He lives an a basement and it doesn't heat properly. He says the temperature is at 66. I try to explain that is too cold for my mother and my other brother and he does not want to help the situation. I need to know what can I do.
I agree: 66 degrees is too cold for a 90-year-old woman. We rarely use our forced air heating (propane) because we can't afford it. (61 degrees upstairs right now in our house). Lots of good ideas here: electric throws or blankets, head coverings, thermal underwear, etc. Or you might offer to help with the heating costs. No snarkiness intended. Heating costs in some places are truly over the top.
Here you can buy a chair cover that works like a ‘space blanket’ to reflect body heat back to the sitter. Together with an electric throw on top, it should help a lot. Find really comfortable warm footwear – fur lined boots can be very stiff to sit in. Also very comfortable head gear that covers the ears, as we lose a lot of heat through our heads. Heating the body is far far cheaper than heating the whole area, if brother is worried about cost. .
Insulation, particularly of the door that leads upstairs, is really important as heat rises. Another good option is a low-wattage electric panel that attaches to the wall close to where she sits. This does virtually nothing to heat the room, but it stops the body from radiating heat to the cold wall, and that can make a substantial difference. DH engineer is very good on thermo, which is quite tricky to understand.
Tiodit, who's idea was it for your Mom to live in your brother's basement apartment? Is Mom able to get up and down the stairs to the apartment? How much hands-on care does your Mom need? If she needs help with bathing and dressing, is your brother ok with helping out.
I was thinking maybe your brother is keeping the heat low as a quiet suggestion that it is time for his Mom to move out. She can't be happy there.
First I agree that 66 degrees is not warm enough for most sedentary people. I keep my house at 65, but in the evening when I sit to watch TV, I keep a warm down throw over me and at least one cat and dog. It is too cold for when Mum comes over and I boost the thermostat ahead of her visits.
Depending on the source of heat and the cost of fuel, it can be challenging to warm up some spaces and basements often are poorly insulated. I know the basement in my house is much cooler than upstairs, both are heated with the oil furnace. I use an oil filled radiator for an extra heat source in the basement. I also hang a heavy blanket over a doorway that does not have a door, otherwise the heat escapes up the stairs.
If Mum is living with your brother, perhaps you can offer to purchase a electric heater to use in her space?
I assume Mom lives with the bro? I think my partner and I have this heat cold argument every winter and it's good winters in San Francisco are never too cold. I love the cold and he loves heat. I recommend Vermont Country Store for their good thermals. Silk long underwear is great once on, but cool when first put on. If this is a matter of fuel cost, offer to help. Often it is a matter of one person more ACTIVE (that is me) and one not active (that would be my partner and any 90 year old I guess). Hope that they will work it out. Think of feather tick for Christmas with a pretty duvet cover, or one of those fleecy robe things, that look like a cozy backwards robe. Warm slipper and a knit cap help. The cap especially.
Silk long underwear is the single greatest invention ever. I got mine from Land's End's catalog, and it kept me from dying when I moved from the beach in Southern California to Denver -- in January. :-)
Does your mother live with your brother?If not, then no need to call APS. In some states it’s very expensive to run the heater. If your mother lives there, does she pay her own way? Perhaps your brother would turn the heater on if you or mom helped pay the electric bill?
Similarly, you could offer to help with insulating so the basement apartment doesn't lose heat as quickly. Start by researching any grants that are available or by installing foam outlet socket sealers, weatherstripping for doors and windows, or window kits.
First off, 66 degrees is way too cold for anyone at the age of 90. It's too cold for me, and I'm only 61. If your brother won't raise the thermostat a few degrees, you can buy an electric throw for your mom. I always bought them at Bed Bath and Beyond for my husband, as he was always cold natured, but I'm sure you can find them elsewhere and online too. Either that or an electric blanket like someone suggested would work as well. You certainly don't need your mom catching pneumonia because it's too cold where she's living. Tell your brother that he needs to thinking of your mom other than himself.
Get her an adjustable electric blanket. They have some very nice ones on Amazon, soft fluffy and warm. I bought my mom an electric throw because she gets cold easy too and it has worked out great.
There are some that are shaped like shawls, but a regular cap or shawl can also be useful to retain body heat if she doesn't move around much. Hot water bottles can be good for cold feet.
Of course one needs to be aware of the usual safety issues. Modern throws shouldn't get hot enough to burn anyone and should automatically turn themselves off after three hours or so, but still shouldn't be wadded up and left alone if they are on. Be aware of where the cord is to reduce tripping hazard and keep it out of any recliner mechanism.
Insulation, particularly of the door that leads upstairs, is really important as heat rises. Another good option is a low-wattage electric panel that attaches to the wall close to where she sits. This does virtually nothing to heat the room, but it stops the body from radiating heat to the cold wall, and that can make a substantial difference. DH engineer is very good on thermo, which is quite tricky to understand.
I was thinking maybe your brother is keeping the heat low as a quiet suggestion that it is time for his Mom to move out. She can't be happy there.
First I agree that 66 degrees is not warm enough for most sedentary people. I keep my house at 65, but in the evening when I sit to watch TV, I keep a warm down throw over me and at least one cat and dog. It is too cold for when Mum comes over and I boost the thermostat ahead of her visits.
Depending on the source of heat and the cost of fuel, it can be challenging to warm up some spaces and basements often are poorly insulated. I know the basement in my house is much cooler than upstairs, both are heated with the oil furnace. I use an oil filled radiator for an extra heat source in the basement. I also hang a heavy blanket over a doorway that does not have a door, otherwise the heat escapes up the stairs.
If Mum is living with your brother, perhaps you can offer to purchase a electric heater to use in her space?
There are some that are shaped like shawls, but a regular cap or shawl can also be useful to retain body heat if she doesn't move around much. Hot water bottles can be good for cold feet.
Of course one needs to be aware of the usual safety issues. Modern throws shouldn't get hot enough to burn anyone and should automatically turn themselves off after three hours or so, but still shouldn't be wadded up and left alone if they are on. Be aware of where the cord is to reduce tripping hazard and keep it out of any recliner mechanism.
What are your other brother's circumstances - does he have care needs too?