Cold all the time! Any ideas?

This also was the case with my father who had congestive heart failure and my husband's sister, who had COPD. It could be a circulation issue. Do you monitor her oxygen to see if it is at a good level (90 or above)? There are oxygen monitors you clip on a finger for a minute or so that you can purchase. Consult with her doctor to see if there is a medical reason. There may not be much that can be done to improve her situation. Your idea of a heating pad sounds good. Get one that has an automatic shutoff or thermostat so she doesn't risk being burned.

Sparkielyle, sorry I didn't get a chance to respond to your inquiry about men's hunting socks.  I couldn't find the size and other info tag, but I thought of something I used that's even better.   And apologies if anyone else has suggested this; there are so  many responses that I didn't take to read them all.

I used dancer's leg warmers.   I began wearing them decades ago when I walked during cold weather.  I wear them at home during winter power failures.    They also were perfect for shoveling snow during cold weather.

And unlike socks, they're not straight w/o conformance to the shape of legs.   They're graduated, so they're more conforming to leg size.

https://www.discountdance.com/dancewear/warm-ups/knitwear/page1?styleFocus=4444&camp=GoogleShopping_4444&utm_source=GoogleShopping&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=4444&utm_campaign=Products&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIu527pZed9AIVOm1vBB0KUwWaEAQYASABEgInc_D_BwE

or just go to Discountdance.com and search for leg warmers.

If you do buy a pair for your mother, make sure they're the ones without straps across the feet. 

Hope this helps.

Is she able to use Flannel Sheets? I live in a apartment where the heating is not the greatest and Flannel sheets are very helpful for me. I know you can find some at places like WM, I know found some in the past at places like the dollar stores and yard sales. Also you can make a heatable rice pack that she can use anytime, even while she is sleeping. You place it in the microwave to heat it up. There are patterns and instructions for these on the internet.

You can get some slippers at the drug stores that have stuff in the toes and you put them in the microwave and then it keeps your feet warm, if your feet are warm the rest of you is usually warm.
I use them because I have Fibromyalgia and so my feet go numb, and the slippers really help with the circulation.
You could use that and also the same thing with a neck heat wrap you put in the microwave, those two things alone should help.

I use Handwarmers. They last up to 10 hours.

Your wife needs to have her thyroid function checked again.

Check iron levels, get turtleneck pjs or at least a soft scarf and keep a hat on her head inside and out. Also you can either buy a buckwheat bag that heats in the micro for her hands and feet or make your own.

My 95 year old mum lives with me and we are at opposite ends of the scale. She is always cold and I am always hot. So she has layers of clothes, a hot water bottle, a microwavable heat pad, a fleecy blanket and hot drinks, whilst I am in a tee shirt sitting in front of a fan. And when I put the heating on for her it feels stifling for me!!! She has a degree of heart failure and her circulation is bad. She has also got quite thin so all of it contributes to her feeling cold. I think it's just another thing we have to deal with as the body ages.

A lot of elderly people tend to feel rather cold because of decreased circulation, but I think it could be a serious heart problem that should be checked out by a doctor very soon.

Poor circulation?? That's why nursing homes are always so warm. There's probably nothing else you can do depending on her age. My mother was the same way the last 10 years of her life. She passed at 85 and had leaky heart valves. Too old for surgery.

Thermal underwear, undershirts and socks under street clothes everyday and a sleep cap at night. Items named by many others sound effective too. You will need to experiment to see what your wife enjoys most.

Terrysmellgood: Imho, perhaps she needs to be seen by her primary care physician for starters, who should then provide her with a referral to the proper specialist.

its a side effect from the pills!! GABBAPENTIN , XANAX, & A FEW OTHERS ,(PLUS THE SKiN THiNS AS WE AGE)

I would suggest first to have a doctor check her circulation system, and if all checks ok. Get her a personal space heater she can put on when she feels cold. Alzheimers has various effects on patients. You have to understand that she might just perceive she's cold but you as her care giver have to address the problem as best you can. Sorry hope things turns out ok for you.

Warm: tea, coffe, apple cidar with cinnamon soup or stew a couple times a day. Small extremely low dose asprin for blood flow is used by a relative of mine. Fleece lined lounger top and bottom with hoodie if possible. Fleece booties and or sox. Flannel sheet set including pillow case if possible. Fleece throw, light but can cover the whole body. Fleece sox can also be used as house mittens. Soak feet in warm water, massage to increase blood circulation, and apply vapor rub before putting on sox and house shoes. Fleece soxs can be purchased at Dollar Tree for $1.00. Last of all, laughter, pleasant scenery even if its from a television show or movie, preferably tropic and just plain beautiful.

My mom is 83 and her hands/feet are always cold. Her thyroid levels are fine but her RBC count has been low. She is taking Geritol with iron, but she does not eat much. I suspect there is a problem with her digestive tract, perhaps internal bleeding. She has an appointment coming up with a gastroenterologist.

