27 ideas · Updated for 2026 · We earn from qualifying purchases ·
The best gifts for an 87-year-old make dressing, remembering and relaxing easier. Slip-on Skechers, adaptive clothing, a simple voice recorder for their stories, a heated massage pillow or a photo quilt of the family are all thoughtful picks.
In their late eighties, buttons, laces and small print get harder to manage. Clothes that are easy to put on, simple ways to stay in touch and gifts that preserve their memories are especially welcome.
Below are 27 ideas in six groups, each with a budget tier so you can shop by price.
Clothes and shoes that are easy to put on and take off.
Slip-on shoes with a cushioned, non-slip sole, like Skechers hands-free styles, mean no laces to tie.
Adaptive clothing from Silverts has snaps or magnetic closures, which helps with stiff fingers or a caregiver's help.
Compression socks can help with swollen legs and ankles. Check with them or their doctor about the right level.
Soft pull-on pants with an elastic waist are comfortable all day and easy to put on.
Soft pullover tops with wide necks are easy to put on without fiddly buttons.
Gifts that help them remember and share their stories.
A guided memory book like Conversations with My Dad helps capture their stories for the family.
A cloth-covered album filled with family photos, with names and dates written in.
A simple Sony or Olympus voice recorder lets them, or you, record their stories in their own voice.
A Wi-Fi frame like Aura or Skylight shows new family photos every day, with nothing for them to do.
A large-print daily planner for appointments, birthdays and reminders.
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Simple tech for calls, photos and safety.
A tablet set up with big text and family contacts for video calls and photos.
An Echo Show lets family video call with one voice command and shows photos when idle.
A smartwatch with fall detection can call for help. Make sure it works with their phone and set it up for them.
Gentle helpers for comfort and staying well.
A heated shiatsu massage pillow soothes a stiff neck or back in their favorite chair.
A soft lap blanket keeps legs warm in a chair or wheelchair without trailing on the floor.
A quiet diffuser with lavender oil and a single button makes a room calm and pleasant.
A seated pedal exerciser keeps the legs moving gently while they watch TV.
A cookbook with simple, healthy recipes for someone who still enjoys making meals.
For hobbies they still enjoy, made a bit easier.
Soft wool yarn and smooth circular needles for a knitter who still loves to make things.
Long-handled tools like Grampa's Weeder let them garden standing up, without kneeling.
A large-print magazine subscription like Reader's Digest brings easy reading every month.
A sketching set or simple art kit for a quiet, creative afternoon.
Yoga blocks give extra support for gentle stretches or chair exercises.
Keepsakes made with family photos and names.
A quilt made from family photos is warm, personal and becomes a family heirloom.
A mug with photos of the grandkids or great-grandkids for their morning coffee or tea.
A bracelet or pendant engraved with family names or initials.
A family tree frame with the names of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Pick what they're into and get 9 ideas picked for a 87-year-old who loves it.
For an 87-year-old, comfort and family memories make the best gifts. For ideas matched to their interests, try the gift finder.
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