Mom barely moves around anymore, not even to slip on her own slippers. Wrapped up in multiple blankets, she's still cold, even with Spring here and the weather heating up. If she can't stay warm, she gets my Dad to crank up the gas fireplace. Problem is, I get overly hot very quickly. I live with them, and do my best to keep up with the housework. I have to be in the same room to babysit, otherwise my father comes searching for me. But I can't take this jacked up thermostat. I can't breathe, am dehydrated, and get chronic headaches from it all. When Mom occassionally moves around, she feels better and everything about her functions better and feels warmer. But she's well on her way to becoming an invalid slug. I love her, and feel bad calling her names. Please know I'm just venting. But I can't continue to do my caregiving job in an overheated house. Where do her rights end and mine begin?
There are electrically heated throw blankets now (smaller than a twin bed blanket) that might solve the problem or just buy a twin heating blanket. Any tic of a higher electric bill from the electric blanket will be more than paid for by a lower heating bill.
Polar fleece long johns are a life saver here. Fuzzy socks. Mom has an electric fireplace where you can have the "flames" on with no heat, so I do that as a psychological trick. Lots of fuzzy blankets and sweaters. I keep her well-supplied with cups of hot tea.
Often I remind mom that I'm in menopause now. Then she remembers her own menopause and has more empathy. (She used to run out in the snow in her nightie!)
I wear athletic shorts (with mesh inserts) and a spaghetti strap tank top, and keep my hair UP, whenever I'm at home - I did that all winter. I kept my bedroom window open all winter. I keep a 12" fan pointed at me constantly. I closed off the heat vent in my room. I drink a ton of water. I keep a spray bottle nearby and mist my skin as needed. Sometimes I walk straight into the shower - not even to wash, just to cool down. (It helps a lot.) I just got my hair cut shorter and thinned out in layers, just as a way to stay cooler now that it's warming up.
I don't know yet what summer is going to be like. I'll be darned if I'm going to live in this desert climate in summer (in menopause!) without the AC running!
The thing is, the cold person can always add layers, but there's only so far you can strip down when you're overheated. Even being naked wouldn't help some days!
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I would dress your mom in thin layers. Cuddle duds or 32 degrees are both good brands that are helpful in keeping a person warmer. A lightweight down comforter can line her chair and then wrap around her to keep her cozy. An artificial candle might help relax her without putting out heat.
Of course poor circulation, malfunctioning thyroid and adrenals, poor diet, lack of exercise, insufficient sleep all play a part in body temp. Some of your mom’s meds might be affecting her body temp.
As you say it is warmer outside now, can you make her a nice place to sit outdoors to soak up some rays?
It’s a real thing that some people are too cold so try to rule out all the medical ones. Keep a log on her diet. Pay attention to when she seems more comfortable. Add healthy fat to her diet like coconut oil, avocado, olive oil. Protein powders can be stirred in soups to boost her protein. Make sure she eats an egg with her breakfast. See if any of that helps to strengthen her. Of course she needs to move. Reward her for walking about the house. There are exercises she can do in her chair. Check out “Sit and be Fit” on PBS. Just gentle stretches can help. Ask her doctor to order PT or OT to get her going.
I know being overheated is as uncomfortable as being too cold so do what you can to address any issues and compromise with mom. You might want to clean early in the day, have fans in the area where you sit or work. Fans don’t actually cool the air, they just move it away from your body which makes you feel cooler. Sit a frozen bowl of water in front of the airflow to blow on you. A constant ice water drink is helpful. A room where you can cool off is also helpful. Try cooking in a slow cooker or microwave when possible. Wear loose cotton. Eat frozen grapes. Lol. I know it’s hard. Hugs.
I'd get a little personal fan that I'd keep turned on and one of those wraps that go around your neck that you soak in cold water...beyond that, I've got nothing.