If you have aging loved ones living at your house, you probably hear them always complaining about how cold your living room is, even though it’s set to the usual. This sensitivity to cold is in fact what intrigued researchers at the University of Utah Health in Salt Lake City recently.
The truth is nothing’s “as usual” as you age. It’s not just your love-hate relationship with exercise that changes, how your body responds to temperatures also takes a different turn.
The Older, the Colder
There are many reasons your aging loved ones become more sensitive to temperature. One of them is the fact that as bodies age, there’s a decrease in metabolic rate. This means the body isn’t as efficient anymore as before when it comes to producing heat that keeps the normal temperature at 98 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, the skin becomes thinner and thinner, making it harder for the body to conserve heat.
What You Can Do
The simplest thing you can do to help your elderly loved ones is to adjust the temperature in the room properly. The proper temperature is the temperature they’re most comfortable in. Make sure your AC is in good working condition. Small problems in your unit may cause erratic changes in temperatures. So, it’s best to have your unit checked regularly by AC repair experts like Whipple Service Champions.
Another thing you can do is to give them warm beverages and encourage them to eat big meals. The latter helps in producing body heat as the body digest food. Of course, it also helps to leave layers of blankets in their bedroom and couches they frequent on.
Sensitivity to cold is a common struggle of seniors. The older people get, the colder they become. As their family, it’s your responsibility to keep your elderly loved ones comfortable.
