How do you keep an elder warm without cooking yourself?

:)

Three dogs. You must be from Australia. I heard the cold nights there were Three Dog Nights.

Nope, JessieBelle - I'm in Boyds, MD. I just got carried away with rescuing. They're all very loved though!

Heated throw and a hat and gloves

Many times the elderly feel cold because they are on blood thinners. When I lived with my parents they had the heat cranked up but hey it was their house and their bill. Fortunately, they have individual thermostats in every room (what a great concept, why don't more build that way?) so I was able to retreat to my room and be in a comfortable temp. I'm back in my own place again. I keep my thermostat around 68 but I'm an upstairs apt and the people downstairs are elderly and must keep their heat full blast so i'm getting the "benefit" of their heat. At night I like it cooler so I turn it down to 66, crack the window a bit and keep plenty of blankets on the bed in case I want to get warmer.

My only advice is to remember to try and be in their shoes. Its not a good feeling to feel so cold inside that you can't get warm. I lived on a 1st floor with a cement slab and it made me feel so bone chilling cold I lived in those wraps, thermal pjs and constant cups of tea. I hated it! I felt I could never get warm enough to relax. That must be how they feel.

I get a taste of it all again when my daughter visits and she is always cold and being a lady of a "certain age" I am always running hot lol every generation has this battle.

try not to sweat it--literally and figuratively. And also look into getting into a monthly budget plan with your gas/electric companies. It helps with the bills because you know every month what you'll be paying.

NJCinderella -I fully agree with you that is terrible to be cold and not be able to get warm. I truly feel for my mother. It is also siffling to be too hot, and only so many clothes can be removed before being indecent! Lol.. Hence my ask for help. I've gotten a lot of good advice hete - thank you all!

I agree, GG. Sometimes we lose sight that the caregiver is important when we think about elderly or disabled people. Temperature stress is very bad for the health and for the disposition. It makes far more sense to keep the house temperature normal and to add space heaters, blankets, and clothing as needed.

I am all the time having to remind myself that I am as important as my mother. Our self esteems can get pretty low when caregiving. Pretty soon we can begin to feel that keeping our loved one comfortable is all the is important. This thinking can be reinforced by people around us. We really do have to keep the stress off ourselves to make our lives bearable. Whatever we have to do... I'm glad I can close off my vents and open my windows.

We keep both bathroom windows opened and in the bedrooms, plus the back door slider just wide enough for the heaviest cat to just squeeze in, great to have that cool air.

How I wish my parents would do the same thing... their home desperately needs the fresh air !!

There is a radiator type space heater on the market which I believe is the safest. I would suggest a steel pan underneath any space heater just in case it leaks or tips over. A pan also adds stability and a flatter surface for it to rest on - especially where carpet is involved.

Thank you, LearningCurve. I have researched space heaters and my concerns have been stability and safety on carpeted floors, since the main room it would be used in has plush carpet. Do they get warm underneath (fire factor) or are they insulated for heat protection?

The radiator type sits a little higher off the surface so I would think less likely to heat so much underneath. I would recommend a sizable lip on the pan - something like an oversized lasagna type. My safety conscious mind rests much easier and this setup has worked well for us on carpet.

Thanks, LC!

Seems to me that we have a bunch of whiners and complainers on this website. After your parent(s) are dead, will you regret the complaints you make and sacrifices that you make to keep them comfortable in their last years? My guess is yes because I have been there and done that. Read about hypothermia in the elderly, read about the depression of the elderly, read about the loneliness of the elderly and read about the loss of taste, smell, appetite, etc., and the loss of independence. Do you think they really want to live with you? NO. They would prefer to be able to take care of themselves in their own homes. Now grow up and deal with your issues like the adults and caregiver that you are supposed to be. Most likely they made concessions to take care of you when you were young but even if they were not perfect parents, that does not excuse you for basically mistreating them. Apologize to your parent for not being more understanding. Try to accommodate them for this ending of their lives. As I get older, rarely a day passes, that I don't whisper, "Mom, I am sorry, I did not understand" for some stupid comment that I made when she was alive. Again, I have been there and done that.

Gmafaye, I think these are the sorts of things that every person has to find out for himself. Like teenagers who think their parents are tyrants and slave drivers, we think our elders are fusspots and cranks... Until we get there ourselves.

Your heads-up point is forcefully made. It's just that I think you probably have to see it for yourself before you'll believe it.

Agree with CM although once again we are presented with an old post.
I have developed sudden onset hypothyroidism due to a medication and no it can't be stopped. but one of the side effects is being cold all the time so I totally understand. Hubby is cold too, a sign of old age for us both. We installed a wood burning stove in our living room and having that area with radiant heat helps a lot. I was given a heated lap robe for Christmas but as yet have not used it. Also for some one with dementia they can pose a danger not that I have dementia I hasten to add - but never say never!!!!!!!!

Electric blankets, mattress pad heaters, and heating pads.

gmafaye, on one post you wrote "Keeping a home too cold is the same as elder abuse.  Their blood does not circulate as well as yours.  Walk around in your bathing suit if need be but keep them warm."

I can understand what you mean, but what good is the caregiver if he/she is passed out from a heat stroke?  An elder will crank up the heat to 90 if no one is looking.   Yes, as one ages they feel the cold more, and medicine can have an effect on the inner thermostat.

It's not like we have the temp set at 65, that's not comfortable for anyone during the day unless one is doing a lot of physical work around the house, which many caregivers are doing.   There should be an comfortable level for both.

One thing many of us have learned... we will NOT put our own children through any of this.... we will make plans for our old age.

Mmm, woodburners, Veronica! I'm trying hard not to miss my old house, but oh goodness I do miss the woodburner. Only upside to not having one now is that I don't nod off and spend the entire weekend snuggled up in front of it!

My parents have it blazing 85-90 degrees in the winter, but cant deal with the hot in the summer... Is this physiological?