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.
Get her a mattress pad that heats up You apply the mattress pad to the mattress and it has to be plugged in but I have found they are great for keeping warm
Help her to take a warm/hot shower or bath that will warm her up. Then she can apply the heating appliance you are getting her. Also make sure she has socks on.
The only thing about heating pads, is they have to be heated constantly. Not only that, but they can cause Erythema Ab Igne, which leaves deep dark red marks on the skin and take forever to fade. Maybe try a nice soft warm hat. They sell them on amazon.
Look for lightweight undergarments like silk or polypropelene worn for camping and outdoor activities. They provide a comfortable layer of insulation without being too heavy or hot for indoors.
I got her a beautiful washable lightweight down winter coat. She wore it year round.
I kept shawls in the trunk so she could have an extra wrap (or three) whenever she felt cold.
Her favorite things were electric blankets and we had multiple- one on her bed (along with an electric heated mattress pad) and electric throws wherever she liked to sit. Our favorite brand was Brookstone and I noticed they now sell at Costco. If you cover them with another blanket while “preheating” they are significantly more effective.
They don’t survive many washes.
The biggest problem may be getting her out of her cozy bed.
My mother was always freezing to the point of shaking. We bought her Cuddle Duds to wear under her clothes, alpaca-knit fingerless gloves to wear in the house and lots of sherpa fleece. She also loved those packs that you put in the microwave to heat up.
Asfor the reason why, it could be a million things. My mom was severely anemic and had advanced kidney disease, both of which plaited into this.
And yes, the head. I forgot that I now have to wear a winter cap on my head or I'm not able to sleep. There are also fleece lined socks and fleece lined slippers. Doesn't she have one of those devices that help a person put on their own socks? I have one. It is plastic with two cords attached. You put the sock on the plastic, and pull it on with the two cords.
Alpaca socks for women are very warm and very soft. Bought some for my mom who is always cold too and I got some for myself to try them. They are my go-to socks in the winter.
Yes, it is her blood circulation. When it isn't circulating enough, then the warmth of the blood does not get into her hands and feet, and particularly her chest. I don't know how to help her because I am 75 years old on Nov. 27th and have just realized that when I checked the weather reports and it said 75 to 80 degrees, my first impression was, "Oh, it will be cold out today!" I never would have thought that when younger. All I can say is turn up the heater to 80 to 85 degrees and see if that helps. If you can't stand the same temp, you guys may have to start sleeping in different rooms. Have you tried a heated blanket? Amazon also has heated gloves.
This post made me laugh. My mom is 88 and in good health, but she is also one that if it’s 75-85 outside “oh I better get my jacket it’s cold outside “. And of course I say mom it’s NOT cold outside! Being born and raised in central Florida it does NOT get that cold!! So now I just say mom get your jacket it’s 80 out and the wind may be blowing 5 mph and you will be freezing. Lol 😂 another reason we don’t live in the same apartment…..her ac is on 80, mine is on 74…..😅🥶
Of what does her diet consist? Is she able to eat good healthy foods? This may seem rather simple, but I've found that it makes such a difference. I'm often chilled until I eat, then I can feel the warmth from the food as it's "processing."
If she's not restricted in her diet, you might consider something like heated cider. It doesn't have the array of ingredients that hot chocolate does (unless you make it from scratch, which we did before it was available in packages). Herbal teas could help as well, as do good hearty soups.
Not to be personal or blunt, but what kind of underwear does she use? Some of the fancy nylons aren't very warm, nor are some of the cheap cotton underwear products.
I also double up, wearing either a sweatshirt or t-shirt underneath another sweatshirt. During really cold winters, I also wore either 2 pairs of sweat pants, or leotards underneath sweat pants. Surprisingly, the leotards kept me warm.
Another thing I wear is dancer's leg warmers, worn over the sweat pants. These are especially warming on cold winter days when snow shoveling is on the agenda. I also wear men's hunting socks. They're so superior to the mass produced women's socks.
Does she exercise, or walk around, just to generate energy?
Can you tell me how tight the men hunting socks are? We struggle with socks for our LO as she complains about all being too tight. I keep looking for warm alternatives and even if I go larger she finds them tough to get on… thanks for the suggestion!
Great thoughts about thyroid, JoAnn. She has an under active thyroid and is on levothyroxine, but maybe it’s time to get the blood level checked. I’m sure the dementia doesn’t help, but I had not considered the thyroid. Blessings!
Calories=heat. If she's not eating much, that can easily contribute to feeling cold. Long underwear worn underneath her clothing also helps a lot with staying warm.
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.
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.
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.
You apply the mattress pad to the mattress and it has to be plugged in
but I have found they are great for keeping warm
or bath that will warm her up.
Then she can apply the heating appliance you are getting her. Also
make sure she has socks on.
which leaves deep dark red marks on the skin and take forever to fade. Maybe try a nice soft warm hat. They sell them on amazon.
I got her a beautiful washable lightweight down winter coat. She wore it year round.
I kept shawls in the trunk so she could have an extra wrap (or three) whenever she felt cold.
Her favorite things were electric blankets and we had multiple- one on her bed (along with an electric heated mattress pad) and electric throws wherever she liked to sit. Our favorite brand was Brookstone and I noticed they now sell at Costco. If you cover them with another blanket while “preheating” they are significantly more effective.
They don’t survive many washes.
The biggest problem may be getting her out of her cozy bed.
Asfor the reason why, it could be a million things. My mom was severely anemic and had advanced kidney disease, both of which plaited into this.
Doesn't she have one of those devices that help a person put on their own socks? I have one. It is plastic with two cords attached. You put the sock on the plastic, and pull it on with the two cords.
another reason we don’t live in the same apartment…..her ac is on 80, mine is on 74…..😅🥶
If she's not restricted in her diet, you might consider something like heated cider. It doesn't have the array of ingredients that hot chocolate does (unless you make it from scratch, which we did before it was available in packages). Herbal teas could help as well, as do good hearty soups.
Not to be personal or blunt, but what kind of underwear does she use? Some of the fancy nylons aren't very warm, nor are some of the cheap cotton underwear products.
I also double up, wearing either a sweatshirt or t-shirt underneath another sweatshirt. During really cold winters, I also wore either 2 pairs of sweat pants, or leotards underneath sweat pants. Surprisingly, the leotards kept me warm.
Another thing I wear is dancer's leg warmers, worn over the sweat pants. These are especially warming on cold winter days when snow shoveling is on the agenda. I also wear men's hunting socks. They're so superior to the mass produced women's socks.
Does she exercise, or walk around, just to generate energy?
Blessings!
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.
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.
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.