Two story house. Upstairs bedroom with window air-conditioner unit. She claims it is "noisy" , but it is not. It hums like a airplane ride. It is tragic to watch a person want to suffer. Me? I cannot "sleep and sweat", lol Wven if I pre-empt and cool the room, close windows while she is downstairs, once she takes the stairlift ride up, when I arrive, she has turned it off and opened the windows to let in the ninety degree air. Any suggestions?
You are preaching to the choir with ALL of us with this question. Winter: her place needs to be 85, (electric heat so my bill is over $400) a long sleeve shirt, a sweat shirt, and then one or two blankets.
Thank God she has her own "area" in my house. I wear underwear and a tank top when I am in her place. (10 degrees outside) Her answer, "I am comfortable."
Summer: 103 degrees outside. No fan on, no air. Her place MUST be about 90 degrees. I walk into it and sweat is pouring down my back and neck before I reach the chair she is in WITH A BLANKET ON.
I say.............."MOM. I can't stand it in here!"
Her response, "I'm comfortable".
THEN I WILL TOUCH HER SKIN AND IT IS COOL!! Go figure.
Now that I am in her place, pretty much 12 hours a day, we have compromised. (and I run to her walk in tub/shower to cool off!)
Good luck, but let her be! it will NOT hurt/kill her. (On the other hand, if you stay with her in her room, it WILL kill you;)
But she wasn't " suffering " with the heat. She was comfortable. If this is just her room and not yours, leave her be. If you share the room, is there someway of not doing so?
Also, A/C removes moisture from the room, fans blow directly in one area or if they're oscillating move air in a limited arc range. There's more directed air movement from a fan than from central A/C unless you're right in front of a room unit or in front of or underneath a register for a central A/C system.
And remember that older people aren't as active as their sons and daughters. For some, most of their day is spent sitting; they're not up and about cooking, cleaning, and keeping active. They don't need A/C as much as we do.
Another device that does provide some cooling by virtue of its function is an air filter. And it could complement a fan by filtering out from the air minute particles and dust blown around by a fan, helping to keep the air more breathable.
I agree with others who've advised to let her keep her fan, and check her hydration.
Mom passed 6 months ago and Dad is now in senior living in an apartment he could have as cool as he wants.... this is what is confusing, he turns off the A/C so the room is now a toasty 80 with the outside temp creeping up to 100. Say what?
I don't know if he is subconsciously setting the apartment warm thinking my Mom is there or what. I know his caregivers try to sneak the A/C on so that they won't roast.
We keep telling him having it so hot isn't good for his health. Yet he will complain it is cold. Now, the ceiling vent, the air does bounce off the wall and down onto his recliner. We thought of moving the furniture around but then he would lose his window that he enjoys looking out from his recliner. Will try one of the plastic deflectors.
See All Answers