My wife suffers with being cold all the time. She’ll have blankets on her, wearing a jacket and is still cold, even though it is 74°. I’m getting her a full length heating pad, but any other ideas? Is there a biological explanation for this.
You put ur question under Dementia so I will assume your wife is suffering from it. This could be her problem, the Dementia. Those suffering from it tend to make more out of something than there is. Like a child.
I would have her Thyroid checked. It regulates our body temperature. If she has not had labs done in a while, I would have them done to see if it could be something else.
Warm: tea, coffe, apple cidar with cinnamon soup or stew a couple times a day. Small extremely low dose asprin for blood flow is used by a relative of mine. Fleece lined lounger top and bottom with hoodie if possible. Fleece booties and or sox. Flannel sheet set including pillow case if possible. Fleece throw, light but can cover the whole body. Fleece sox can also be used as house mittens. Soak feet in warm water, massage to increase blood circulation, and apply vapor rub before putting on sox and house shoes. Fleece soxs can be purchased at Dollar Tree for $1.00. Last of all, laughter, pleasant scenery even if its from a television show or movie, preferably tropic and just plain beautiful.
It's not uncommon that as we age we get cold natured, and having Alzheimer's/dementia certainly doesn't help with that either. When my husband was still alive he too was very cold natured,(and we live in NC) and wore either sweat pants or flannel pj pants along with a hoodie sweatshirt everyday, all year round, and kept the hood up tight around his head. Either that or he wore a winter cap on his head. He also kept covered up in 2 blankets. It sounds like you're doing what you can, but since we lose heat from our head, it may not be a bad idea to also put a hoodie or winter cap on her head as well. Best wishes.
People lose a LOT of heat through the head. (about 7 to 10%) Get her a cap or hat to wear. that should help a bit. I dressed my Husband in a lot of the Polar Fleece type material. The pants were great all elastic waist so easy to pull on and off. They wash and dry very quickly. And they are warm. Hands and Feet loose a lot of heat as well. Nice socks, if you check "outdoors stores" they have socks for outdoor sports that are battery operated and will stay warm. Same for mittens. If she will not wear mittens a good old fashioned Hand Muff might work.
Be very careful with the heating pads. Most now shut off after a while but heating pads can lead to burns. If at home in a controlled area a small space heater might work as well. make sure it is in a safe area and out of her reach.
Some medications also make a person feel colder. My sister is on a Blood Pressure med and she is always cold. A friend is on a blood thinner and she also is constantly feeling cold.
Put her blanket, sweater, pants, socks— whatever she is wearing in the dryer for a warm up and then put them on her. She will love it. also- an excellent thing to do with towels after bathing.
My dad had to wear a stocking cap all the time, summer or winter. Keeping his head warm helped. Also before I’d give him his shower I’d take a small portable heater into the bathroom and get it really warm in there before it was time to undress. These things helped him not be as chilled.
My 95 year old mum lives with me and we are at opposite ends of the scale. She is always cold and I am always hot. So she has layers of clothes, a hot water bottle, a microwavable heat pad, a fleecy blanket and hot drinks, whilst I am in a tee shirt sitting in front of a fan. And when I put the heating on for her it feels stifling for me!!! She has a degree of heart failure and her circulation is bad. She has also got quite thin so all of it contributes to her feeling cold. I think it's just another thing we have to deal with as the body ages.
Seniors get cold! You should keep the temp at least 76 degrees. Let her wear 100% soft cotton insulated long sleeve top and bottoms with a warm flannel night gown on top.
Not a good idea to use heating pads because of burns but you have the best idea already about letting her have an electric blanket to keep warm with.
I believe they also sell blankets with holes for your arms to stick out.
Remember that a nice soft non tight hat will keep the warmth of her body in and nice soft bootie like socks will also keep the warmth in her body.
You can also keep a thermos close by that has warm tea as the fluids will be good for her.
Ask the dr if there is indications in labwork that would cause cold all the time. Then ask pharmacist if any meds might cause it. Other than that, some folks are just cold and get colder the older they get. Often home health people or those who do home visits, find elderly with heat on when it is very hot outside. They nearly pass out from heat while the elderly person is still complaining of the cold. If there is a heat duct near her, put a directional cover on it to direct the heat to her. That can help. They make smaller heated throws to cover with. Buy her only winter clothes.
I'm a cold all the time and used to keep a heated throw in my chair at work. For the life of me, I never understood why all those hot-natured women in the office had to run out and buy new winter clothes to be fashionable when they should have been buying summer clothes year round. It was a constant battle at the thermostat!
I would suggest first to have a doctor check her circulation system, and if all checks ok. Get her a personal space heater she can put on when she feels cold. Alzheimers has various effects on patients. You have to understand that she might just perceive she's cold but you as her care giver have to address the problem as best you can. Sorry hope things turns out ok for you.
I would have her Thyroid checked. It regulates our body temperature. If she has not had labs done in a while, I would have them done to see if it could be something else.
When my husband was still alive he too was very cold natured,(and we live in NC) and wore either sweat pants or flannel pj pants along with a hoodie sweatshirt everyday, all year round, and kept the hood up tight around his head. Either that or he wore a winter cap on his head. He also kept covered up in 2 blankets.
It sounds like you're doing what you can, but since we lose heat from our head, it may not be a bad idea to also put a hoodie or winter cap on her head as well.
Best wishes.
Get her a cap or hat to wear. that should help a bit.
I dressed my Husband in a lot of the Polar Fleece type material. The pants were great all elastic waist so easy to pull on and off. They wash and dry very quickly.
And they are warm.
Hands and Feet loose a lot of heat as well.
Nice socks, if you check "outdoors stores" they have socks for outdoor sports that are battery operated and will stay warm. Same for mittens. If she will not wear mittens a good old fashioned Hand Muff might work.
Be very careful with the heating pads. Most now shut off after a while but heating pads can lead to burns.
If at home in a controlled area a small space heater might work as well. make sure it is in a safe area and out of her reach.
Some medications also make a person feel colder. My sister is on a Blood Pressure med and she is always cold. A friend is on a blood thinner and she also is constantly feeling cold.
also- an excellent thing to do with towels after bathing.
You should keep the temp at least 76 degrees.
Let her wear 100% soft cotton insulated long sleeve top and bottoms with a warm flannel night gown on top.
Not a good idea to use heating pads because of burns but you have the best idea already about letting her have an electric blanket to keep warm with.
I believe they also sell blankets with holes for your arms to stick out.
Remember that a nice soft non tight hat will keep the warmth of her body in and nice soft bootie like socks will also keep the warmth in her body.
You can also keep a thermos close by that has warm tea as the fluids will be good for her.
I'm a cold all the time and used to keep a heated throw in my chair at work. For the life of me, I never understood why all those hot-natured women in the office had to run out and buy new winter clothes to be fashionable when they should have been buying summer clothes year round. It was a constant battle at the thermostat!
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