For many, including those in their golden years, the winter offers peace and beauty. But some challenges come along with it. Although it can be quite pleasant to watch the white snow while gathering alongside your family during the holidays, it also brings some serious challenges for your health, even when you are indoors.
This winter, let us furnish you with information about what is the ideal temperature for your senior apartment in Bisbee, TX. Particularly, what this means is to first find and then maintain the household temperature that would be safe for you.
Why the Cold is Dangerous
Being in a cold room for just 45 minutes can have a significant impact on those in their golden years. This is enough time to decrease the strength in most muscle groups, including the quads or also known as thighs, which are essential in helping someone stand or walk and preventing falls.
Also, as a person ages, their sensitivity to cold increases. This is because the fat under the skin, which used to act as an insulator, thins out. As a result, an older person is more prone to feeling cold.
Older folks who struggle to keep their bodies warm may risk getting hypothermia. The consequences of having a body temperature below 95°F can include heart attacks, liver damage, and kidney difficulties.
Summers Can Be Dangerous Too
Although being in the cold is a more serious concern for elders, health issues may also arise if the house is warmed above the eighty-degree (80°) mark. High temperatures can result in dehydration which could, in turn, accelerate other illnesses. Heat and humidity could also cause mold and fungus to grow in their room.
Furthermore, as a person ages, they will not perspire as much as they did when they were younger. The body’s main mechanism to adapt to heat slows down. When exposed to too much sun or heat, this could lead to a life-threatening situation.
Check the Room Temperature
Keeping in mind what we just read, it is not safe to rely on just how cold or hot you might be feeling at any given moment. You should get a thermostat installed in the room and refer to it regularly so as to keep the situation in your own hands.
Best Room Temperature for Seniors
Ideally, 65 degrees Fahrenheit would be the best room temperature in cold weather for those in their golden years. This should provide just the right amount of warmth without being too cold or hot.
Some people prefer using Celsius, and if you are one of those people, then the temperature would be between 18 to 25 degrees Celsius. Between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius, the room would be cool but not too cold. At 25 degrees, the room would be warm but not too hot to cause any health issues.
Here’s an additional tip to keep warm during sleep: Because you don’t move much while you sleep, your body will not generate as much heat as when you’re moving about. An electric blanket can also be useful to maintain a healthy temperature!
