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By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington. Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services. APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid. We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour. APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment. You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints. Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights. APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.I agree that: A.I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information"). B.APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink. C.APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site. D.If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records. E.This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year. F.You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
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Mostly Independent
Your loved one may not require home care or assisted living services at this time. However, continue to monitor their condition for changes and consider occasional in-home care services for help as needed.
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One of the most simple things is a knit cap, believe it or not. The head covering helps enormously with the loss of body heat some people suffer. As a Nurse practicing in San Francisco I cared for many patients who were of Asian background and ethnicity; their elders often were very slender with little body fat, and were chronically cold in hospital settings. Without exception, on any given night, every patient I had might be covered in a knit cap of some time. There are excellent fleece caps as well. If your Dad is able to think of putting on on, or you have a bulletin board in his room, you might place a reminder. Other than that, cozy knit sweaters that the staff understands should be worn for his comfort. Hope you find something that works.
Often elders barely move and so they get cold in what we would consider 'room temperature'. My mom is freezing all the time, but I am positive she walks less than 500 steps in a day. She wakes up cold and is cold all day. She dresses in layers and has a hot water bottle handy all the time. She also has some room heaters, which make me nervous, as she is a bit of a hoarder...but the apartment in YB's house has baseboard heaters and they are not going to raise the temp of a 3000sf home for the 800sf she lives in.
Blood thinners will also make you feel cold. DH is on them and is freezing all the time. Same thing, if I turn the heat to 78 so he's warm, I'm so hot I'm sweating all day.
He works from home so I put a room heater in the office and shut the door.
He also wears thermal underwear and always has shoes and socks on.
Keeping someone from getting too cold is a challenge. Once chilled, it is very hard to bring up the core temperature!
In my private duty nursing days, it wasn’t always possible to adjust thermostats and have heaters near my patients. I had worked in surgery/recovery unit where we had a blanket warmer. So, in home settings, I often followed suit and placed blankets in the clothes dryer. Of course, you may want to wait a minute or so after taking blanket out of a really hot dryer, so as not to burn the patient. But your patients will LOVE being wrapped in the cozy warmth!!!
An extra layer of clothes against the skin may help, thermal underwear or SunGard shirts and pants. I used a layer of cotton and then a layer of synthetic clothes. Heating the room to 78-85 degrees helps too (temperature range my grandmother and parents preferred after about age 85).
My mom with a thyroid problem also had cold feet during her last years. A heating pad turned on low placed in the foot area when one is sitting or in bed seemed to help a lot. Make very sure you do not get the heating pad too warm and in contact with the person as it is VERY easy to burn someone before you or they even know the heat is burning them (I have burned myself this way treating sinus problems). I placed the heating pad on low under my mom's blanket with her feet on top of them. When I would pull the blanket covering her feet back to check, her feet and the blankets around her feet would be as warm as the blankets near her thighs. There are several products on Amazon, search by "foot warmer for bed".
We used a small ceramic heater in the room near her because it is safer than a coil radiant heater; it's cooler to the touch and more difficult for anything to come into direct contact with the heating element; many of them include a safety device to turn them off if it gets tipped over.
If you use multiple layers of socks or a thicker sock, be sure the shoes are still loose. If the shoes are even slightly tight, the feet will actually be colder than with thinner socks and a looser fit.
Fingerless gloves (where the fingertips are open) helped Mom in the house during winter. She would tolerate the fingerless gloves when she didn't like wearing full/normal gloves.
Serving food and drinks at least room temperature when he is feeling cold may help too. If you're already cool, the cooler temperature of anything you ingest affects you more. That being said, I did serve Mom's soup and coffee at a cooler temperature when she became more feeble. I was afraid if she spilled it, she might be unable to get away from the hot liquid in her lap and be burned.
I always worry about elders suffering thermal injury from anything that provides heat for a sustained time, even at a low level. A hot pack heated in microwave and wrapped in a pillowcase or thin towel is ok as the heat will steadily decrease over time. If using anything electric, be sure it has an automatic timer to turn it off. The point about hot foods is a good one...even when it looks like nothing was damaged, 24 hours later you can see the burn when it blisters out.
Make sure his clothing isn't synthetic; it doesn't hold heat like natural fabrics do. Dressing in layers helps as well. During winter I often wear a t-shirt underneath a sweat shirt, or 2 sweat shirts.
I also bought hunting socks, which rise to the knee. They're thick, but really, really warm, the kind I bought being double knit. I haven't checked out hunting gloves, but I think mittens would be more appropriate. You might contact Cabelo's or other sports stores to ask what hunting gear they have. I once began a set of quilted mittens, with about 1" of batting between fabric. (I never got around to finishing them though.)
Do you knit or crochet? If so, you can make coverings for his head, hands and other areas subject to cold. Use 2 strands of yarn instead of one, and use good quality yarn.
The popular fleece blankets are also warm, but they're not made to cover as well as a blanket would. Two overlapped would help.
Warm liquids and soup can help as well, as can smaller meals eaten more frequently. As I'm going through the old aging process, I was surprised to experience how much warmer I was just after eating. It was very noticeable.
I bought a hand warmer for my Dad from Tractor Supply. Looks like an old fashioned muff and runs on batteries. Really made a difference. Also any socks, scarves or vests made from Alpaca wool. Expensive but wonderfully warm.
