Iâll be the first to admit that finding gift ideas for women over 60 is tough â even when youâre one yourself! As Iâve gotten a little older, Iâve started to notice that buying presents for my friends has become more difficult. Maybe women over 60 place less value on material things. Or, maybe our tastes simply change as we age.
What Are the Best Gift Ideas for Women Over 60, Really?
Fortunately, as the founder of Sixty and Me, a community of over 500,000 women over 60, I have plenty of people to turn to for ideas. So, to help you choose the perfect gift for the women over 60 in your life, I asked the other members of the community what they considered to be the best gifts.
Many of their answers were unexpected, and I hope that the information here helps you to choose a gift that your older friend, mother, sister, or grandmother will love.
Looking for the best birthday gifts for a women over 70? See: 50 Gift Ideas for 70th Birthday.
First, a Few Words of Gift-Buying Advice
Thereâs a saying in medicine to âfirst do no harm,â and the same can be said for choosing presents for âolder women.â
One of the worst things that you can do is to choose a gift based on aging stereotypes or, worse, âanti-agingâ messages. So, before you start searching for cookware, skin cream, bath salts, or knitting wool, take the time to understand the unique personality of the special woman in your life.
Speaking of which, women over 60 want to own things that reflect their interests and personality. After six decades of gathering âstuff,â many of us are downsizing our lives and only have time for objects which we, in the words of William Morris: âknow to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.â The last thing we want is more clutter around the house, just at a time when weâre trying to get organized.
So, if more âstuffâ isnât the answer, what is? Our passions. Most women over 60 have at least one or two things that we are crazy about. Some of us are collectors. Others have hobbies or activities that we couldnât live without.
If you want to impress us, take the time to understand what is important in our lives.
When you do, you will give us two presents â the experience or object that you choose and the knowledge that you care enough to see us as people, not as a demographic.
One final piece of advice before I share some specific ideas â donât feel like you need to spend a lot of money on gifts for women over 60. More than any other group, most of us appreciate the thought behind a gift. When in doubt, creating something that shows your love and attention will always make us happy.
So, all that said, here are a few unexpected gift ideas for women over 60:
Give Her a New Experience
Most women over 60 are more adventurous than you think. Weâre certainly more adventurous than we are portrayed in the movies! While we still appreciate objects that are âuseful or beautiful,â most of us are interested in filling our lives with as many experiences as we can.
Think about the special older woman in your life. Is there a unique place that she would love to go? Perhaps you could buy her a bus pass to go on a day trip or weekend adventure. Or, how about a massage, helicopter ride, or boat cruise?
Iâm not saying that all women over 60 would love to take a helicopter ride. Thatâs not the point!
Iâm simply saying that you shouldnât eliminate adventurous options without thinking about her unique personality and interests first.
If you are looking for inspiration, check out Tinggly, an âexperienceâ gift site. They offer a variety of unexpected âexperientialâ gift ideas, and there are plenty of similar sites throughout the world.
How about a Lobster and Beer cruise in New York? You wonât go far away, there wonât be too many people around and you will enjoy the summer season on the waves.
Or maybe a wildlife safari adventure in Wyoming? Youâll be surrounded by nature â the perfect location to socially distance while still soaking fresh air and vitamin D.
Give the Gift of Style
Despite what the many aging stereotypes might suggest, many women over 60 still love style and fashion. Most of us love to present our unique personalities to the world through the clothes that we wear every day.
Once again, since women over 60 are as different as the stars in the sky, itâs difficult to suggest specific stores for you to purchase items or a gift certificate from. Some women love classical styles, while others have embraced vintage clothing.
Your best bet is to casually ask her where she loves to shop and present her with a gift card she can use in-store (if she prefers to go to a physical location) or online.
Need some clothing store inspiration? See: Best Clothing Stores for Women Over 50.
Give Her the Gift of Health and Balance
Nothing is more important after 60 than staying healthy. When you feel good in your body, you are more likely to stay social, explore, and pursue your passions.
At the same time, many women in their 60s find the idea of going to the gym about as exciting as the prospect of spending time in the dentistâs chair.
Fortunately, there are plenty of healthy gift options that donât involve weights or running machines!
Consider getting her a National Parks Senior Pass â with 62 official protected National Parks in 29 states they provide hiking trails, picnic spots, camping spots and guided tours.
Give Her a New Skill
Women over 60 love to learn. Is there something that she has always wanted to do? Perhaps she keeps talking about learning how to cook a certain cuisine? Or, maybe she has always wanted to take an art class? Whether she is interested in sushi or oil painting, learning a new skill will be a gift that she will remember forever.
Master Class offers a variety of classes with professionals in numerous fields. A cooking class with Gordon Ramsey? Photography tips and tricks from Annie Leibovitz? Let her choose her new skill.
Give Something a Little Risqué
If you are dating or married to this woman, she might appreciate a gift that touches on the sensual side. After all, another myth about older women is that they no longer care about sex or being desirable. Nothing could be further from the truth.
So, why not nourish her sensual side by giving her some fun lingerie or a risqué book like Fifty Shades of Grey, Gone Girl, or classic erotica like Delta of Venus by Anais Nin.
See also: Lingerie Guide for Older Women.
A slightly tamer, but no less sensual option, is to create a custom perfume just for her. Check out The Greatest Smell Ever for more details on how to create a customized perfume. These gift ideas for women over 60 arenât for everyone, but youâll know whether it makes sense.
Give Something Creative
The first step to choosing an âunexpectedâ gift is to abandon the tire stereotypes about what âolder womenâ want. Once you take the time to truly understand her passions and personality, itâs time to apply your creative skills to choosing the perfect gift. Is there a small luxury or experience, related to one of her passions, which she would never pay for herself?
Can you give her a memory that she will keep with her for years to come? Donât go for the lazy option. Even a hand-written card or homemade gift is better than a gift based on a tired clichĂ©.
Get creative!
Give Something Inspirational
Women in their 60s are often going through a particular challenge in life, whether itâs a divorce, the end of a career, or unexpected health problems. These women would be particularly appreciative of your love and support.
If she is going through a transition in her life, consider buying an inspirational book by authors such as Pema Chodron, Deepak Chopra, Tony Robbins, the Dalai Lama, or ThĂch Nháș„t HáșĄnh. Add a hand-made candle to the package for women who like to meditate.
Once again, the physical gift is just a small part of the present. Giving the perfect gift is all about showing that you care!
There are many gift ideas for women over 60. Just remember to make your choice personal, creative, and insightful. When you take the time to pick something personal, you show how much you really care. And, at the end of the day, thatâs all that women over 60 want!
What do you think are the best gift ideas for women over 60? Whatâs the best gift youâve received recently? Please leave a comment below and let us know.
