The 18 best gifts for grandmothers, grandfathers and the elderly

Life expectancy in Chile is on average, according to INE figures, 82 years for women and 77 years for men. There are nearly three and a half million people in our country who are 60 or older; however, and except in pharmacy or supplement advertising, marketing to this segment of the population is almost non-existent. This is one of the reasons that makes it difficult to choose a gift for our grandparents, in-laws or elderly parents. Sure, most will be happy to see you, but a little gift never hurts. Here is a selection of ideas, based on our recommendations and the opinion of various experts.

Socks are no longer the usual gift to become, if well chosen, an excellent alternative. The Smartwool Layered Crew model, for example, is a pair that José Mena, mountaineer and president of Andeshandbook, blindly recommended to us: “It’s very versatile and well padded, it never gives off a bad smell. Although it is warm for the winter, it is also perfect for long mountain walks in the summer”. In other words, a garment for the whole year, ideal for active grandparents or in-laws who like to take long walks.

For colder periods or places, Beatriz Vergara, founder of the specialized store The sock closet , recommend this model from the Woven Pear brand, made of 82% merino wool, a miraculous natural fiber that retains temperature and wicks away moisture. It also has “reinforcements on the fingers and the heel, which makes it a sock with superior comfort and resistance”.

inside the world sneaker headas sneaker fanatics are known, manages the concept of “dad shoesto designate models – and even brands – considered “daddy’s”. A type of shoe that would have caused ridicule twenty years ago, but which, a few seasons ago, rose to the top of the youth trends. The best example of this is the New Balance, which has gone from being a meme to absolutely costs. The ancients always knew.

Another option is the one recommended by Lucas Iñiguez, Lippi brand manager: “For an elderly person, it is very important to be and to feel safe, so slip-on shoes, which do not have laces, will ease their posture and help avoid tripping. On the other hand, the technological foam with elastic return increases comfort and prevents discomfort or injuries”.

Temperatures rise and heated feet swell. To keep them cool and stylish, nothing better than comfortable sandals. This Beira Rio model, designed and made in Brazil, is made of jute and a synthetic surface, with a platform to gain height, it works well for the beach and the city, in formal situations and also for walking .

“One of the physiological changes that the body undergoes over the years is the loss of temperature,” says Iñiguez. “Having a good sweatshirt and/or jacket that helps manage this feeling is essential in older people.” Indispensable for cool summer afternoons or nights, essential for holidays in the south, this model in 100% recycled polyester manages to retain body heat very well.

It seems cumbersome, but according to Cristian Palma, of the SP Digital store, this massage seat is “a practical product, easy to use and ideal for optimizing daily tasks”. It can be placed on any type of chair or armchair, and its double massage mechanism raises and lowers the back, while it distributes gentle heat through the dorsal and lumbar area. To work, watch TV or read a book in complete relaxation.

Smart bracelets, or smart bandsThese are great options for those who love technology and fitness tracking but can’t afford the 200,000+ pesos that a good smartwatch costs. These devices — in particular the Xiaomi Smart Band 7, the latest in its series — do almost the same thing but for much less money: they are easy to use, they give good information (such as heart rate, saturation oxygen and sleep monitoring) and their battery lasts more than a week.

“It’s not just young people who are obsessed with oversized outfits,” says Rodolfo Palma of the Dafiti store. It refers to loose clothing, as opposed to skinny jeans, which for their comfort have always been appreciated by older people. Finally, fashion puts itself in the place of the greatest.

If your grandfather or your loved one is good at sports, “a good pair of glasses is essential to protect yourself from the sun, the wind, the dust or the sand, if you run on the beach”, he explained to us. a few weeks ago. ultra runner Francisca Gonzalez. “It’s very important that they are comfortable, have a UV filter and don’t sway,” he adds. All these qualities are brought together by the Goodr Flamingo model, which by design can also be used on a daily basis.

Clemente Izquierdo, marketing manager of Atakama Outdoor, assured us that this model of Futaleufú slippers is even suitable for camping in snowy places. Moreover, since the insole is made of memory foam, it does not deform during use and returns to its original state every time you step on it. “If you step out of the house and it’s raining or glistening, these slippers are capable of keeping your feet dry,” he promises.

Over the weekend, on the birthday of a relative — who is the father of three children and the grandfather of three others — I noticed that among all the presents he received, the one by far the most excited was a bottle of ‘Juanito Caminante’”. It’s not meant to promote the consumption of alcohol, but these whiskey bottles are generally foolproof as a gift for any gentleman.

However, to enjoy a product like this, a proper lens is essential, such as the one recommended by Leandro Yañez, bartender from Mundo Bar: “It should be short and heavy. It is ideal for pure and direct distillates and should be served with plenty of ice, so that it has a continuous dilution”.

“It is difficult to talk about Sauvignon Blanc without thinking of the Casablanca Valley. In turn, it is almost impossible to talk about this white producing region without mentioning Casas del Bosque, which with its Pequeñas Producciones delivers a very fruity wine but with a good share of acidity. Ideal to taste with oysters and buttered toast”, with this level of poetry from our Álvaro Peralta, it is difficult not to be tempted by this white wine.

“No other vacuum robot in Chile has even so many positive comments”, confirmed Cristobal Bley a few weeks ago, in a comprehensive report on the best devices of this type in Chile. There he claims that the Robovac 15T model from Eufy, with remote control, up to 1.5 hours of operation and three levels of suction, has more than a thousand positive reviews.

“A mat or mattress is essential for exercising at home, because you need to be on a comfortable and comfortable surface that does not slip,” says Claudia González, personal trainer and physical education teacher. That’s why he recommends this fundamental piece as a gift to practice or start different routines, such as yoga, Pilates, aerobics or even stretching sessions.

“The more cocoa a piece of chocolate contains, the less fat and the less sugar, the better the tasting experience,” says our tasting expert Álvaro Peralta. “The sweetness of the sugar and the sweetness of the fat just coats in our mouths all the power of the cocoa, which should be the main ingredient of any chocolate and not just an extra. For all of the above, an excellent gift is a real chocolate bar. »

“When I was little, I played many board games at home with my family, including briscola, a game closely associated with the elderly, very rural,” says Gloria Cárdenas, creator and helmsman of the specialized podcast El Entreturno . In this line of summer shack games, it offers The Crew. “You start at a very low level, but then progress through the missions. It starts easy and then it gets complicated but very addictive”, he describes it as “an incredible experience”. The advantage of giving a board game is that it always comes with a greater gift: the promise to come together to play.

*Prices for products in this item are updated as of November 17, 2022. Values ​​and availability are subject to change.