Shopping for friends or relatives living in a retirement facility or nursing home can be challenging, but experts say there are a wide variety of items that light up the faces of senior citizens during the holidays.

Jamie White, assisted living activities director at Concordia Lutheran Ministries in Cabot, said the least expensive gift available is always welcomed by those at Concordia.

“Giving your time in visiting with them, that is the greatest gift,” said White.

She said seniors enjoy treats as much as anyone, and any homemade goodies such as pies, fudge or other confections always meet with a delighted smile from the recipient.

White recommends ensuring such treats are allowed before bringing them.

She said residents’ needs and desires are as different as the residents themselves. White said some residents at Concordia appreciate facial tissues and peanut butter cups, while another resident wanted a subscription to a hunting magazine.

Still another is thrilled to receive homemade root beer and peanut butter fudge from a relative each holiday season.

“Ask them what they want or see if they have a wish list before you go shopping,” said White.

She said door decorations like wreaths, as well as fresh flowers, are always a favorite among residents. Note pads with pens and pencils, large-print books, lotions and soaps, puzzle books and slippers with safety tread also make useful gifts, White said.

She cautioned against bringing high-value items such as autographed baseballs or hockey sticks to a retirement community or nursing home to avoid any potential security risks.

Donna Close, a spokeswoman for the Passavant Retirement Community in Zelienople, said not to pass up the electronics department when shopping for seniors. She said a great gift for those in a skilled-care facility is a wireless headset. She said the headsets allow patients in semiprivate rooms to watch their TV without being distracted by their roommate’s TV.

She said seniors also enjoy digital picture frames, which slowly rotates through several photographs that have been downloaded into the frame’s memory.

She said digital music players or portable cassette players, accompanied by the person’s favorite music and headphones, can do a world of good for a nursing home patient.

“If they have their favorite music plugged into those, it becomes a wonderful way of calming a resident who has dementia or Alzheimer ’s disease or has a behavior problem,” said Close.

She said adaptive clothing like sweatshirts or sweat pants, fleece throws and Snuggies are also appreciated by seniors, many of whom are frequently chilly.

Beverly Serafine, activities director at Chicora Medical Center, said a new assisted-living model at the center provides residents with a more homelike atmosphere. She said updated living spaces include cats, birds and plants, which offers residents the opportunity to provide care.

Serafine said the model includes a focus on the outdoors, which allows for a wide variety of holiday gifts. She said bird feeders, large-display exterior thermometers and mobiles or wind chimes to place outside a resident’s window are great gifts.

Serafine also listed battery operated candles, hand grabbers to reach high objects, calendars, playing cards or hand-held games, sun catchers, plants, a variety of occasional greeting cards with stamps and various holiday door decorations as well-appreciated and functional gifts for residents.

Serafine cautioned against bringing treats because the recipient may be on a special diet. She also warned not to bring expensive items for seniors.

“Anything personal for their rooms that they are allowed to have make great presents,” said Serafine.

Katherine Vojtko, spokeswoman at Sherwood Oaks retirement community in Cranberry Township, said residents always enjoy personal hygiene items like scented liquid soaps and body lotions. She said other personal items like socks, fleece blankets and sweaters are well-used by seniors.

Vojtko said puzzle books, note cards and stamps and DVD collections of favorite old TV shows always delight Sherwood Oaks residents.