely gift for someone who likes to write letters. This lovely writing set from Etsy is quite special.

Gifts for the Puzzler

A puzzle book designed with Parkinson’s in mind would be a thoughtful gift, particularly if someone is housebound or bed bound or cannot get out very often. This book is definitely worth a look. A memory puzzle book is also a lovely idea for dementia as it can re-create some lovely memories along the way.

For someone who has dementia, then a dementia jigsaw is a perfect gift for keeping the mind active. This one also if you want something a bit more bespoke is a lovely jigsaw to consider. A jigsaw is a good distraction too and can be something that is worked on with the help of a carer.

A puzzle board is also a great distraction for someone who has dementia and Parkinson’s. We found this one to be a great distraction when becoming agitated.

Fidget Gifts for Parkinson’s and Dementia at Christmas

Fidget accessories are great for twiddling and fidgeting when agitation sets in and can be a great distraction and calming aid. There is a great variety out there for male and females.

A fidget apron is a great one for on the go as can be worn anywhere and even all day. I have a great example in my Etsy shop which you may like to look at.

Fidget muffs, mats and cubic toys are also widely available on Etsy and handmade making them more bespoke. The cubic toy here has been well loved and used by my husband and so would highly recommend this.

For a fidget accessory that is a bit different and superb for the dog lover, this fidget dog is a great idea for a Christmas gift for Parkinson’s and Dementia. If they are a cat lover there is a cat one too!

Practical Home Accessory Christmas Gifts

A practical gift for making home life just a bit easier is always well received. The list can be endless as there are so many things we do day to day that become very difficult. From day to day tasks such as making a cup of tea or opening the door to walking about.

I have picked a few of my favourite ideas that we have found to be most useful and welcomed from experience.

• Walking Aids

A walking stick is often the most essential accessory when mobility starts to become difficult and helps to keep mobile and feel more secure. Please read my blog post on walking sticks if you haven’t already!

There are different types of walking sticks dependant on taste, lifestyle and need. Often you will find a folding walking stick is useful. When out and about and not needing it all the time it can be folded away. All in all a more practical choice.

For the folding walking stick I make and sell folding walking stick carry bags in my Etsy shop and are proving very popular. You may find them here.

If its the ultimate stylish personalised bespoke walking stick you want to splash out on and stand out in a crowd, you might want to look at this walking stick.

For a walking stick that is of designer standard and you can change the colours of the interior and made to order, this stick is certainly worth considering.

For the more traditional, this wooden brown mahogany stick is very stylish and worth considering as a lovely gift.

Walking frames are very useful in the home and can be welcomed to help get about safely. Please read my blog post on walking frames if you haven’t yet!

A walking frame is a good practical accessory. A frame with wheels is helpful as you do not have to lift to walk forward. This is to be considered if the person has weaker arms as can be too heavy otherwise. If you do not want to buy one with wheels, you should consider the weight of the frame.

A frame without wheels can be useful if the person needs a more robust support as wheels can move forward if on laminated flooring for example.

If you want to accessorize the walking frame with a storage bag then look no further than my Etsy shop where I make to order walking frame bags.

A rollator is a really useful accessory as a great all rounder in the home and out and much more compact as can be folded into a car. You can get ones with seats and ones without.

• Kitchen aids

A dignity cup is a nice gift as has two handles for stability and looks just like a normal cup. If a lidded cup is needed then this cup is highly recommended by experience.

Making sure your loved one is making a cup of tea safely is peace of mind. A kettle tilt holder is very useful to help keep a level of independence. A teapot holder is also a useful addition and would complete the package to making a good cup of tea.

Someone with Parkinson’s often struggle to eat and cut their food due to dexterity and tremors. A weighted adaptive cutlery set would make that just a little easier. A sloped plate to help keep their food in place and get onto the fork or spoon is a godsend (from experience).

• Miscellaneous

Using keys to get in and out of the house and locking the doors can be difficult due to dementia and dexterity. A key turner aid would be a welcome gift to help with the independence of key use.

Picking up things from the floor or above can be difficult due to ability to bend down or look up. Stiffness and dizzy spells are common for someone with Parkinson’s and also increases chance of falls. A picker upper grabber stick is great for this!

A bag for keeping their pills in when out or in the home is a nice gift to receive. You can find a stylish handmade embroidered one in my Etsy shop.

There is an abundance of Christmas gifts for someone with Parkinson’s Disease and Dementia to choose from and my blog gives only a small selection of ideas. Many are from experience of the journey that have proved an essential and worthwhile buy. If you have any ideas or want to share what you have bought please do.

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