Top 10 dementia gifts for family and friends

What gift can I give to a person with dementia?

Here is a list of top dementia gifts which can benefit a person living with dementia and some can work as a great memory aid for dementia. In this article, check out the dementia aid gift ideas to see what fun and practical dementia presents you can give a friend or family member.

Firstly, it is important to remember that everyone’s experience of dementia is different. Below, you will find the key stages of dementia and what a person living with dementia may need help with at each stage.

Early stage of dementia 

When a person has mild cognitive impairment and is in the early stages of dementia, they may display subtle signs of dementia. Even some in the early stage of dementia can benefit from a memory aid.

Mid-level stages of dementia 

As dementia symptoms in a loved one become more prominent, consider dementia presents that can help someone to manage their daily routine, tasks and navigate their home safely. Assistive technology help maintain or improve a person’s ability to do things in everyday life.

Late stages of dementia

In late stages of dementia, gifts that can provide sensory stimulation can be very beneficial.  

Top 10 dementia gifts

Here is a list of top dementia presents you can give your loved ones. All prices are accurate to date 1 February 2025.

1. Dementia-friendly shirt

Hugo Non-Iron VELCRO® Brand Fastening Shirt

£49.00 inc VAT

£40.83 with VAT relief

Dementia can affect a person’s physical ability to get dressed. Lifting arms above shoulders to get clothes over your head and bending down to pull up trousers or skirts can be tricky. Able Label founder Katie Ellis was inspired to create easy to wear clothes after seeing her grandmother with Parkinson’s struggle to get dressed.

Able Label clothes help men and women with limited movement, hand dexterity and strength, poor balance or fatigue. The clothes are eligible for VAT exemption.

The clothes have no fiddly fastenings. Buttons are for decoration only. Front opening designs reduce the need for over the head dressing. Wrap styles also help carers dress people.

For example, this shirt has velcro hidden behind its buttons and cuffs. It is 60% Cotton 40% Polyester. The shirt comes in blue or white.

2. Talking watch

£54.99 inc VAT

£45.83 with VAT relief

Press a button and this watch speaks the time in a clear voice. This radio-controlled watch automatically changes in accordance with Daylight Saving Time. It is a good memory aid for dementia. It also states whether the time is am or pm.

The dials and face are easy to read. Ideal for users with dementia or visual impairments. The expandable bracelet is also ideal for those with dexterity issues. 

 

3. The Geemarc Amplidect Combi 295 Phone

£109.99 inc VAT

£91.66 VAT relief

This photo phone makes it easier to keep in touch with family, friends etc. The desktop phone and cordless handset has three large, programmable picture buttons. This means you only need to press a person’s picture to call them.

This memory aid can store up to 50 contact numbers. The number of the person calling appears on the phone’s LCD display. The phone has a built-in answerphone compatible with hearing aids. Redial function for last 10 outgoing calls. Choice of 6 languages on the base (English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, and Russian). Adjustable volume control.

4. Rosebud reminder clock 

£83.99 inc VAT

£69.99 with VAT relief

The Rosebud reminder clock is an excellent memory aid for dementia as it helps people to keep track of appointments and daily tasks to reduce anxiety. It has audio, visual reminders. You can choose what you’d like it to display, such as the day of the week, date and time of day. 

There are 20 built-in reminders for meals, appointments and TV programmes. It also reminds you to check the front door is locked, feed the cat or take medication.

The reminders can be set to come on at a specific time and can include a picture along with a sound and announcement. 

5. Easy radio and music player

£95.99 inc VAT

£79.99 with VAT relief

A person living with dementia can forget how to operate everyday household items but may not want to admit to it. They may even think a product is broken.

Once this one-button radio is set up by a family member or friend, the device is wonderful for those who find lots of buttons and dials confusing. This radio only requires someone to press one button to stop or start it. A person with dementia can use the single button to turn their favourite station on or off.

