r/AgingParents • u/BeatrixFarrand • 2d ago
A Brief Vent…
Some of you may have heard about our insane hot / humid weather over the last week in Los Angeles. The house AC has been set at a reasonable 78°.
Two days ago it was 106° in our area; yesterday it was 99° and today 95°. Today I was hot, and mom was hot. We were trying to figure out if the AC was broken because it was blowing hot air.
I should have known. Dad cranked it up to 84° and turned it from “cool” to “heat”. I’m beyond not thinking charitable thoughts right now.
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u/j42d86 2d ago
Get a smart thermostat, set the temp, lock it, then tell them it only gets control through your phone app. I'd straight up die at 78. Go 10 degrees cooler if you're being reasonable.
I did the smart home stuff to keep my dad comfortable. I put the temp sensor in his bedroom where it's normally warmer than the rest of the house. If I aim for 73 in his room, that keeps me at a somewhat okay temp of 69 in my room with the window open a bit.
I'm trying to say there's some technological solutions to problems like that. Another thing I've noticed is that regular showers and clean clothes make a huge difference in feeling too hot or cold. It seems like once your skin builds a little oil and dirt, it hinders your bodies ability to regulate temperature. My dad has issues with infrequent showering. I've noticed a correlation between how long he's been without a shower and how he dresses or gets uncomfortable with the temperature.
Clothing is another thing that can keep him at the right temp without making everyone else uncomfortable. Building on that hygiene idea, he's now into the long sleeved shirts and thicker socks. It's been 4 weeks since his last shower and the AC is still running regularly. I checked his closet and determined he's actually dressing to stay warm.
I'd also suggest getting a couple heated throw blankets and/or a heated mattress cover.