What Is the Ideal Room Temperature for an Elderly Person? Research has shown that the average and safe room temperature for older adults is around 78 degrees. To prevent an elderly adult from becoming too cold, it is recommended that the room temperature never falls below 65 degrees.
One heating and air conditioning company recommends maintaining indoor temperature between 68 and 74 degrees; similarly, the researchers behind that European study recommend that seniors keep the temperature at 68 degrees or warmer.
There's also a maximum temperature a senior's home should reach. This is around 25.5 degrees Celsius (78 degrees Fahrenheit). Above this point, a senior may begin to experience the symptoms of heat distress.
For an older person, a body temperature of 95°F or lower can cause many health problems, such as a heart attack, kidney problems, liver damage, or worse.
Dr Carmel Harrington, author and sleep specialist at Sleep For Health, says: Our ideal body temperature for sleep is 18 to 19 degrees Celsius. Every degree above that makes it harder to sleep – and anything over 25 degrees can make for a very uncomfortable night.
Comfort temperatures
Owing to variations in humidity and (likely) clothing, recommendations for summer and winter may vary; a suggested typical range for summer is 23–25.5 °C (73–78 °F), with that for winter being 20–23.5 °C (68–74 °F).
In science, 300 K (27 C or 80 F) can also be used as room temperature for easy calculations when using absolute temperature. Other common values are 298 K (25 C or 77 F) and 293 K (20 C or 68 F). For climate control, a typical room temperature range is from 15 C (59 F) to 25 C (77 F).
What Is An Unhealthy Room Temperature? For babies, pets, and the elderly, or for those who suffer from respiratory, lung, or heart disease, anything below 68 degrees and anything above 74 degrees for a prolonged period of time can cause serious health concerns.
While 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit is considered normal, it can vary slightly from person to person and fluctuate slightly in a single person and still be regarded as normal.
You might feel thirsty, dizzy, weak, uncoordinated, and nauseated. You may sweat a lot. Your body temperature may stay normal, but your skin may feel cold and clammy. Some people with heat exhaustion have a rapid pulse.
Traditionally, the “elderly” are considered to be those persons age 65 and older.
Providing warm beverages such as tea/coffee or a cup of Milo or Soup. Warming the bed with an electric blanket, or by layering blankets rather than using just one heavy blanket or doona. Dressing in layers rather than heavy clothing, and starting with basic thermals such as a vest.
For older adults
The typical body temperature range for people older than 65 is 96.4 F (35.8 C) to 98.5 F (36.9 C).
Research has found the ideal sleeping temperature is around 17 to 19 degrees Celsius. If this level can't be provided then it helps to have air flowing over your skin to help cool your body. Good ventilation with an open window can help.
How cold is too cold? Below 13° - If your home is this cold, it may increase your blood pressure and risk of cardiovascular disease. 14-15° - If your home is this cold, you may be diminishing your resistance to respiratory diseases. 18° - This is the recommended night time bedroom temperature.
For example, the ideal temperature of a living room should be around 20 to 22 degrees. This is a room for relaxing in, and where you sit for long periods of time, meaning it should be on the warmer side. Meanwhile, the best temperature for a bathroom or child's bedroom should be warmer too at 22 to 24 degrees.
Over 65 years: Some older adults may have a lower baseline temperature than younger people. A normal oral temperature for this age group is 96.4–98.5°F (35.7–36.9°C).
Your normal body temperature is approximately 37°C. A fever is usually when your body temperature is 37.8°C or higher. You may feel warm, cold or shivery.
Hypothermia is a dangerous drop in body temperature below 35C (normal body temperature is around 37C). It's a medical emergency that needs to be treated in hospital.
4Low indoor temperatures and insulation. Cold air inflames lungs and inhibits circulation, increasing the risk of respiratory conditions, such as asthma attacks or symptoms, worsening of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and infection.
For a vulnerable person, living in a cold home increases their chance of serious illness or death. They are at higher risk of a heart attack or stroke, breathing problems, flu, depression and falls.
The recommended room temperature is 16-18°C (61 to 64°F) for most people to get good sleep. Although exceptions do exist for the ideal temperature to achieve comfortable sleep. However, personal preferences vary from one individual to another, which is acceptable as long as you give your body the ambience it requires.
For summer, Direct Energy recommends that the ideal thermostat temperature should be 78 degrees Fahrenheit or 25 degree Celsius when you're at home. You should set the daytime temperature no lower than 78 degrees F (26 degrees C).
A comfortable room temperature for most people is usually between 18-20 °C, however it largely depends on the individual. Whatever the season, it is recommended that you use a thermostat to monitor how the temperature fluctuates throughout the day.
In practice, you should be heating your home based on the age and health of your household. The WHO suggests 20 degrees as the ideal temperature for the old, young or unwell. For healthy adults, you should heat your home to a room temperature that feels comfortable.