Thermostat wars!

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don - 11 Apr 2007 03:13 GMT

We have huge fights almost daily about the temperature in the house. It
could be 90 F inside, and my mother would still be complaining she was
cold. I, on the other hand, get ill when it's 75 or higher. Neither of
us are imagining it. Her hands are like ice cubes when I'm drenched
with sweat from head to toe.

In the summer, I have to have air conditioning on due to allergies, and
as soon as I turn it on, she starts bitching about it. I have one
little room that I can shut the heat off to in winter, but I can't air
condition just that room in summer. Anyone have any ideas or input
about this?

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Evelyn Ruut - 11 Apr 2007 12:09 GMT

> We have huge fights almost daily about the temperature in the house. It
> could be 90 F inside, and my mother would still be complaining she was
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> condition just that room in summer. Anyone have any ideas or input
> about this?

Hi,

We went through that too.

I changed a few things to help accommodate. First of all we kept the heat
at the same degree all the time, 24 hours, not turning it down at night or
up in the morning.

We went up a couple of degrees over our usual, to accommodate her a little
more, but without making us crazy suffocating, or running us broke. It was
warmer than we liked, but not as warm as she wanted.

Secondly I started dressing her more warmly. She was used to wearing
dresses and bare legs, I started dressing her in warm slacks and socks and
sneakers. I bought her some very thick, warm sweaters and put one on over
the top of her clothing every day. Then when she would sit and watch TV I
gave her a down filled throw, which she covered herself up with as she sat.
The inactivity makes a person more cold too, remember.

The air conditioning in the summer was always a hassle. We totally shut
off the vent in her bedroom and she only got what managed to drift in there,
while we at least got to sleep in comfort. I left heavy warm blankets on
her bed even in summer.

It may be a little thing, but be sure to get the persons thyroid checked.
It could be a little low, which also affects the body's heat.

Signature

Best Regards,

Evelyn

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J J - 11 Apr 2007 15:59 GMT

I too dress mom in warm sweats and give her a blanket as she sits and
watches tv---also put long sleeve sweaters and try to keep the temp at
70 t0 72---

summer time I bought me a window air conditioner and closed the door to
my bedroom. while I stay cool she stays comfortable in her own rooms of
the house.

JJ

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don - 12 Apr 2007 01:23 GMT

> summer time I bought me a window air conditioner and closed the door to
> my bedroom. while I stay cool she stays comfortable in her own rooms of
> the house.

I own several window air conditioners, but this house has the windows
that have hinges on the sides and crank open which don't work with
regular a/c units. Besides, if I only had a/c in one room, I'd almost
have to stay in the room from early spring until late fall.

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don - 12 Apr 2007 01:18 GMT

> I changed a few things to help accommodate. First of all we kept the heat
> at the same degree all the time, 24 hours, not turning it down at night or
> up in the morning.

I try to do that too. 72-74 in the winter and about 78 in the summer.

> We went up a couple of degrees over our usual, to accommodate her a little
> more, but without making us crazy suffocating, or running us broke. It was
> warmer than we liked, but not as warm as she wanted.

Same here. My house was always 68-70 in the winter, and I had a little
space heater near the computer which was in a very cold room.

> Secondly I started dressing her more warmly.

That's always a hassle especially in the summer when she insists on
wearing sleeveless tops and whatever they call those pants that come
just below the knee or even shorts.

> The air conditioning in the summer was always a hassle. We totally shut
> off the vent in her bedroom and she only got what managed to drift in there,
> while we at least got to sleep in comfort. I left heavy warm blankets on
> her bed even in summer.

I do exactly the same thing.

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Alan Meyer - 12 Apr 2007 01:00 GMT

Another useful aid is electric blankets. You can get them in
different sizes and colors, including smaller "throws" that are
perfect for someone watching TV on a couch or easy chair.

They're not expensive, are very warm, and use hardly any
energy in comparison with trying to heat a whole house or
a whole room.

Alan

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don - 12 Apr 2007 01:26 GMT

> Another useful aid is electric blankets.

I probably should have mentioned that she spends about 90% of her time
in bed under an electric blanket and has a portable electric heater
beside her bed. She still bitches constantly about how cold it is in
the house.

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Alan Meyer - 13 Apr 2007 01:03 GMT

...

> I probably should have mentioned that she spends about 90% of her time
> in bed under an electric blanket and has a portable electric heater
> beside her bed. She still bitches constantly about how cold it is in
> the house.

I guess there's no doubt that she really is cold!

She probably has serious circulatory problems and just
can't get heat out to her extremities, and maybe can't
generate enough heat.

I can't think of anything you could do that you haven't
done, but it sounds like you just need to do more of
the same. Maybe a hotter electric blanket, or a separate
heating pad for her hands, or a thermal blanket on top of
the electric blanket to hold the heat in, or a one of
those infrared radiant heaters aimed at her.

It sounds like a real bummer for both of you.

Alan

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deerwoodflower@hotmail.com - 15 Apr 2007 23:41 GMT

> ...
>
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
> Alan

Be very careful with electric blankets on the elderly.My mom is always
freezing too.It could be 100 out and should a breeze come up shes
freezing.We have raised our heat to accomadate her but we see it on
our bill too.When my dad was alive they kept there heat on at the very
least 80.I would have to sleep with a fan blowing on me all night.It
is hard.

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don - 16 Apr 2007 01:49 GMT

> Be very careful with electric blankets on the elderly.

I've thought about that, but hers doesn't seem to get all that hot. She
usually has it on one of the medium settings, and it automatically shuts
off after a certain time. With all those safeguards, I'm not too
worried about it.

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