DDD, sitting on anything electric with wires that need to be unhampered can be dangerous, as others have noted. Other than commercial application, such as heated seats in vehicles, wires are not made to be sat on, nor are heating pads. And an older person might not realize if heat is too hot, and/or if the wires become damaged.
Another issue with electric pads is power failure. As we continue to progress in climate change, the possibility exists of more severe weather, and more power failures.
I've found the fleece blankets to be very warm, but they're not long enough for a real blanket. They could work as lap warmers though, and they're not electrified. There are also blanket warmers that are like big cocoons, with slaps for the arms. They are warm, but the arm enclosures are so loose that cold air can still get in.
If you know any quilters, or are one, consider that. I made flannel quilts for my parents, and flannel duvets to enclose the quilts. They used them in their travels and during cold winters when they did stay here.
One way to double the value of a quilt is to make a large duvet that can encompass 2 quilts. It's kind of awkward to maneuver, but once both quilts are inside, it will be very warm.
Have you discussed this with a physician. It also sounds like a circulation problem. Perhaps there is a medical intervention that would help to keep him warm. Many warming devices can burn the delicate skin of the elderly so I would avoid those.
Several layers are always better than 1 thick layer. Look for flannel, polar fleece, and quilted items of clothing, Consider also getting him a lap blanket. A knit cap for his head will help. If this doesn't work, please have his doctor check him for circulatory issues.
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington.
Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services.
APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid.
We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour.
APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment.
You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints.
Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights.
APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.
I agree that:
A.
I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information").
B.
APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink.
C.
APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site.
D.
If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records.
E.
This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year.
F.
You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
Blood thinners will also make you feel cold. DH is on them and is freezing all the time. Same thing, if I turn the heat to 78 so he's warm, I'm so hot I'm sweating all day.
He works from home so I put a room heater in the office and shut the door.
He also wears thermal underwear and always has shoes and socks on.
Keeping someone from getting too cold is a challenge. Once chilled, it is very hard to bring up the core temperature!
My mom with a thyroid problem also had cold feet during her last years. A heating pad turned on low placed in the foot area when one is sitting or in bed seemed to help a lot. Make very sure you do not get the heating pad too warm and in contact with the person as it is VERY easy to burn someone before you or they even know the heat is burning them (I have burned myself this way treating sinus problems). I placed the heating pad on low under my mom's blanket with her feet on top of them. When I would pull the blanket covering her feet back to check, her feet and the blankets around her feet would be as warm as the blankets near her thighs. There are several products on Amazon, search by "foot warmer for bed".
We used a small ceramic heater in the room near her because it is safer than a coil radiant heater; it's cooler to the touch and more difficult for anything to come into direct contact with the heating element; many of them include a safety device to turn them off if it gets tipped over.
If you use multiple layers of socks or a thicker sock, be sure the shoes are still loose. If the shoes are even slightly tight, the feet will actually be colder than with thinner socks and a looser fit.
Fingerless gloves (where the fingertips are open) helped Mom in the house during winter. She would tolerate the fingerless gloves when she didn't like wearing full/normal gloves.
Serving food and drinks at least room temperature when he is feeling cold may help too. If you're already cool, the cooler temperature of anything you ingest affects you more. That being said, I did serve Mom's soup and coffee at a cooler temperature when she became more feeble. I was afraid if she spilled it, she might be unable to get away from the hot liquid in her lap and be burned.
Hope some of this helps.
A hot pack heated in microwave and wrapped in a pillowcase or thin towel is ok as the heat will steadily decrease over time.
If using anything electric, be sure it has an automatic timer to turn it off.
The point about hot foods is a good one...even when it looks like nothing was damaged, 24 hours later you can see the burn when it blisters out.
I also bought hunting socks, which rise to the knee. They're thick, but really, really warm, the kind I bought being double knit. I haven't checked out hunting gloves, but I think mittens would be more appropriate. You might contact Cabelo's or other sports stores to ask what hunting gear they have. I once began a set of quilted mittens, with about 1" of batting between fabric. (I never got around to finishing them though.)
Do you knit or crochet? If so, you can make coverings for his head, hands and other areas subject to cold. Use 2 strands of yarn instead of one, and use good quality yarn.
The popular fleece blankets are also warm, but they're not made to cover as well as a blanket would. Two overlapped would help.
Warm liquids and soup can help as well, as can smaller meals eaten more frequently. As I'm going through the old aging process, I was surprised to experience how much warmer I was just after eating. It was very noticeable.
Another issue with electric pads is power failure. As we continue to progress in climate change, the possibility exists of more severe weather, and more power failures.
I've found the fleece blankets to be very warm, but they're not long enough for a real blanket. They could work as lap warmers though, and they're not electrified. There are also blanket warmers that are like big cocoons, with slaps for the arms. They are warm, but the arm enclosures are so loose that cold air can still get in.
If you know any quilters, or are one, consider that. I made flannel quilts for my parents, and flannel duvets to enclose the quilts. They used them in their travels and during cold winters when they did stay here.
One way to double the value of a quilt is to make a large duvet that can encompass 2 quilts. It's kind of awkward to maneuver, but once both quilts are inside, it will be very warm.
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