O, wind, if winter comes,
can spring be far behind?
- Percy Bysshe Shelley, Poet
A cooling draft of air across your cheek can be a pleasant experience on a warm day in August, but that same cooling draft is less enjoyable when experienced inside your home during winter months. Our rural home was built 40 years ago, and like many old homes has its share of old inefficient windows. Old Man Winter sneaks through those windows on windy days, so when Mom comes to visit in the winter, she invariably heads straight for the warmth of the comfy recliner next to our propane fireplace. Nor is she alone.
Seniors can be especially susceptible to even moderately colder temperatures even while indoors. To help reduce the potential for hypothermia (PDF 919 KB, Download Adobe Reader), the National Institutes of Health recommends that seniors set their thermostats for at least 68 to 70 degrees in the winter. For seniors on fixed incomes, however, the energy costs associated with maintaining a home at this temperature may be unrealistic. Low-income seniors may benefit from the Weatherization Assistance Program or the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Too, many of the weatherization tips discussed this month as part of the Energy Savers Blog would be worth considering for seniors.
Additionally there are a wide range of no-cost or low-cost strategies that can increase a senior's comfort in the home and supplement other heating measures: