Are you tired of buying an elderly adult the same thing each year?

We all want that perfect gift for that person we love. To help you find something new, the Center for Disabilities and Development, part of University of Iowa Children's Hospital at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, has a few suggestions.

A great place to start is by asking, "What do they want and what do they need to be more independent?" If you want your gift to be more of a surprise, watch to see if they are having trouble doing certain tasks around the house.

• Are there devices that would make their daily lives safer and more independent?
• Are there changes around the house itself that would make things easier? For example, would changes in the bathroom or front door area make things easier?

Toy ideas for the holidays
Holiday time is exciting for all children, and children with disabilities are no different. Each year, Exceptional Parent (EP) magazine reports on games and toys that could be fun and helpful for children with special needs. The site feature several toys that stand out as fun products that could foster creativity, coordination, self-discovery and social interaction.

For useful information about choosing toys for specific impairments, go to the National Lekotek Center's website.

Currently in its 11th year of publication, the Toys "R" Us Guide for Differently-Abled Kids http://toysrus.richfx.com/catalog_toysrus/diffabled_06_t/diffabled_06_t.html evaluates the listed toys and helps millions of people choose just the right toy for the children in their lives with disabilities.

Gifts for special seniors
If holiday celebrations involve family gatherings, take the opportunity to ask, or better yet observe, how older family members are getting along with their activities of daily living at home. Such observations may yield some holiday gifting ideas as alternatives to the standby stationery and magazine subscriptions for elderly loved ones. Some ideas may include one or more of the following adaptive home aids and gadgets.

• If someone is having difficulty getting up and down, helpful alternatives may include: raising the height of chairs or tables with leg extenders; transfer poles or handrails; lifter seats; bath benches and hand held showers.
• Page magnifiers, large print publications, or books on tape may be helpful for someone whose vision is failing.
• For someone with arthritic hands, devices such as large grip utensils, button hooks, bottle and jar openers, card holders, or handle converters for door knobs, car keys or gas caps may be useful.

These are but a few common ideas to get you started thinking. If you are considering these or any other assistive devices and want help in locating products, please contact Iowa COMPASS at the Center for Disabilities and Development by calling 800-779-2001. Iowa COMPASS provides free product information on commercially available adaptive equipment for people with disabilities or people who are elderly. Iowa COMPASS also offers the Used Equipment Referral Service (UERS), a free, computerized service that matches people who have used adapted equipment for sale with people who wish to buy such equipment.

For more information:

Center for Disabilities and Development

University of Iowa Children's Hospital

National Lekotek Center