An aspect of looking after elderly people that is often overlooked is knowing what the ambient temperature should be.
In most modern spaces adjusting the temperature of the room is an easy task, but sometimes it can be difficult to know what the best temperature is at any specific time.
To summarize quickly, the best temperature for an elderly person’s living space is around 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) and for the bedroom, a slightly lower 64 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius) is more appropriate.
And for the bathroom, it is best to keep the temperature between 71 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (22 to 24 degrees Celsius). Once you have adjusted to these temperatures it is best not to change them too much.
This is because the older you get, the less apt your body is at coping with extreme temperatures.
While this may have been the quick version of the answer you are looking for, it is important to know all the details surrounding this information as they may change the preferable temperatures required.
Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about the perfect room temperature for elderly people.
What Is The Importance Of Room Temperature?
Before knowing which room temperatures are best for different rooms, it is integral to understand why changing room temperature is important and why it can be so impactful for older people specifically.
We will list some of the most important points here:
Retaining Body Heat Becomes An Issue
The older you get, the more difficult it becomes to retain and keep your body heat at the correct level. This is because older people lose body heat a lot faster than younger people.
This is due to generally having less fat underneath the skin that would usually act as an insulator.
Body Temperature Is Often Difficult To Notice
Once you get older it gets more and more difficult to notice when changes are happening in your body, this materializes in not being able to notice when your body temperature increases or decreases.
This can be a symptom of a condition like dementia but can also be a side effect of some different medications.
This lack of perception over temperature makes it difficult for older people to know when the temperature is causing issues which is why keeping a stable room temperature is so important.
Sudden Changes In Body Temperature Can Cause Serious Issues
Sudden changes in temperature getting hotter or colder can cause a variety of different illnesses. A common example of this is getting a cold can devolve into something much worse if the room is at a colder temperature than it should be.
This can lead to incorrect blood pressure and respiratory issues that could even turn into a heart attack or a stroke.
Cold temperatures especially can be very damaging like in this previous example, but do not overlook the dangers of excessive heat as this can cause a litany of issues too.
What Is The Exact Best Room Temperature For Older People?
While there were some general guidelines listed in the earlier section, there are other factors that can affect what is the best temperature for specific individuals.
Some of these important factors to consider include; body weight, diet, levels of hydration, as well as specific medically diagnosed deficiencies.
A lot of these factors will change how people experience temperature at any age, but when you get older these factors become more and more impactful and important to keep track of.
Medication is also worth considering as this can make the experience of different temperatures fluctuate, so this is definitely worth keeping track of.
While sometimes it is not as important, personal preference is also worth considering as while it often does not affect health, it does impact comfort.
But as previously mentioned, 70 Fahrenheit (21 Celsius) is best for the living space, 64 Fahrenheit (18 Celsius) for the bedroom, and between 71 and 75 Fahrenheit (22 and 24 Celsius) for the bathroom are the best temperatures for the sake of an elderly person health.
However, you can adjust this slightly based on the factors previously mentioned, these guides, while they work for a majority of people, do not work for all and should not be treated as such.
How To Check If The Room Temperature Is Safe
As mentioned earlier, the elderly people who are in a room will not have the most accurate read on the temperature due to sensory issues that develop with age.
This is why the thermostat should be checked and adjusted regularly to keep tabs on the temperature, and you should make sure to check that your thermostat is accurate on a regular basis.
You can also buy thermostats that will check the temperature of specific rooms or even download some apps that will cover this.
How To Stay Warm Or Cool Enough
There are other ways to keep older people comfortable other than adjusting the room temperature, we will quickly cover some of the most effective here:
How To Stay Warmer
The most obvious advice for this section is to make sure to be dressed appropriately and wear more layers for extra insulation. Blankets are also a great comfort for extra warmth. Thermal vests and electric blankets are helpful too.
Drawing curtains as the sun goes down insulates heat and exercising indoors will keep you warm too. Use a fire if you have it and using a thermos to keep hot drinks handy is useful.
Make sure you are prepared for the winter months by getting your boiler checked before the season starts.
How To Stay Cooler
Keeping hydrated is key for older people in the heat and having a constant source of shade to avoid the sun is important.
If older people are showing signs of tiredness, dizziness, headaches, or excessive weakness this can be a sign of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, and they should be treated immediately.
Conclusion
Make sure to take all precautions when you know older people will be facing extreme temperatures as they are much more sensitive to them! And for normal days follow the guidelines on perfect room temperatures.