Updated on November 28, 2024
There are only so many socks and underwear you can get grandma and grandpa. Gift cards are great, as are homemade gifts. But why not help them get into the 21st Century with a cool, high-tech gift they’ll actually use? Sure, you might have to spend some with them helping them learn how to use it. But really, in their eyes, that might be the best part of the gift.
Renpho Neck & Back Seat Massage Chair Pro
Give your elderly mom, dad, or grandparent the gift of soothing aches and pains with the Renpho Neck & Back Seat Massage Chair Pro. They might not have room at home for a full-one massage recliner, so this is a nice compromise. Place it behind you on any seat, like the couch, and enjoy deep shiatsu or rolling massages. Use the remote to choose the specific body area you want to target, like sore shoulders or a tight lower back. Available for $400 through Erikson Consumer, it offers gentle warmth alongside the massaging (you can turn off the warmth if desired), which further relieves pain. There are four massaging nodes and an adjustable neck pillow. Weighing 11 lbs., it’s about the weight of a basic laptop. Note that those aged 65 and older or with a pacemaker or other implatable medical device or heart disease should consult a doctor before using this.
Apple AirPods Pro 2 True Wireless Earbuds
One of the neatest features of the new Apple AirPods Pro 2, one of many devices Apple announced at its annual event in September 2024, is the fact that they can be used as hearing aids as well. Run a scientifically validated Hearing Test once you unbox and set them up and they’ll analyze your hearing to then provide a personalized hearing profile. When someone with mild to moderate hearing loss wears them, it will help boost sound in real-time so they can hear conversations better. It also works with audio playing through the buds, like music, podcasts, and phone calls, without the need to adjust settings. Available for $329, they’re also a solid pair of true wireless earbuds with features like spatial audio support, improved noise cancellation, intelligent Siri interactions, and a MagSafe charging case. Note that the gift-getter will need an iPhone or iPad running iOS 18 or iPadOS 18 or later for this feature to work.
Aktiia Blood Pressure Detection Bracelet
Having recently earned Health Canada approval for sale north of the border, the Aktiia Bracelet is a consumer blood pressure wearable that allows you to take accurate, automated readings up to 50 times per day. The best part? You don’t need to use a blood pressure cuff alongside it. The bracelet measures blood pressure through Optical Blood Pressure Monitoring (OBPM) both while the wearer is awake and asleep using advanced optical sensors and proprietary algorithms to analyze subtle changes in the diameter of arteries with each heartbeat. It connects to an app where you can view the data and share insights with physicians at the next visit. Unlike traditional cuff-based monitors, Aktiia’s bracelet offers continuous measurements without interrupting daily activities. Note that it is not intended for diagnosis and modification of treatment. Consult your physician for diagnosis and treatment decisions. The battery lasts for up to nine days per charge, and the app provides both comprehensive monthly reports and personalized insights. It sells for $335.
Garant Cordless Electric Snow Shovel
If your elderly parents or grandparents refuse to move out of your childhood home, despite the chores becoming more difficult to complete, you’ll probably find that one of the most challenging is shoveling in the winter. They might have friendly neighbours who help, or they call you to pop over when needed. The Galant Cordless Electric Snow Shovel is a neat option to consider. While it’s still rather heavy to maneuver, they may find it infinitely simpler to use to clean the driveway and walkway of inches of snow that has fallen during our chilly Canadian winters. It claims to be able to disperse snow up to 25 feet, though you’ll probably get the best use out of it for lesser snowfalls without so much packed snow. The impeller is designed to resist debris like pebbles and it has a 180° rotating chute. It sells in Canada for $630 through shops like RONA. Chances are you may end up picking one up for yourself as well!
Thorens TD 204 Turntable
The Thorens TD 204 turntable, available through Erikson Consumer, is considered to be a high-end audiophile beginner turntable. Finished in black and walnut high gloss, it comes with a newly developed TP 120 tonearm, detachable headshell with SME connector, and an AT95E cartridge from the Japanese pickup specialist Audio Technica. The connection terminal on the back features RCA sockets for amplifier connectivity while an integrated MM phono pre-amp (which can be switched on/off) enables direct connection to virtually any audio playback source. The platter, which is manufactured from die-cast aluminum, is set in rotation by a precision drive belt. The plinth of the TD 204 rests on four vibration-damping feet. At $1,499, it’s the perfect mid-range turntable to help mom, dad, or grandparents bring their old record collections that have been collecting dust in storage back to life. And it might just spark a new hobby as they go searching for new vinyl to add to that growing collection they plan to eventually hand down to their grandkids.