With a clear digital display, this dementia present is designed for people with memory problems, poor coordination, dexterity issues, partial sight or anyone who may find modern radios confusing.

This radio comes in a white or yellow colour. It provides Stereo DAB+FM, USB playback, bluetooth speakers and bluetooth to headphones.  It has 6-12 hours battery life.

6. All About Us game

£29.99 incl. VAT 

£24.99  with VAT Relief 

This is the first board game developed with people with dementia, for people with dementia. This life-storytelling board game promotes conversation to explore a person’s life from childhood through the present and into the future.

It invites people to think and talk about who they are, their experiences, feelings, what they have done and what they want to do. It promotes identity, independence and sense of purpose while building closer relationships.

The strong colour contrasts and clear design of the board are appropriate for people with visual and cognitive impairments. Enlarged counters and cards are also easier to use for players with rheumatism or dexterity difficulties.

The game can be played in groups of up to 4 people or teams of all ages and all players share their stories with each other.

7. Tactile Turn – Dementia Fidget Toy

£24.98 inc VAT

£20.82 with VAT relief

In mid-to-late stages of dementia, gifts that can provide sensory stimulation can be very beneficial.

Designed in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Society and the University of Lancashire, this sensory toy keeps fidgeting hands busy and for a person with dementia this can reduce their anxiety, stress, agitation and boredom.

The Fidget Widget’s repetitive motion of turning the folds round and round brings focus to distracted and restless hands. With four different textures and a variety of colours that stimulate the feeling and visual senses.

8. Circuit Marble Maze

£22.99 inc VAT

£19.16 with VAT relief

This game is designed to encourage dexterity and coordination. This keeps fidgety hands busy and is useful to relieve boredom and restlessness in someone with dementia.

Guide the marble around the maze to the end of the course by tilting the track with both hands.  This gives people a sense of excitement when players reach the end of the course. This game is suitable for people living with mid to late stages of dementia. 

9. Precious Petzzz (Cat or Dog)

£24.95 inc VAT

Available as different dog breeds and cat breeds, this breathing pet brings comfort, a sense of security and calmness to people living with dementia. It is a therapeutic tool that can increase a person’s sense of wellbeing. It comes with its own bed and a certificate of adoption. This battery keeps the pet breathing for up 3 months. Made of 100% synthetic fur.

To help raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society you can buy dementia presents on the charity’s website including Precious Petzzz

10. Golden pup robotic companion pet

£156.00 inc VAT

£130.00 with VAT relief

This Joy for All product by Ageless Innovations looks, feels and sounds like a real dog.

With soft, synthetic fur and doggy sounds, this battery-operated pup brings comfort and companionship. 

Built-in sensors and BARKBACK technology allows the pup to respond to motion, petting and sounds with puppy-like movements. It even has a gentle heartbeat.   

How can I prove eligibility for VAT relief for dementia? 

For some products, you don’t have to pay VAT, if a product is bought to be used by a person with dementia. To check which goods and services for disabled people and people aged 60+ you can apply zero or reduced rate VAT to, check the UK government’s Reliefs from VAT for disabled and older people (VAT Notice 701/7).

Suppliers can only zero rate goods and services to disabled people when the:

• person is ‘chronically sick or disabled’
• goods or services are eligible for VAT relief.
• goods and services are bought or acquired for their personal or domestic use.

A person is ‘chronically sick or disabled’ if they have a physical or mental impairment which has a long-term and substantial adverse effect on their ability to carry out everyday activities.

The supplier should get a written declaration from a customer confirming that the person living with dementia is entitled to VAT relief.

The UK government has created a Eligibility declaration by a disabled person for VAT reliefs  template form for customers to complete and give to the supplier of the product.

A family member, carer or friend can complete this on a person with dementia’s behalf.  

People buying products for use by people with dementia can also make enquiries by calling HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC’s) VAT Disabled Reliefs Helpline on 0300 123 1073.