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I am no longer a caregiver since my husband died of Alzheimer's. However, I live with my daughter and granddaughter. I live in the ADU, they live in the main house. I find that I feel chilled even though AC is set at 76. Would it make sense for me to turn on the heater and raise the temperature a bit? My daughter gets hot flashes so she thinks the temperature in the ADU is just right.

Whatever is comfortable for you is comfortable for you
I tend to keep my house a bit on the warm side in the summer and a bit on the cool side in the winter. The use of ceiling fans helps. And I do adjust if I am having company (my sister, she is on a blood thinner so she gets cold. and her husband always seems to wear shorts so when they visit...)
I know my Husband would get chilled but I always had a lap blanket for him. Polar Fleece pants and if needed a flannel shirt over a t-shirt.
If you are paying the bill for heating and cooling then keep the temp where it is comfortable for you. If you are not paying for the heating and cooling, offer to pay your portion of the bills.
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Reply to Grandma1954
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There is none. It will forever either be too hot or too cold.
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Reply to casole
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The surface of the sun.

And even then they’ll fuss about how it’s still too cold.
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BurntCaregiver Oct 9, 2025
LOL
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We had older relative with same issue. Wondered why.the aunt wore what I would call "out if season" clothes. Thin blouses, light weight slacks, nylon hose etc. I winder why so many older people do this. I will say my mother wore warm winter clothing. Maybe a few surprises of warm clothing along the way would help. I know it is very "sickening" to be in ovrrheated environment. Maybe at dr checkup can be advised not healthy with high heat. Basically, hang tough, keep your temp at the healthier cooler that you need and senior add warmer clothes.
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Reply to Memories42
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My parents always kept their house 80+ degrees. Now they are living with me. They are living in my finished basement. We turned it into an apartment setting just for them. They have everything they need down stairs. My mom always comes upstairs and opens my blinds and turns the heat up. It's 74 downstairs and its 80 upstairs. My husband is very hot natured and she turns the heat up he sets and sweats. It's definitely not fair to us. I don't know what to do about it. She complains about her and my dad being cold but refuses to use a heating blanket i bought them both and refuse to wear long sleeves 😖😤
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Reply to Marshab
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TrishaAlvis Oct 9, 2025
They moved in with you. There has to be some sort of compromise. My parents agreed to 73* winter and summer. We turned the heat/AC to a comfortable overnight temperature for sleeping as we work all day and need to rest comfortably. We bought them a quality "space heater" with automatic tip-over turnoff. They both used a heating pad and blanket, which made it easier on everyone. She has advanced Dementia, it really is time for the professionals to step in and she will adapt until her time comes. Visit often. Good luck.
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maylonie5, please note that prolonged exposure to high indoor temperatures, especially when there is no night-time respite from heat, can result in a range of adverse health effects, such as dehydration which can cause dizziness and confusion. Other health issues, heat can worsen existing health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and kidney problems.


Even scarier, symptoms of dementia and schizophrenia can be worsened by high indoor temperatures.  I remember way back, my parents would have their house at 80 degrees, which to me felt like I walking into a hot flash. It was Mom who always felt too cold. When she passed, Dad lowered the temp to 72 and I noticed he was feeling much better.
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Reply to freqflyer
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Makes me laugh. There was always a battle between me and my wife about the temperature. I told her if you keep the temp low you will get used to it. She did not agree. But I will tell you I keep the temp low in my house about 60. Or less. If I get cold I put on a sweater or something. My heating bill is never more than $50 a month.
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TrishaAlvis Oct 9, 2025
WOW!!!! 70* would have been a compromise. Glad you are well AND thrifty!
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If your unit has its own thermostat which doesn't affect the larger house, do what you want to be comfortable. Offer to pay extra if it's an issue of utility bills. I would be freezing at 76. Of course if they come to spend time with you, make adjustments for everyone's comfort.
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Reply to MidwestOT
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NO, you need to put on a jacket. My Mom keeps her assisted living at about 85 degrees. I have to turn it down to even breath in there when it is 107 degrees outside. I give her a blanket or sweater when I'm there.
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Reply to Lylii1
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No. It would not make sense to turn on a heater when there's an indoor temperature of 76 degrees. I feel sorry for your daughter having to have it that hot because she's suffering to humor you.

