My old iPhones I pass to my mum. She doesn't really like it and prefer her old Nokia.
Both my dad and my mum have an iPad each. Mum is more tech savvy and has been using emails, online banking, etc. all the time. Dad doesn't even know how to turn on a computer.

Mum uses the iPad for browsing, email, news, facetime and finding recipes when she is in the kitchen. She doesn't use the iPad often, only when she is lazy to turn on the computer. Dad uses the iPad for mainly news and now learning how to use email to communicate with his old friends, learning how to facetime with us too. He kinda hooked to it now, using it everyday while having breakfast and bringing it everywhere.

They don't play games. Depends on what your parents interest are. Most elderly people I know uses iPad to watch movies and read the news.