80th and 90th birthday gift ideas they will treasure

• A party with friends from every stage of their life, even by video call for those far away.
• 80 letters or messages from family and friends, collected in a box.
• A photo book with one page per decade.
• A trip to the town where they grew up.
• Their life story written as a book, to read and to pass on.

• A small, calm gathering at home with the closest family.
• A video in which grandchildren and great-grandchildren share a memory.
• A framed family tree with photos.
• A book of their life, told from their memories and the family's.

A book about their own life is a gift an 80- or 90-year-old will reread and share. There are two ways to create it.

They can tell it themselves in a guided conversation with a life story book, which suits people who enjoy talking about the past. Or the family can gather the memories and give a tribute book as a surprise. In both cases, the text is reviewed before approval and printed as a hardcover in the USA. Prices are on the pricing page.

Need prompts? Try our questions to ask your grandparents.

• A family photo session with every generation in the same picture.
• A garden bench or a tree planted in her name, with a small plaque.
• A box of letters from friends and family, collected ahead of time.
• A cooking day where the grandchildren learn her signature recipes.
• A book of her life, told in her own words.

• A trip back to the town where he grew up, with time to visit the places he talks about.
• A framed print of a map, a ship, a car or a stadium that mattered in his life.
• A recorded conversation about his work years, his army years or his first job.
• Tickets to a game or a concert with his children and grandchildren.
• The story of his life, written as a book the family can keep.

Keep the party at an easy time of day, often lunch, with seating for everyone. A table with photos from each decade gives guests an easy way to start conversations, and a short round of toasts is usually the highlight.

Ask guests to bring one written memory. Collected in a box or a book, those memories become a second gift that lasts far longer than the party.

At 80, many people start to wonder what will remain of the life they lived. A gift that takes their memories seriously, whether it is a recorded interview, a letter from each grandchild or a written book, tells them that their story matters and will be passed on. Start with our questions to ask your grandparents.