Older adults who spend the majority of time at home often need to work in order to keep their homes at the right temperature. Room temperatures can impact health and comfort, so you may want to help them find the ideal temperature for each room depending on their preferences.
Today, we’ll explore the recommended room temperatures for the elderly, why this is important, and how you can support your loved one in maintaining a safe, pleasant home environment.
Why Is Room Temperature Important for Older Adults?
An elderly relative’s home temperature settings may not be high on your priority list, but a too hot or cold home can impact daily living.
There are several important reasons why achieving the correct room temperature is important, including:
- Difficulty retaining body heat – Older adults may have a more difficult time retaining their body heat, meaning they lose heat much quicker than younger people. People aged 65 years or older are more susceptible to heat-related health issues, as their bodies find it harder to regulate temperature effectively. In severe cases, complications can arise, such as dehydration or hypothermia.
- Temperature effects everyday life – Older individuals may find daily activities more challenging when living in too hot or cold conditions. Their sleep quality may change, along with their appetite and energy levels. These changes can cause decline in health and well-being.
- Impacts on health conditions – Subpar temperatures can also impact existing health conditions, such as arthritis and respiratory illnesses. For example, prolonged exposure to cold temperatures can cause muscles to tense, causing extreme pain and fatigue for people with arthritis. When not managed well, the temperature can exacerbate symptoms and negatively impact quality of life.
- Increased risk of injuries – Research has shown that 20% of cold exposure-related injuries occur within the home. This makes it all the more important to maintain a consistent, comfortable temperature within your loved one’s home, to support their physical well-being.
What Are the Recommended Room Temperatures for the Elderly?
The recommended temperatures for older adults changes depending on the room of the house.
The Living Room
The living room is where most people spend their time, so finding a comfortable temperature is essential. The recommended temperature is 21°C and above. This keeps the room warm, inviting and comfortable enough for daily activities.
The NHS recommends keeping living rooms between 19°C and 22°C. However, it may take some trial and error to find the best temperature for your loved one, depending on their energy levels and mobility.
Bedrooms
Many professionals recommend keeping bedrooms cooler than other rooms in the home, as this can promote restful sleep. The NHS recommends 16 to 20°C for bedrooms, although other sources advise against going below 18°C.
Along with this, we recommend setting your loved one’s sleep space with lots of light layers to prevent them from getting cold. Encourage them to wear breathable cotton pyjamas and add layerable blankets near their bed that they can add and remove in the night.
Bathrooms
Bathrooms are typically one of the coolest rooms in the house, especially if they have tiled floors and walls. The NHS recommends keeping the bathroom at 22°C to ensure warmth and comfort during bathing and getting dressed.
Water temperatures should be kept below 44°C for safety. If you’re worried about your loved one scalding themselves with hot water, you can add temperature limiters to the taps.
How Can You Check the Room Temperature to Make Sure It’s Safe?
Older adults may not always be able to feel the temperature of a room reliably, and they may think they’re comfortable when actually too hot or too cold. For this reason, it’s important that you set up a tracking system to ensure each room remains at its optimal temperature.
There are several ways to do this, such as:
- Install a thermostat: Thermostats can be added to each room to help you set and record their temperatures independently.
- Place thermometers around the house: A cheaper alternative to thermostats, but thermometers can only read the temperature rather than changing it.
- Install heat sensor technology: Plenty of technology, such as video cameras, now have the technology to read temperatures of the room they’re in.
How Weather Changes Affects Room Temperature
As the seasons change, weather conditions can affect the temperature of your loved one’s house. To keep their homes comfortable and safe, it’s beneficial to know how to combat weather changes.
Practical Tips for Keeping Rooms Warm in Winter
Extreme cold temperatures can worsen existing health conditions like asthma, arthritis and psoriasis.
To keep rooms warm in winter, you could use:
- Draft excluders
- Thermal curtains and window insulation film
- Blankets, electric blankets or hot water bottles
- Fireplaces
- Thermal vests and leggings
- Additional rugs and other soft furnishings
- Exercise and staying active
Portable heaters may seem like a beneficial idea, but they often don’t heat a room for long periods of time. They can also be a fire hazard and increase the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Practical Tips for Keeping Rooms Cool in Summer
Hot weather can increase the temperature inside, and UK homes are often designed to trap heat. Extremely warm indoor conditions can worsen existing conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes and mental health conditions.
To keep rooms cool in summer, consider:
- Opening windows on each side of the house to keep cool, fresh air circulating
- Dressing your loved one in light, breathable layers that can easily be removed
- Keep curtains closed and avoid areas where direct sunlight hits
- Stay hydrated
- Turn off non-essential appliances and heating systems
- Spend time in the coolest room of the house
- Use portable fans
How Country Cousins Can Help
Keeping the home the correct temperature can be difficult for older adults, especially if they lack the ability to adjust thermostats or open tall windows. At Country Cousins, our live-in carers can keep on top of household maintenance to ensure each room is at a safe temperature at all times.
We can:
- Regularly keep an eye on thermostats and change them to ensure they’re always in a safe range
- Check the home regularly to find drafts, hot spots or other issues
- Monitor symptoms of individuals during heatwaves and cold weather and act in an emergency at the first sign of heatstroke or other worrying symptoms
- Ensure medications are stored correctly at a safe temperature
- Continue to check in with individuals to ensure they’re comfortable, and update loved ones when necessary
Our compassionate carers are dedicated to offering the best standard of care throughout the year, ensuring clients remain happy and confident at home.
Talk to Our Team Today
If you are concerned about a loved one or would like support at home, you are not alone.
Country Cousins has been providing compassionate elderly care in people’s own homes since 1959. Our experienced team is here to listen and guide you at your own pace.
Give us a call today on 01293 224 706 should you have any questions about home care. Our experienced team is on hand to help from Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm. Alternatively, contact us through our online enquiry form.
