Correct temperature for an elderly person.

If she's all there with her cough drops (sounds like it), is reasonably active and could afford to increase the temperature but doesn't want to, then surely it's not really anyone else's business. She's probably old school – wears a warm vest and puts on a cardigan when it's cold.

She sounds very sensible. Good for her!

18%. Minimum temperature with no health risk although you may feel cold [Age concern thermometer; keep one at work where the temperature is 9% -15% at the moment]. Ideal temperature is 21% Always think it's best to have a bit of heat 'in hand' in case of a power cut though.

below 16%; risk of heart attack or hypothermia if exposure is prolonged.

I wonder whether a person might fail to realise how cold they are getting as they may be quite used to it? I mean, until it is dangerously low? I am all for vests and cardis, but a background temp of 21 sounds a much safer option. She may be less mobile and sitting huddled in a chair doesn't do a lot to help your circulation. I would definitely encourage her to turn it up a bit - at least while it is so cold outside.

Hunt

My dad is the same. He simply does not like being too hot and will put the heating up if he feels the need. I think we are all so use to wacking the heating up and wearing too little clothing, because we can. It doesn't mean we are right and they are wrong, just personal choice. It is another kindly thought on your behalf but I don't think you have any reason to be concerned.

Did she give you your cuppa?, just read you other thread.

Hi Pogs

I did get my cup of tea,
She said that the 3 pints of milk which she had would have been just about ok till Saturday but she said that she would have to be careful where as now she can have all the drinks she wants.
She had got plenty of bread in the freezer and things like wallnut cake, cheese oven chips, fish and tins of stew so she will not starve.
She did say a visit was always welcome but she did not want me to put myself at risk.
I supose I am no longer a spring chicken at 63.
I will phone her during the week even if I can not visit her.
I must admit I tend to set my thermastat at about 19 degrees centigrade but I think there is a lot of difference between me and somebody who is 86.

Frank

And thermostats might not be totally accurate. Mine is on 20 but my age concern thermometer says my house is only 18%. [By the way it's nice that you're such a good neighbour, Frank ].

When the weather is really cold, I leave the boiler on and the thermostat at about 15 overnight and turn it up when I get up in the morning. Mostly it doesn't have to come on during the night, but occasionally if it gets very cold it just maintains the temperature. By day, it's usually 18 but in the evening I bump it up to 20.

Hunt/Frank

So pleased .

Seveal things to consider:

1) Most importantly,can she actually tell,if she is cold?
For example,when she thinks she is warm enough "I feel warm enough" What does she feel like to you?
Are her hands,ears,face,nose warm? for instance...
If she is warm to the touch,even though you feel chilly,(Perhaps being used to a hotter house?) then she is probably ok,and knows what she is doing.
In the "olden days,we wore more clothes,and were more physically active, and so did not need the heating as high as modern day "wussies"
It may be,that ordinarilly during the day,when she is not sitting still for very long periods,she may actually be warm enough,especially if she makes a habit of using a rug,putting on an extra layer,when she sits down "for a bit"

2)If,on the other hand,those parts are cold (and probably cold lower legs too)
Then its likely that her internal thermastat is not as good as it used to be-ie,it is not telling her,that her body is too cool-and of course,that is dangerous.
so then her heating does need t be a bit higher-and suggest a rug etc too.

itsnevertoolate I don't think Frank can start feeling bits of his elderly neighbour to find out if she is warm enough.

Every time I scroll down the active list and see the title to this thread, something inside my head clicks to 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4.

lol. I've just taken a chicken out of oven if that help's absent

absent lol!!!

(about Frank feeling bits of his neighbour)

absent, I doubt if she could object to his shaking her hand!

anno But she might be a bit bewildered pt to say worried if he starts feeling her legs and nose.

Might be the highlight of her day - "such a nice young man"
PS To say at 63 you are no spring chicken HunterF - well to some old boilers you are !

Hum.....maybe my user name should be "absent" as I failed to spot the name Frank at the bottom of his message!....
Still,if they are quite friendly,perhaps he could explain what he wanted,and why? or?

itsnevertoolate Your post was hugely sensible and, as anno says, she won't mind or even notice shaking hands which could well provide a useful guide to how she is keeping. I just thought the idea of HUNTERF dutifully touching heads and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes… was quite funny. I think a lady of her age is probably too modest to want a younger man feeling other bits of her body, unless he's a doctor.

And no – you can't have absent as your name. I started out as absentgrana because my grandchildren are all in New Zealand and grana is the name they chose for me. 'Smine.

Hi gracemum

You said ''PS To say at 63 you are no spring chicken HunterF - well to some old boilers you are !''.

My father tried to keep lively as long as possible and I intend to follow him in that respct.

Oddly enough he had some trouble convincing hospital staff they had the right records when he was 88.
They thought he looked about 75.
Another lady was embarassed as she had asked him for help with putting her disabled mother in her car about a week later.
She said she would have not asked him had she realised his age but I don't think age comes into this, It is how fit you are etc.
Oddly my father was 4 years older than the mother.
The only thing I am not now not confident in doing now is climbing ladders above the second floor window.

Frank

My elderly aunt's house was always freezing. She bustleded about, in the depths of winter, in a cotton frock, pouring sweat, while her visitors teeth were chattering. Strange metbolism? High BP? I don't know.