It’s no secret that as we age, we experience more aches and pains. Why not show your loved one how much you care with useful and effective ways to feel better? We combed the internet to find unusual, but always appreciated gifts.
Why Buy Valentine’s Day Gifts for Older Loved Ones?
No matter how you feel about this holiday, Valentine’s Day is an opportunity to honor your loved one. You need not purchase an extravagant gift – It is the little things that often go a long way and what they will remember the most. For loved ones who are alone, this holiday can stir up feelings of loneliness. Going out of your way to let them know you cherish them is a kind and loving thing to do.
Loneliness and Isolation Among Seniors at Valentine’s Day
Loneliness and isolation are serious problems among seniors all year, but they may feel especially alone on Valentine’s Day, for a variety of reasons. For example:
Loss of a Partner
Perhaps they lost a spouse or partner due to death, and Valentine’s Day serves as a reminder of the absence of that significant person in their lives.
Reduced Social Circles
With age, individuals may experience a reduction in social circles due to retirement, relocation, or the passing of friends. These factors can contribute to a sense of isolation, especially on a day that emphasizes romantic relationships.
Health Limitations
An older loved one may face health challenges that limit their ability to engage in social activities. Mobility issues, chronic illnesses, or other health concerns may make it difficult for them to participate in events or gatherings.
Memories of Past Celebrations
Older adults sometimes reminisce about past Valentine’s Day celebrations with loved ones, highlighting the contrast between those memories and their current situation.
To address this loneliness and isolation on Valentine’s Day and throughout the year, it’s essential to create inclusive activities and acknowledge various forms of love and companionship beyond romantic relationships. Community organizations, family members, and friends play an important role in reaching out to seniors to make them feel valued and connected.
Feel-Good Gifts for Seniors
Take a look at our curated list of feel-good gifts for seniors. And please add your own ideas for feel-good Valentine’s Day gifts for seniors to the comment section below!
Valentine’s Day Throw Blanket
I purchased this beautiful plush blanket for my 65-year-old sister and she loves it! It goes with her wherever she is in the house, whether she is on the couch, in bed, or lounging on the back porch. Its 50″ x 60″ size is perfect for chilly nights for those who love super warm fuzzy flannel against their skin – guaranteed to make her smile!
The Worm – the best portable travel massage roller
Need a gift for someone with back pain, shin splints, foot pain, stiff neck pain, or headaches? We love this portable, easy-to-use self-massage tool! The Original Worm combines Massage Balls and foam Roller for the Neck, feet, Back, Shins, Calves, Hips, and Glutes.
Its neoprene-encased, solid rubber massage balls target 4x the body’s surface area! These massage roller balls provide trigger point release to combat stiffness, pain, and stress in muscles and joints. It’s perfect for relief at home, in the car, on a plane, at the office, or anywhere! Also makes a great head prop for reading in bed.
Day and Night Shower Steamer Bundle – Morning Energy & Sleepytime Aromatherapy Shower Bombs
The Herbal Zen, founded by a registered pharmacist, brings us handmade shower bombs scented with pure essential oils to awaken your senses – NO ARTIFICIAL FRAGRANCES! These are long-lasting and heavily scented 0 exactly what you want when needing to relax before bed or needing a boost in the morning to wake up. Easily one of the best steamer brands on the market! Easy to use – simply place the shower bomb in the shower, outside the direct water spray. Enjoy the essential oils as they mix with the steam from the shower. Fabulous! We highly recommend this gift to pamper your loved one on Valentine’s Day or any day.
Ceramic Wax Melt Warmer for Scented Wax
This adorable electric plug-in red gnome ceramic wax warmer is a favorite gift of ours, especially for women who have everything! It’s cozy, and practical and promotes relaxation! The high-quality bulbs are long-lasting and disseminate a beautiful fragrance for all to enjoy. This meaningful ceramic gift makes a charming decorative statement for any decor!
Corduroy Memory Foam House Slippers
These slippers are perfect! Elegantly shaped to adorn the line of our feet, the corduroy fabric is fine, soft, and skin-friendly. The sole is non-slip and wear-resistant. With a unique, classic, and retro design, your favorite senior will love these for Valentine’s Day!
