Memory Lane Trip

After 75-plus years, there's a lot to look back on. Enlist the help of friends and family members to piece together the birthday lady's life from birth to present: make a list of her schools, jobs, towns she lived in, favorite places, and hobbies. Add anything you think has been significant to her life, and collect photos, newspaper clippings, drawings, letters, book excerpts and magazine articles that help tell her story. Arrange the materials in a quality scrapbook. On her birthday, take her to lunch or dinner in a favorite restaurant with friends and present her with the tribute. She'll likely to be touched by your thought and effort.

Magazine Subscriptions

Find out what the birthday lady's hobbies and interests are and sign her up for a magazine subscription or two. Pick magazines that come out frequently; at least once per month, preferably every two weeks. She'll have fresh reading material often and a monthly reminder of your thoughtful attentiveness. Magazine subscriptions are also good for older ladies with limited mobility who can't get to a bookstore or library without assistance.

Senior Cell Phone

Older ladies need to stay in touch too, but small buttons and screens can make it difficult to make calls from a typical cell phone. Find a cell phone specifically for seniors to remove the difficulty. These phones usually cater to seniors with weak eyesight; they are bigger than standard cell phones and feature a large keypad and screen that shows only the bare essentials, particularly the number being dialed. The birthday lady may appreciate an easy way to keep in touch with loved ones while also having a reliable alternative to a home phone.

Dinner and a Show

The dinner-and-a-movie routine may sound dull to young people, but to an older lady it's a special treat to get dressed up and go out. Treat the birthday lady to a dinner at her favorite restaurant, or surprise her with reservations at a fancy local place. Afterward, let her pick a movie at the local cinema and treat her to popcorn, soda and sweets. If she's not into movies, check local theaters for showtimes and catch a theatrical play or musical. Consider taking along a friend or two of hers; better yet, pay for the evening and provide transport for the birthday lady and a few select pals.