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16 gadget gift ideas for the tech-curious older mom this Mother's Day
Gadgets are a great gift idea for the tech-loving mom this Mother's Day.
When shopping for gifts for special occasions, I generally lean more toward the functional or practical gifts that offer a solution to a need versus those gifts that may look pretty but ultimately only take up space in a cluttered home.
Flowers and chocolate or a bottle of wine are all lovely gift ideas that are sure to be appreciated, but those luxuries or gadgets that she wouldn’t buy herself but will add to the comfort or quality of her daily life are the gifts I’m going to continue gravitating toward on Mother’s Day and other important occasions.
My mom isn’t necessarily what someone would traditionally consider a tech-driven person, but she does use gadgets and technology in her daily life, from smart robot vacuums to video doorbells. These are all items that are splurges or indulgences I know she wouldn’t or couldn’t personally invest in, but having them available to her has made her life easier or more streamlined, and in a sea of frilly baubles, that’s really the most valuable gift of all.
Whether the gift of practical luxury, improved connectivity, or streamlining a chaotic agenda, some of the very best gifts for Mother’s Day begin right in the gadget aisle.
When my mom started to spend a whole lot of time just scrolling videos and games on her phone as a way to unwind, I decided to give her instead a gift that would spark the creative streak I knew she still had within her and make her screen time more effective. I found it in this smart and budget-friendly tablet. What I like about this tablet for her versus pricier or more advanced models is that it's super beginner-friendly. It's slim and lightweight and has a reliable battery life, and I see her using it in smart and useful, productive ways, from light drawing to basic photo-editing, and it's great for her agility, as the structure creates less hand strain for her than using a computer mouse for the same tasks.
I'm someone who works from home and travels a lot, so I experience a whole lot of the aches and pains of slouching over my computer in various settings, from couches to rideshares to airplane seats. While my mom's life is more sedentary, she also has a lot of those same aches and pains, and it has often gotten in the way of her being as active as I'd like her to be. I picked up this massager for both my mom and I to try for exactly that reason, as it is cordless (USB-C rechargeable), and a whole lot easier and less expensive than investing in a massage chair that no one has space for, but is portable and lightweight and can help with those neck, back, and shoulder pains that have increasingly impacted us both. Tech neck is something that impacts us all to varying degrees, but being able to give my mom the gift of getting through her day as pain-free as possible has been as much a present for me as it has been for her, and I'm so grateful for that.
REDTIGER
My mom doesn't drive nearly as much as she did a few years ago, but when she does, I want her to be as safe and aware of her surroundings as possible. That's a lot of what drew me to this dash cam to pick up for my own mom, as it has comprehensive 360-degree surveillance, is easy to set up and use, and gives me the peace of mind to not worry about her while she's headed to her office or to run some errands. I love that the camera can be operated hands free, but it also has an easy-to-use touchscreen with hardly any learning curve, 24-hour parking monitoring, and a great low-light visibility, with fatigue reminders and simple app syncing.
WineWhiz
My mom and I went through a whole lot of wine when I visited her for a week over Passover, and I realized quickly that the right wine opener wasn't just a matter of convenience as you age, but a matter of necessity. Traditional basic wine openers will require twisting, pulling, and high grip, which will require wrist and arm strength as mobility gets tougher. But a good electric wine opener reduces that physical strain, is easier to use, and is simply safer to control. Wine is a big part of my relationship with my mom, and this wine opener set, that includes a rechargeable opener, aerator, dispenser, and accessories, is a perfect gift for her this Mother's Day both as a gadget that will make her life easier but also enhance the time we spend together.
The reality is that house cleaning has to happen whether or not you have the energy or mobility to get it done, and that's true for anyone of any age. I have this hands-free robot vacuum in my own home and I'm going to be getting my mom one as well because it protects her from needing to bend or lift to vacuum her home. This one is great because it also features automatic dust emptying and mop washing, so basically she can go about her day and let the cleaning be taken care of for her.
I live about thirty minutes away from my parents, and it gives me peace of mind to know their home is as secure as it can be, especially with all the harrowing tales we've been hearing on the news about older adults of late. This affordable and easy-to-install home security system offers 1080p HD video as well as motion sensors, remote monitoring, and even climate monitoring, so I know their environment is safe in every way, beyond security.