Signia Active Pro IX High-Tech Hearing Device
Chances are a senior on your list suffers from some level of hearing loss. But they might feel uncomfortable with wearing traditional hearing aids. This instant-fit rechargeable solution, powered by Signia’s Integrated Xperience platform, features RealTime Conversation Enhancement technology. Those suffering from mild to moderate hearing loss can wear them to hear better, even in noisy environments. The best part is that they are designed to resemble traditional earbuds yet offer the benefits of prescription-grade hearing aids. They come with various ear tip sizes and a portable charger that provides up to 29 hours of runtime, including five hours of streaming. Get up to eight hours of listening after a 30-minute charge. They feature Bluetooth LE audio and afford hands-free calling for iPhone and Android devices. With some Android phones, you can also leverage tap to answer with CallControl. The buds are IP68 certified for water- and dust resistance, and come in black, rose gold, white, or brown. They are sold through independent hearing clinics.
Withings ScanWatch Vitals Smartwatch
For the senior who doesn’t want a traditional smartwatch like an Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch, the Withings ScanWatch Vitals is a nice compromise that allows them to track all the most important metrics. It features 24/7 body temperature monitoring using the TempTech24/7 module, which combines miniaturized heat flux sensors and high-accuracy temperature sensors to track body temperature fluctuations throughout the day and night. This can help detect early signs of illness and optimize performance and recovery. It also has on-demand SpO2 monitoring, tracks overnight breathing disturbances, and average blood oxygen during sleep. With advanced sleep analysis, you get a comprehensive sleep quality assessment, including insights into sleep phases, duration, and interruptions, with tips for improvement. For active seniors, it tracks sports and activities as well, monitoring steps, calories, elevation, and over 40 activities, including walking, running, and swimming. The 30-day battery life affords uninterrupted health monitoring. Wearers get a Fitness Level assessment via VO2 Max estimation and can use easily swappable wristbands for comfort and style. Additional features include heart rate variability tracking, respiratory rate, female menstrual cycle tracking, and advanced technology like the MultiWave PPG sensor along with a high dynamic range accelerometer for precise activity and workout tracking. For a more stylish design, there’s the Withings ScanWatch Healthmaster instead that has a ceramic and stainless-steel rotating bezel, sapphire glass with anti-reflection coating, and a sunray dial. The ScanWatch Vitals is $400 and comes in black, white, and rose gold while the ScanWatch Healthmaster is $600 and comes in blue, green, and black with an oyster bracelet.
Zepp Clarity Pixie Hearing Aid
Employing a discreet design, the Zepp Clarity Pixie hearing aid connects wirelessly to various devices. Running for up to 17 hours per charge, it comes with a rechargeable case and settings that can be customized in the Zepp Clarity app. The Zepp Clarity Pixie is available in the U.S. following the FDA’s passing of the over-the-counter (OTC) Hearing Aid Act, which was designed to make hearing airs more accessible and affordable. If you can get your hands on a pair, they’re US$1,999.
Apple Watch Series 10 Smartwatch
If you’re worried about your senior loved one’s health and wellness, an Apple Watch Series 10 is not only a powerful smartwatch for busy professionals and fitness enthusiasts. It has tons of health and safety features that are great for seniors, like fall and crash detection, SOS alerts, and more. The latest to be added to the mix is sleep apnea notifications. If you suspect they might suffer from sleep apnea but they have never been diagnosed, this watch can accurately measure for this. After about a month, it acquires enough data to determine if their breathing while sleeping is elevated and it could be related to sleep apnea. From there, they can next take steps. Other data it collects, from heart rate with variability notifications, vitals, and more, are all useful for older folks to keep track of and present to a doctor at their next visit. Yes, it’s a high cost of entry with a starting price of $549. But grandma or grandma will be the coolest one at the next gathering of their friends, showing off the fancy new watch their son or daughter got them.
Amazon Echo Dot (2024) Smart Speaker
This latest version Amazon Echo Dot smart speaker will almost definitely be on sale around Black Friday and for the holidays. But even at its $100 regular price, it’s a steal. I got an Amazon Echo Dot smart speaker for my parents a few years ago and they absolutely love being able to command it to play whatever song or type of music they feel like in the moment. They use it to set timers and alarms as well, admittedly the most rudimentary functions. But it doesn’t matter. Sure, more tech-savvy seniors will use it to control things like smart lights, security cameras, and other speakers. But even as a simple music player, it’s something they’ll love. You can opt for the version without a clock display to save a bit, but this one is ideal for the bedroom night table or kitchen.
Aura Carver Digital Photo Frame
A wonderful gift for grandparents is a digital photo frame they can place in the living room or on the wall to enjoy a rotating selection of constantly updated images of their kids, grandkids, and more. The Aura Carver Mat is a lovely option that is affordable at just $229. Before you wrap it up, make sure to load it with a slideshow of photos. You can easily add them using the free Aura app. If you have siblings, share the login details with them so everyone can add photos that will delight the parents. I got one of these for my parents years ago and they love sitting in the living room and watching the photos. Whenever my sister or I add new images, they get excited to see the latest additions from a recent vacation, birthday party, or other event. This was done for my late grandmother as well, with all the kids and grandkids being able to upload images remotely so she always had new ones to enjoy. Once set up, adjust the slideshow speed or swipe a touchbar to switch to the next photo. The screen is 10.1 inches in size and photos display at 1,280 x 800 resolution. It has a built-in speaker to play videos as well, and there’s unlimited storage with no fees.
