Great Summer Gifts for Active Seniors

Maybe it’s a milestone birthday, or any birthday in between. Or maybe you’re just celebrating a senior in your life who deserves celebration, whether it’s recognition for something specific or simply an appreciation gift. Either way, if you’re seeking inspiration for gift ideas for seniors this summer, you’ve come to the right place. 

Whether it’s for a grandparent, a parent, or a friend, coming up with a unique gift isn’t always easy, regardless of the occasion. I find myself poking around for ideas online every Mother’s or Father’s Day, and even for my spouse when their birthday is approaching. A well-thought out gift can not only mean a lot, but also be incredibly useful. From a US Navy cap for a veteran senior to sport on a walk, to a heating pad or recovery device for after that walk or work out, here are a few gift ideas to show some love to the active senior in your life. 

Fitness Trackers

One of the best ways for seniors to stay active is to simply go for a walk or a bike ride, and a fitness tracker is the perfect companion for that. It’ll not only track important health factors like your heart rate, but it also shows how long you’ve gone, how far you’ve gone, and can even give you a map when connected to a phone to show where you’ve gone. They’re the perfect tool for traveling any distance, whether it’s a 10 minute walk or a two hour bike ride, and having the workout visible to you on a watch can give a sense of accomplishment. 

Fitness trackers come in various shapes and sizes and vary in price. Some may clip onto a shirt, while the most popular ones are worn as a watch. If you want to track heart rate, you’ll want to get one that has direct contact with the skin. 

Activity Apparel for Veterans

Look good, feel good, they say, and when it comes to getting active that couldn’t be more true. If the senior in your life is a proud vet, there’s a whole store of apparel to ensure they’re decked out and feeling good when they head out for their activities. A US Navy cap is often a hit with seniors (my own grandpa wears one daily) and is perfect for taking a summer stroll. 

You can also customize the US Navy cap pretty extensively. There are spots to add your ship name, hull number, ship class, insignia, and rank. There are also over 100 embroidered navy ship classes you can select from for display on the front of the cap. 

It doesn’t stop at the US Navy cap, though. You can get dog tags, bandanas, lanyards, tshirts, pins, and more. What better way to honor the veteran senior in your life than to give them something meaningful to take with them or wear out each day?

At-home Massager

Imagine getting a massage any day, anytime you want it? Sounds pretty nice, and you can actually give that as a gift. A home massage machine allows anyone to really relax after an active day, and it’s great for muscle recovery, neck pain, back pain, and more. There are electronic machines to massage sore feet, and there are also slippers that will massage your feet by applying pressure to specific pressure points when you’re just walking around the house with them. 

Depending on the type of at-home massager you get, whether it’s an entire massage chair or just some well-designed shoes, you could pay from $20 to over $1,000. But thanks to new technology, there are a lot of massage chairs out there for under $500. If you’re looking to splurge on the active senior in your life, give them the gifts of rejuvenation and relaxation. 

Gardening Kit

Activity doesn’t always mean you’re out running, biking, or hiking. It could be something as simple as getting outside and tending to a garden, watering some flowers, or planting some vegetables. If you know a senior with a hobby of gardening, then a gardening kit is a perfect and thoughtful gift to go with that hobby. And if they haven’t begun gardening yet but are looking for a new hobby, this is the perfect gift to get them started. Gardening is an extremely rewarding activity as it allows them to watch the results of their hard work come into bloom. 

Gardening kits range in contents and price, so you can select one for a beginner or find a kit more tailored for someone with experience or specific gardening goals. 

Reusable Heat Pad

Back on the recovery train, a reusable heat pad is a convenient and thoughtful gift to give to an active person. Any kind of bodily pain, whether it’s muscle pain or even just a headache, feels better with a heat pad. They’re great for sore backs and necks, they’re easy to use, and they’re reusable, so you can give the gift that keeps on giving. 

Conclusion

These are just a few gift ideas to inspire you in your hunt for the perfect summer gift for an active senior. It helps to consider whether the senior in question is in need of a relaxation device, a new hobby, entertainment, a product that will help soothe pain, or even just something to wear that they’re proud of. And if you’re on a budget, there are tons of gifts out there that are useful and practical but won’t break the bank. 

At the end of the day, remember, it’s the thought that counts.