MANNKITCHEN
I got my mom this professional-grade pepper grinder a few months ago, as I noticed she was starting to have some difficulty with some of her traditional kitchen tools. We're a family that uses a whole lot of ground pepper, and we love it to be freshly ground whenever possible. This grinder is so efficient and delivers a whole lot of pepper but not with a ton of effort in the process, which is useful whether you are dealing with decreased agility and mobility or the beginning of arthritis or carpal tunnel. But it's also convenient to use and grip, so easy to refill, and from a culinary perspective, very satisfying as you can get a whole range of different pepper coarsenesses. This is so helpful in a variety of dishes!
Canopy
If there's one common thread in this guide, it's that I'm trying to keep my mom happy and healthy for as many years as possible, and a good air purifier can go a long way with that. Thanks to its HEPA-13 filtration, it can filter out 99.97% of airborne dust, smoke, and allergens. This helps my parents to sleep better at night and breathe in less bad stuff from the air, leading to more restful sleep, better sleep quality, and helping them to wake up breathing easier (and that makes me breathe easier as well!).
I live in a very small, tight space and as the weather grows more humid, that space can feel downright suffocating. I love this fan because it has a cooling element to help keep that space comfortable and cool, but also an ultra fine mist and humidifier, keeping everything cool, relaxed, and a space easier to breathe in, no matter how compact it may feel. As its quiet and powerful, what works great in my small apartment would also be amazing for a small desk or bedroom setup as well.
I love these ear plugs personally because they reduce noise without muffling sound, and as someone who has gone to tons of concerts, sporting events, and loud conferences, I'm very sensitive to the risks of noise-induced hearing loss. But for older adults, this is a great value and asset in helping them to feel more comfortable and have clear, easier conversations in louder or more distracting environments, from joining me at a restaurant when I'm doing a media tasting and feel like fun mom-like company or attending a family or friend social engagement.
TheraFace
I love this kind of wand for reducing puffiness and refreshing skin, and it's a great gift for my mom as she craves those luxe, spa-like experiences but doesn't always feel comfortable in a traditional spa environment. There's a lot of facial and skin issues related to aging, and we can all relate, such as under-eye puffiness, or loss of firmness, and this can offer amazing results with those concerns.
Sometimes, the best gifts are the ones that give me my own peace of mind, and that's often just knowing my mom has the connectivity to be in touch if she needs to be. This car charger is super helpful and useful for that (and I use it myself when I happen to be in her car, because as we know, our phones constantly need a good charge!). This one contains dual USB ports and two retractable cables (Type-L & Type-C), and can extend up to 31.5 inches, so someone can even charge from the backseat if need be.
MUSICOZY
I love this eye mask because it's comfortable and breathable, not to mention washable: As a busy person who travels frequently, these are all things I personally appreciate a great deal. But it's also great for older people because it helps to block out light and reduce noise, which can help get sleep and rest even in the most uncomfortable of environments. Whether my mom uses it for sleep or meditation, I know she'll be comfortable and in good hands.
My mom is constantly printing out recipes from dishes she sees on her favorite cooking shows or content creators, and the printer she had at home was becoming increasingly unreliable. I was looking for something that was going to be simple for to set up, easy to use, and be as reliable and durable as possible. I chose this one because it's a great value, but also it eliminates the hassle of always buying and replacing ink cartridges, plus the wireless printing is incredibly easy to use and access whenever she needs it (and I find myself using her printer now often as well!).
A high-end camera is a splurge and an aspirational gift, but if the whole family is going to chip in on something truly special, a great camera is the way to go. When my family chatted about doing this for an important anniversary coming up for my parents, we had a few requirements: It would have to be an easy-to-use full-frame camera, absolutely it needed to be lightweight, and it had to merge pro-level ability with being super user-friendly for beginners. This one has a ton of features, but is also compact and very simple to get started using, but its ergonomics are part of what sold me, as it has a comfortable and secure hand grip, which is essential for aging users.
Ting Fire
I travel a lot, and I worry about. my parents a lot when I'm not around, especially as they get older and don't move around as fast (or as well!).This small, plug-in device is a great way to monitor their home’s electrical network (extra important as it's an older house), and keep them and me informed of any unusual activity that may mean an electrical fire risk.