Put on a sweater. You can't expect everyone else in the house to live in the tropics because you're cold when it's 76 degrees. If you want the temperature set at roasting, move into your own apartment or house on your own and make it as hot as you like.
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Reply to BurntCaregiver
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maylonie5: Perhaps you can don a sweater.
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Reply to Llamalover47
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Age 65 here. I live in Florida. During the day I set my AC to 78. At night I take it down to 72. I think most of my friends in Florida keep it to 78 during the day to keep their utilities down.

The last year of Mom's life I had hers up to 80 or even 82 but she was tiny and got really cold. This was at age 88.
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Reply to brandee
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Do you have a separate thermostat? I think a comfortable temperature is subjective; it's whatever your body tolerates best. With hot flashes, keeping it cooler makes sense! If you are chilly, turn up the thermostat to 77 or 78.
It DOES NOT make sense to turn on a heater while the AC is set to 76.
Just turn up the AC temp a bit and put a sweater or throw blanket over you if you get chilled. Especially if there is only one thermostat which controls the entire main house and your unit. You are at the mercy of your daughter's comfort setting.
Try getting outside and moving around a bit, especially in the sunshine. That will warm you up.
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Reply to CaringWifeAZ
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When I visited my late father on hospice in late November 2013, the heater in the basement was cranked up to about 80 F. I could only spend five minutes there.
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Reply to Patathome01
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That's pretty warm IMO. My mom's memory care unit is around 72 or so I think year round. Get yourself a nice heating lap blanket and some warm socks. I would roast at 76 and I am cold natured and always have been. I wear layers since my husband is hot natured. Have you had your blood checked for low iron?
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Reply to JustAnon
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My air is on 77 and my DH complains he is cold. Can you close the vent? If not, there are magnet covers you can place over the vent holes. May help with cutting down the air. Unless you have a small heater you can't run both the heater and air.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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Not sure if your ADU is attached or detatched. Can you close or change the direction of vent? Perhaps purchase an electric blanket to cover yourself when sitting.

76 degrees seems very reasonable and depending on location the temp too high causes too much humidity. The moisture can cause all sorts of issues with electrical. I had that issue with my uncles house this summer.
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Reply to AMZebbC
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You can only remove so many pieces of clothes to cool off before you are naked, but you can put a lot of layers on to keep warm. Please don't cook your family in the ADU. My MIL kept her house at 80+ and I would get almost nauseaous whenever I went there. Made it very difficult to do any work in her house.

There are many reasons why an elder's body thermostat is running cold -- some has to do with medications and vitamin deficiencies, so maybe get checked by your primary physician.
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Reply to Geaton777
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I go through this with my MIL who keeps her house at 78 degrees. I get nauseated whenever I go to her house because to me it’s intolerable and suffocating. I’m physically unable to visit long because of it.

It’s her house so although I would like to see her do the basics like put on socks and shoes and long sleeves etc, if she wants to sit in 78 degrees so she can wear a thin sleeveless nightgown with a thin housecoat and no socks and slippers then she can do that.

I just can’t stay long when I visit.
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Reply to Bulldog54321
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I'd get several attractive sweaters or shirts that can be layered. Get them at a thrift store, so not expensive. Take off and put on through the day. I certainly wouldn't put the heater on when the AC is running.

Seems to me that whoever lives in the ADU gets to decide what the AC setting is. Or whoever pays the electric bill. Why can't you have an honest convo with your daughter about this? It seems like basic family communication!
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Reply to Fawnby
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JuliaH Oct 4, 2025
I agree to the discussion. Daughter is easier to control hot flashes than the elderly to stay warm.
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What is ADU? Do you have your own thermostat to control your temperature that is separate from the main house? We keep thermostat at 78F most of the year at my elderly mother’s house. Turn it up to 80 in cold months plus she has an electric heater tower in her sun room where she spends most of her time. Lots of throws and light blankets lying around. 78F plus ceiling fans seems to keep the caregivers content without freezing mom out. Space heater keeps the whole house from heating up to 85F in winter. Good luck. 🍀
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Reply to Beethoven13
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casole Sep 30, 2025
Beethoven, ADU = Accessory Dwelling Unit, kind of like a tiny house or granny flat.

In my area would a be a separate structure. But I imagine some are attached.

This thread has me dreading winter and the monitoring of the thermostat by my are asking my mom every five minutes "is it cold in here" and turning the heat up or down one degree everytime ❄️🔥❄️🔥
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Buy a Good cashmere sweater and Wool sox and some nice deer skin Moccasins and Open the window .
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