Simplehuman 5″ Round Travel Sensor Makeup Mirror 
Best mirror ever! This gadget is a luxury most women won’t buy for themselves. It is a fabulous mirror that is space-saving, and ergonomic, and illuminates the face so that the makeup application is flawless (as good as I can achieve, anyway). With 10x magnification, you can easily see all aspects of your face in great detail and with amazing clarity. The semi-hard case provided allows you to bring it on your travels without the risk of seven years of bad luck! Read our review.
Verilux® HappyLight® Touch Plus – UV-Free LED Bright White Light Therapy Lamp 
Have You Considered A Therapy Lamp? For those of us with SAD (SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER), this gift is a particularly thoughtful one. Studies suggest exposure to bright light from a special UV lamp or lightbox helps make up for the sunlight they don’t get naturally. Your loved one may be stuck in the house, or perhaps simply feel blue during the winter months because of the fewer hours of sunlight. The Verilux® HappyLight® Touch Plus offers 10,000 lux, with adjustable brightness, color, and countdown times to help improve sleep, mood, focus, and energy. Give your loved one the gift of life in a better light!
Spa Gift Basket for Women 11pcs Bath and Body Set with Mint Fragrance 
This luxurious 11-piece at-home spa set packaged, beautifully in a basket to meet every need, is a wonderful gift for your loved one! No need to leave the comfort of home for a spa-quality experience! This bath set includes body lotion, essential oil, exfoliating loofah, and more. Natural ingredients such as Vitamin E, sunflower seed oil, and botanical pure oil lock in moisture and nourish your skin! Pamper your loved one on Valentine’s Day with this chemical-free spa set.
Yankee Candle Large Jar Candle Fresh Cut Roses
Wow – this candle from Yankee Candles is an intoxicating bouquet of fragrant heirloom roses! And long-lasting with 110-150 hour burn time – much longer than a bouquet of roses would last! The high-quality paraffin-grade candle wax delivers a clear consistent burn. This is a perfect “I love you” gift when you are looking for a little something for your sweetheart, parent, grandparent, or whoever! 100% recyclable in partnership with TerraCycle.
Satin Pillowcase
Let your loved one rest easy knowing her hair will be soft and smooth upon waking in the morning! Sleeping on these hypoallergenic non-irritating satin pillowcases helps your skin too. In addition, these high-quality pillowcases are high quality and feel extravagant, offering luxury at an affordable price! Prefer a softer color? No problem, these are offered in a wide variety of colors including pink!
The Origins of Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day has roots in both Christian and ancient Roman traditions. The holiday is named after St. Valentine, a Christian martyr who lived during the Roman Empire. There are several legends surrounding St. Valentine, but one popular story suggests that he defied Emperor Claudius II’s ban on marriages for young men because he believed single men made better soldiers.
St. Valentine continued to perform marriages in secret, but eventually, he was caught and sentenced to death. Before his execution, it is said he sent a letter to a young woman with whom he had fallen in love, signing it “from your Valentine,” a phrase that we continue to use in Valentine’s Day greetings today.
Another possible origin of Valentine’s Day is the ancient Roman festival Lupercalia, celebrated in mid-February. Lupercalia was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the founders of Rome, Romulus, and Remus. During the festival, young men drew names of young women from a container with whom they were paired for the duration of the festival, sometimes leading to marriages.
Over time, Valentine’s Day evolved into a celebration of love and affection. Today, it is widely observed as a day for expressing loving feelings through the exchange of cards, flowers, and gifts.
The Bottom Line
We recommend you use Valentine’s Day as an excuse to pay extra attention to your elderly loved ones. Sure, it’s a gimmicky holiday that makes lots of money for retailers, but showering loved ones with extra time and attention is never a bad thing. Hopefully, you do it often and not just on Valentine’s Day!
We’ve solved the gift problem! See more of our gift guides!
Leslie Farin is the Publisher and Founder of 50PlusToday. She is an experienced communications and marketing professional passionate about working with older adults and their families. She works with a team of writers to provide essential and cutting-edge information related to the 50Plus community.
