The ideal room temperature for men and women over 65 years of age, that temperature is 18 degrees C or about 65 degrees F. Any lower than that, and the risk to their health will be much higher.
During winter, everyone likes to stay warm and cozy, no doubt. For the elderly, however, staying warm can also be a matter of life and death. A home that’s too cold can cause health problems that an older person might not survive.
That’s why it’s vitally important that the room temperature where an elderly family member lives are kept at the ideal temperature.
Of course, a room that’s a little bit warmer is sometimes preferred and certainly won’t hurt an elderly family member. But, again, making sure that your loved ones stay warm during the winter is essential.
Statistically speaking, nearly 80% more elderly people die during the winter due to respiratory issues caused by cold temperatures. That being said, let’s take a look at some of the best ways to ensure that your elderly family members stay warm, safe, and healthy this winter.
Purchase a Thermometer And Place it Clearly in Sight
Amazingly, one of the biggest problems during the winter is that elderly folks don’t know the exact temperature and can’t control it correctly.
Many times they either can’t read the thermometer, or there isn’t a thermometer available for them to check. It’s a problem with deadly consequences but, luckily, with a simple fix. Simply purchase a thermometer and put it where are your elderly family member can easily read it. Even better, buy one that has big, bold numbers to make reading it even easier.
Purchase a “Smart” Thermostat
One of the new “smart” thermostats can be an excellent way to make sure that the room temperature inside your home is always safe for your elderly family members. One of the reasons why is that it lets you control your thermostat remotely. Nest is brand of smart thermostats that could pose as a good option.
You can quickly check to make sure it’s always at the right temperature from anywhere, right from your smartphone. That makes it easy to make sure your elderly family member is safe, comfortable, and warm at all times.
Keep The Lines of Communication Open
While we don’t want to assume that your elderly family member is feeble or doesn’t know what’s going on, that can sometimes be the case. Even if it’s not, keeping the lines of communication open is the best way to ensure that they stay in a comfortable and safe room.
Make sure to talk to them, check out the room where they’re staying, and make sure that everything is optimal.
Affordable Ways To Reduce Your Home’s Heat Loss
There are many ways to reduce the heat loss in your home during winter, and the majority of them don’t require a significant investment. Optimizing your home’s heat efficiency is the best way to keep your elderly family members comfortable and safe during the winter. They include:
- Purchase draft strips to go around and under any doors in your home that have gaps. There are also special brushes that do the same thing and reduce heat loss significantly.
- If you have radiators, bleed out trapped air. If your heaters have cold spots, particularly on top, that’s a sign they need to be bled. Bleeding simply means removing any air that’s trapped inside your radiator, which can cause them to work inefficiency.
- Use heavy curtains on your windows. Heavy, insulated curtains can keep cold air from entering into your home and keep it much warmer. Be sure not to hang them near any heat source for safety. Also, if some windows face the sun, make sure they’re open during the day to let heat in.
- Close any vents that are no longer being used. Unused, older vents can let out a lot of heat. Closing them up is the best way to keep that from happening and keep your home warmer.
- Use a chimney balloon. An amazing amount of heat can be lost up your chimney. Chimney balloons, which are specially made for chimneys, can be placed inside the flue and inflated to keep hot air from escaping.
- Put throw rugs on wood floors. 10% of the heat in your home can be lost through your floors if they’re not sufficiently insulated. For that reason, putting down a throw rug or even a blanket can be beneficial.
- Move any furniture that’s blocking radiators or vents. Furniture can absorb heat, leaving less to heat your home.
Let Texas Air Repair Help
If you have elderly family members living at home and want to make sure that they’re safe and secure during the winter, Texas Air Repair would be happy to help.
We can come out to your home and check to make sure that everything is working at optimal efficiency. We can also give you suggestions like the ones above to help you keep your home and your entire family, toasty warm all winter long.
Of course, if your AC or HVAC needs to be maintained, repaired, or replaced, give Texas Air Repair a call today. You can also leave your name and contact information below, and one of our friendly representatives will get back to you ASAP.