Apple iPad Air Tablet
I’m not sure what my 80+-year-old dad would do without his iPad. It’s his absolute favourite piece of technology. The latest Apple iPad Air is a wonderful upgrade if they’re still using an ancient one that doesn’t support the latest OS, is running slowly, and the battery doesn’t last as long. There’s an 11- or 13-inch model, both powered by the M2 chip for fast and powerful performance. They’ll be able to enjoy AI features, take pics or engage in video calls with the ultra-wide 12MP camera, and enjoy all-day battery life. Choose from cool finishes with a starting price of $799.
Dyson 360 Vis Nav Robot Vacuum
Help your elderly parents more easily maintain their home or condo with the Dyson Vis Nav robot vacuum. It’s a big $1,500 investment, but if you have siblings, band together and get it as a group gift. Download the app on their phone and they can have the entire floors and carpets cleaned with the push of a button, It creates an intelligent map of the home, can detect dust, and avoid obstacles and walls, yet still clean right to the edge. It has a hygienic one-handed bin emptying system and can run for up to 65 minutes per charge. They’ll love being able to relax on the couch while it cleans for them, using their energy for more important things.
Telus Health Medical Alert Pendant
We have come a long way from the antiquated medical alert bracelets of yesteryear. The Telus Health Medical Alert Pendant can be worn by your elderly loved ones as a precautionary measure. It has a fall detection feature, advanced Canada-wide location tracking, and 24/7 access to assistance from trained Medical Alert operators. It works with a Caregiver Mobile app so you can connect to your loved ones at any time. It’s a great way to allow an elderly person to enjoy their independence for a little bit longer. Affording up to six days of battery life, water-resistance, and the option to wear it as a necklace or on a belt clip, it starts at $50/mo. for Telus and Koodo customers with a $35 activation fee.
Sennheiser TV Clear Set 2 Dialogue-Enhancing True Wireless Earbuds
The Sennheiser TV Clear Set 2, a follow up to the TV Clear that was introduced in 2022, is designed to help the elderly or hard of hearing listen to TV or music in the home without having to crank the volume up to nightclub levels. These offer improved sound quality compared to the original, easier set-up, and further customization in the app. With increased speech intelligibility, the wearer can hear dialogue without having to turn up the volume such that background noises are overwhelmingly loud. Re-engineered buttons are simpler to use for adjusting volume and setting the Speech Clarity level. Revised acoustic apertures and ear adapters help with a perfect fit, especially with smaller ears. It comes fully pre-paired to its transmitter, which doubles the transmission bandwidth. The updated transmitter adds wide Dolby compatibility to ensure seamless connection to S/PDIF digital audio outputs, and a versatile USB-C power port. With the updated TV Clear companion app, you can enjoy visualized controlling of the volume, configuration of the double-tap gesture, improved charging status feedback, and more. Qi wireless charging, multi-point connectivity, and up to 15 hours of listening per charge (another 1.5 in the case) are also included. They sell for $550.
Google Pixel 3 Smartwatch
A simple to use, comfortable to wear, affordable smartwatch, the Google Pixel Watch 3 has safety features that are perfect for the elderly. Among these is Loss of Pulse Detection, which can be a literal lifesaver in the event of a medical emergency. It’s not yet available in North America, but it could eventually come to Canada. For now, it offers an ultra-bright screen making it easier to see and offers all-day battery life. This means they’ll have to charge it daily, but once they get used to it, it will become second nature. It tracks sleep, activity, and other crucial vitals, storing the information in the app so caregivers and family members can keep an eye on things. Some of the emergency features that will be especially valuable include Safety Check to set a timer to share location with chosen contacts; Fall Detection; Safety Signal (with 4G LTE connectivity and Fitbit Premium); Emergency Sharing of location, battery level, and if you’re already on a call; and medical information sharing in the event of an emergency. It starts at $480.
BritBox Subscription
Of all the TV streaming services, BritBox might have the biggest selection of TV shows that seniors will love. It focuses on British TV shows from BBC, including both new series and classics. Think everything from Doctor Who and Jane Eyre to Downton Abbey and Sherlock to Luther and Killing Eve. A one-year subscription is $110, which knocks two months’ worth off the price. There are shows in every genre, from mystery to comedy, drama, documentary, and lifestyle. There are new titles being added every week as well as exclusives and originals you can’t watch anywhere else. They can watch on a TV, computer, or even tablet and mobile device.