When to worry about parents’ cold house
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Anonymous
| My mother who is thin, frail, and anemic is always cold, but keeps her home at 65 F all fall through spring. She thinks she can’t afford to heat it any higher, even 68. She only lives in three rooms, but won’t downsize. I visit her 1-2 a week for hours to provide care. I’m miserable cold the whole time. I keep on my coat and hat. I wear fingerless gloves and drink hot tea. This can’t be good for her, right? |
Anonymous
| We grew up in NJ with the thermostat set at 65. We had baseboard heaters in our room with an individual thermostat. My siblings and I all slept on the second floor and had to turn our thermostat down to 55 when we left for school. It was fine. |
Anonymous
|
There is nothing wrong with heat at 65 - 68.
Many families turn the temps to 55 overnight. |
Anonymous
| 65 is fine. |
Anonymous
| I keep my house at 68. Anything higher dries me out terribly. Give her a warm sweater (and bring one for yourself). |
Anonymous
| You should get your thyroid checked. 65 is not “miserable.” It’s mormal |
Anonymous
| There are a lot of safe space heaters now. Maybe get some of those? |
Anonymous
|
65 is fine if someone is comfortable in that temperature. My mom (for example) has always kept her house cold. Growing up, she closed all the vents in her bedroom and it was like an icebox. Now she's 82 and lives in an apartment building with a lot of other old people, they all keep their heat so high she barely uses hers!
But OP's mother is uncomfortable and "always cold". She isn't keeping the heat low because she wants to, it's because she's worried about money. And yes, being cold can cause health complications. Op--could you offer to pay her heating bill or would she refuse? |
Anonymous
| Well, I’m not comfortable unless it’s 74 in the winter and 80 in the summer. People are different, some are frugal. |
Anonymous
|
Options
pay her bill yourself and turn it yo whatever you want. Change it to 68 and don’t tell her. Bring a space heater for the room you are in. Don’t listen to the 65 is fine crazy people |
Anonymous
No don't. If she forgets to turn them off they aren't safe. My inlaws did this too and I was freezing. I have thyroid issues. I learned to layer up.If she isn't shivering, she is fine. |
Anonymous
| I would look into winterizing her house as much as she'll allow. |
Anonymous
Get an oil filled space heater. Very safe. Takes a little while to heat up, but the radiant heat is really good. See if you can recalibrate the thermostat so it reads 65, but actually is more like 68-72. |
Anonymous
| 65 is fine! |
Anonymous
| I would offer to pay her electric bill every month if it’s in your budget. |