Gift ideas please

MY MIL is 102 this year but still enjoys feminine things like toiletries, jewellery (I know your MIL doesn't) and perfume. She also like to have something to show to the other residents - we call it her street cred. As for carrying in your luggage how about a nice silk scarf, luxury cashmere/socks if she suffers from cold feet, a small jewelled bag. I'll try to think of some more.

What about a nice throw/blanket for her room? Or a beautiful cushion. Photo frame with a suitable picture? Really difficult isn't it? When Mum was ninety we had a nice cake made and provided it and champagne for the residents and staff. That was good for her street cred.

Is she bed-ridden Sunseeker?
How about a really luxurious bedjacket? You could perhaps order something on-line, delivered to the nursing home to save you having to put it in your airline baggage.

Your newspaper idea is a good one. You could buy a framed front page or a book version, which hopefully she would enjoy showing staff, residents and visitors.
www.prezzybox.com/personalised-newspaper-book-birthday-edition.aspx

Does she have one of those photo thingys where the picture changes every few seconds? An elderly lady I knew had one next to where she sat and it showed photos of her family. My son then bought me one and, I have to admit to finding it a bit depressing, imagining myself in years to come gazing at the photos. But then, when I got to grips with my digital camera I realised that it was a good way to view my own holiday photos, and my family put their holiday photos on a memory stick so I can add to it. If she had one the family could update their photos every so often and I'm sure the staff in the nursing home could operate it for her.

Have you got old family pics of yourselves when you were children, of your parents and grandparents when they were younger? You can scan them and make a "Photobook" (several reputable companies, but I used CEWE) It is really easy, absolutely fascinating and makes a lovely present.

Does it matter if she " looks at it once and puts it in a drawer " ? You might be surprised at how much she will enjoy it , sounds like a lovely idea

Thanks for the suggestions, she isn't bedridden but is paralysed on one side and is in a wheelchair. For her birthday I usually arrange for flowers and a hamper of toiletries and sweets to be delivered but wanted something she could keep for this one. The family have already given her one of the digital photo frames and the photos are changed regularly. She isn't a drinker, just the occasional glass of wine at a family celebration. I did think we could club together and buy her an electric wheelchair but my brother says she actually enjoys scooting herself along with her one good leg - and its the only exercise she gets! Help!!!!

How about a pretty shawl or knee blanket? If she enjoys reading a magazine subscription or an iPad or Kindle so books, papers, magazines could be downloaded and type-size adjusted to suit her? I know a 96 year old who was given one for her recent birthday and has gone from a technophobe to an addict in two months!
You could Skype if an iPad too.

I'm always puzzled by the idea of giving a facsimile of a paper on the day of birth. If I wanted to know what happened the day I was born, I'd ask for the following day's paper! Must remember to tell my family that, just in case....

Sorry - I meant to say that if she is reasonably mobile in her wheelchair, a good cardi might go down well. But, sunseeker, if you usually give her a hamper of nice toiletries, she might be looking forward to that!

She already has a kindle, which she rarely uses, refuses to have a mobile phone and has problems operating her DVD player so an iPad is not really an option! My brother did buy her a small digital recorder so she could record messages for me - she tried it once, couldn't get the hang of it and then complained he hadn't told her she had to switch it on - so not the most technically minded person!