25 of the very best gifts for seniors that they'll actually want and use

You probably agree that the two demographics who are unusually hard to shop for are teens and seniors. They're both usually quite picky, are often set in their ways and trust their friend's recommendations above all. That said, teen are a notoriously online bunch, so figuring out what they might think is cool only takes a few minutes scrolling through the latest trends on TikTok to find a solid gift idea (hello, Stanley Tumblers and COSRX Snail Mucin Essence!). Figuring out the best gift ideas for seniors, on the other hand, takes a little more effort and creativity.

What makes shopping for seniors especially challenging is that they have a unique set of needs. You want gifts that aren't too techy or complicated to set up and maintain on their own. They can't be too heavy, cumbersome to use or have lots of small, fiddly parts that are hard for aging hands to maneuver. Ideally you want to gift useful and innovative gadgets that makes life easier for them, especially if they still live alone. Most of all, you want something they'll actually use and love. It's a high bar, but fortunately, it's not an impossible one to scale. 

We at AOL consider ourselves experts in sniffing out the best products, especially among those who are 50 and up — a cohort that often gets overlooked on the internet. Our testing experts pride themselves on the hours of research they put into our guides for the older crowd, from the best cellphones for seniors to what kind of skin care routine you should have in your 60s — and much, more more. We've spent years testing, researching and talking to experts about which items are ideal for the aging parents, grandparents you might know. With that in mind, take a look below at what we think are some of the very best gifts for them.