Why does my mother complain that she is cold when it is 90 degrees outside?

Consider low thyroid, low responsiveness to thyroid hormone, as well as just lower metabolism or poorer circulation. Most of the time, thyroid tests are OK, but if someone is also constipated, anemic, and has very dry skin it is especially worth checking. I guess I am just clutching at hopes there may something more treatable, rather than just keeping your house at 76 degrees all the time. My mom was cold almost all the time too, but also would get too hot sitting outside on a sunny day for very long. She had long-standing hypothyroidism and got some dose increases when her TSH was just a little high, and that got things corrected somewhat, but she still wore a sweater indoors year round! Other times, apparently older people on thyroid medication need their dose reduced due to slower metaboism of the hormone. Probably more often, it is not the htyroid but just that some older people can't adapt as well or as efficiently to different temperatures.

Because she is cold.

The mechanisms in our body that control how we perceive temperature may not continue to function reliably all of our lives.

Could also be from lack of circulation or a medication she is taking. My Mother does the same thing, my husband & I will be roasting even though she has on long sleeves pants, & a sweater!!!! But when I feel of her legs & feet, they are like ice-sooo....she probably does feel cold. Anyway, that is my theory.

My mother is the same way. She is, like most elderly, not usually really sufficiently hydrated. I wonder if there may not be a correlation between hydration and internal thermostatic efficiency. Note that in general most people are not sufficiently hydrated but not as badly dehydrated as the elderly tend toward.

I'm not aware of your mother's body weight, but with may seniors reduced body weight and lose of muscle mass are also contributing factors to feeling cold.

The furnace runs when it's 80 degrees and last year during the polar vortex she wanted the air conditioner on. Everyone in our neighborhood saved money on air conditioning this summer because it was cool. Not mom. She ran the furnace and the air conditioner. Had a few rows over it too because as I told mom,you can't run the air and the furnace at the same time. As Gilda Radner said as Rosanna Anna Dana said, "It's always something"

She's either REALLY cold, or maybe has neuropathy in her feet. My feet can feel like they're burning up, but not to the touch. My mom's feet used to turn white and be ice cold, but not to the touch. It was neuropathy.

My Mom doesn't seem to feel anything. She tells me the shower is too hot. No matter how much cold I add, she'll insist it is hot. Sometimes she'll say it is cold, and it is hot.

As far as neuropathy, my dad recently went to a Rheumatologist (sp) and he was able to help him.

usually their blood is thinner and circulation is the problem. she is 80 something. she has a right to feel anyway she wants.

The whole body on fire thing can be a hot flash, hot flush due to a medication, or an allergic reaction.