Pay Your Respect to the Elderly with Appropriate Return Gifts: 10 Great Return Gifts for Elders

Return gifts or party favours are well appreciated if they are thoughtful. Now, it is not practical to personalize the gift or think of the likes and dislikes of each guest on your list, especially if you're organizing a large-scale gathering. However, choosing a crowd-pleasing gift need not necessarily be a daunting task. The key is to select a return gift that is generic, useful, and thoughtful. Let us help you with a bunch of tips and guidelines on selecting the perfect return gifts for the elderly. We have also compiled a list of excellent gift ideas.

First, determine the average age group of the recipients. Think about their daily routines--what are the things they typically need, what items would they not mind receiving even if they already own it? Shortlist ideas by answering these relevant questions and then pick your gift based on your conclusions.

A memento is a great gift because it is a happy reminder of a particular event. Buy something unique, handmade even, that will easily become a favourite keepsake. If it is within your budget, you can consider adding a personal touch by mentioning a few details of the event (namely, occasion, host's name, or date).

Religious and auspicious gifts are appreciated by most elders as they bring them peace and happiness; however, if your guest list includes a mixture of people following different faiths, you may have to reconsider this option. We recommend you select spiritual gifts catering to every faith in such cases.

A plant makes for a special gift because it needs care and tending, which elderly people have the time and patience to give. Nurserylive.com has a variety of beautiful plants to choose from that would make great gifts for those who enjoy gardening. We recommend plants that are less effort-intensive to grow or look after, for example, the money plant that thrives in almost any weather with just a regular dose of watering. You can pick the gift pack containing 1 money plant along with coloured pot with a supporting base plate, pebbles, a gift card, and a goodie bag. The Money Plant is good for gifting because it is believed to bring prosperity and has significance in Feng-Shui. They are ornamental plants with attractive leaves, which when fully grown can adorn a corner or windowsill of the home or apartment. Each pack comes for Rs.179.

The Star Health Rechargeable Heating Pad is a great utility gift for elders who often complain of aches and pains. It is a nice supplement to physiotherapy and can provide instant relief from the pain from sports injuries, arthritis, sore neck, backache, toothache, hypothermia, sprains, etc. The pad is electrically-heated and can be used continuously for 60-90 minutes. It has an auto-warm function and a light indicator that turns red when the pad is heating up. This indicator switches off automatically 8-12 minutes thereafter, indicating that the heating pad is ready for use. Its small in size; about 8 inches, which makes it handy and convenient to use in various positions. The product is scientifically designed which helps it to warm up quickly & remain hot for a long time. It is available on seniorshelf.com for Rs.399

You may also consider a set of wooden coasters with beautiful Bani Thani prints, an Indian miniature painting painted by Nihâl Chand from the Marwar school of Kishangarh. It portrays a woman who is elegant and graceful. These coasters remind us of the rich and beautiful heritage of Indian culture and make for a lovely addition to a work desk or the living room. You can order a set for Rs.300 from boontoon.com

Rajasthan Emporium has a beautiful range of chrome-plated silver accessories and containers that make lovely gifts for families or elders. Chrome-plating gives the product a nice, finished look and most gift items come well-packaged in a red velvet gift box. We particularly liked this brass bowl, priced at Rs.289, but there are several options you may choose from. You can find it on amazon.in

A statue of Lord Ganesha is considered very auspicious in Hindu culture; it makes an excellent gift for all occasions as the deity is believed to bring good luck, success, and prosperity to homes. If you are looking for religious gifts, a handcrafted Ashta Chowki Ganesh is an appropriate choice for elders.
The Chowki measures 9.5 cm x 9.5 cm x 3 cm and weighs 145 gm. It can be ordered from theoneshop.in for only Rs.149.

A ceramic vase in bright colours makes a great utility gift, and chajedgarden.com has some great options to choose from. You can buy a vase of 3.5 x 5 x 12 cm for as little as Rs.149. Add a bunch of fresh flowers to liven up your living room.

Cute little statuettes made of ceramic that will adorn your home, these miniature figurines are happy gifts for the elderly. Those engaged in gardening can add these to their terrariums or garden patches, fish loves can add to their fish tanks, and others can place them in their living rooms. They are priced at Rs.150 approximately and available in assorted colours and styles. Buy them online from nurserylive.com.

The sweet flavour and therapeutic properties of honey make it a classic gift for people of all age groups. This is a thoughtful gift as it would benefit the health of your guests. Instead of the regular flavours available in local grocery stores, we recommend gifting flavoured varieties available online.
The brand Healthy Alternatives has some very good varieties such as Cinnamon and Clove Infused Honey, Holy Basil Honey, and Floral Blended Honey. These are nice additions to a cup of chai, bread, toast, cookies and desserts. The 300 gm jars are priced at Rs.335 and can be ordered online from naturesbasket.com

Playing card games are a super fun way to spend time with family and friends. And, when the cards are 24k gold-plated, the fun turns into elegance! Play your next bridge or rummy game in style with Oleva Playing Cards. These cards are made of plastic but have a 24k gold plating (with warranty), which makes the deck look exquisite and classy. This makes it a suitable and memorable return gift! A deck of 54 cards is priced at Rs.749 and can be ordered from amazon.in

Chandan is a leading name in the Indian confectioners' space; the company is known for its diverse variety of mouth fresheners. Priced at Rs.80 onwards, they make great low budget gifts for elderly guests. Some of our recommended flavours are the Premium roasted Flaxseeds mixed with the variety of spices. We like it because it is a healthy alternative to the sweet and colour-coated fennel seeds that are served in the typical Indian household after meals. Flax seeds are known to aid to digestion and are a rich source of Omega-3 fatty acid. We also like the Premium Mouth Freshener with Dry Dates, which is made using natural food colours. Dates are rich in iron and calcium and are known to be a great energy booster. Buy it from chandanmukhwas.com

In India, ageing is not merely regarded as a biological process, but it is a culture in itself. The elders have always been regarded as a source of wisdom, and rightly so--they share with the next generations a myriad of experiences, best practices, and skills. They don't demand or expect respect from the younger generation; they simply yearn for happy times that they can spend with their loved ones. So, whatever gift you choose, remember that the best gifts for elders are your attention and time.