Check with her doctor for health concerns. Usually feeling cold all the time is a symptom of a health issue: anemia due to low absorption of iron, low thyroid hormone levels, poor function of the heart... Also some medications can cause this as a side effect - namely thinking of blood thinners.

There could be several medical reasons - anemic, hypothyroidism and other things I'm sure I'm not aware of. Both of those I mentioned could be shown in bloodwork. Maybe mention it to her doctor so they can run some routine bloodwork.

Depending on her age, alot of older people are cold all the time. It could be from routine things that just happen as we age - diminished circulation. Also loss of muscle and body fat, slower metabolism or the inability to move fast enough to generate heat.

Has her thyroid been checked? My mom's was out of whack and it caused her to be freezing all the time. Now that it is regulated again she isn't experiencing being cold all the time. All the best to you and your wife.

One thing I learned from living in a cold climate for a while was that if you can't keep your core warm, the rest of you won't be warm either. I learned to hold something warm against my lower abdomen or between my thighs in bed, and I'd get warm immediately. Try a hot water bottle or a heating pad on low in those areas.

During the coldest Colorado days, I often used those ThermaCare pads meant for sore muscles, and I'd stick one on my abdomen or high on my inner thigh to warm my femoral artery area. It worked like a charm and they stay warm for 12 hours. It's not a cheap alternative, but when you're really freezing, they're great.

Definitely ask her doctor if those are safe for her to use, though. They get pretty warm, and I wouldn't want her skin to be damaged.

I only use plush blankets for my mom. They are very warm and lightweight. She likes two or three at a time and loves how soft and cozy they are. I also bought a small hot water bottle with a pretty cover on Amazon to hold on her lap and found that if her hands are warm she feels warm all over.

One of the biggest side effects from chemo was how bloody cold I was...always! I wore a knit cap, even at night...maybe especially at night. I had warm fuzzy mittens, a heated blankie that was split half way up so I could have it up and over each shoulder, and down my lap. I wore one pair of leggings under regular pants, and a mens tee shirt under a sweater. Flannel p.j.'s, and used flannel sheets. This was in July and August. Wish I would have thought about the mens hunting sox!

Put her blanket, sweater, pants, socks— whatever she is wearing in the dryer for a warm up and then put them on her. She will love it.
also- an excellent thing to do with towels after bathing.

Ask the dr if there is indications in labwork that would cause cold all the time. Then ask pharmacist if any meds might cause it. Other than that, some folks are just cold and get colder the older they get. Often home health people or those who do home visits, find elderly with heat on when it is very hot outside. They nearly pass out from heat while the elderly person is still complaining of the cold. If there is a heat duct near her, put a directional cover on it to direct the heat to her. That can help. They make smaller heated throws to cover with. Buy her only winter clothes.

I'm a cold all the time and used to keep a heated throw in my chair at work. For the life of me, I never understood why all those hot-natured women in the office had to run out and buy new winter clothes to be fashionable when they should have been buying summer clothes year round. It was a constant battle at the thermostat!

Try peel and stick toe warmers (they stick to the bottom of the foot over the sock ) Some brands get pretty hot, others not so much, but when someone is very cold, warming up the feet warms the whole body. Toe warmers can be expensive if used a lot- 50 cents to one dollar for each use which lasts 4-8 hours. Hot hands toe warmers get pretty hot but Little Hotties brand and Grabber brand don't get as hot. Most people use them when they are going to be outside in the cold for an extended time. Anyone who dreads going outside in the cold to go for a walk should try them.

Read side effects of meds. That may be the problem.

My husband has A. D. and often feels cold.
His doctor said that since the brain is dying (and the hypothalamus, temp controller, is in the brain) temperature control is not working properly.

Could be as simple as a result of taking anti-histamines, or it could be blood pressure related.
Get a full check-up. Go to a gym with a hot tub perhaps.
Best wishes.

Seniors get cold!
You should keep the temp at least 76 degrees.
Let her wear 100% soft cotton insulated long sleeve top and bottoms with a warm flannel night gown on top.

Not a good idea to use heating pads because of burns but you have the best idea already about letting her have an electric blanket to keep warm with.

I believe they also sell blankets with holes for your arms to stick out.

Remember that a nice soft non tight hat will keep the warmth of her body in and nice soft bootie like socks will also keep the warmth in her body.

You can also keep a thermos close by that has warm tea as the fluids will be good for her.

Yes--the body's ability to regulate temperature can decline with age. Temperature regulation can be affected by the dementias as well.
A 'Yes!' vote for hats and a thyroid level check. You can find inexpensive, lightweight fleece caps at any Target, TJ Maxx, etc. (basically a tube with an end sewn shut). They are easy to launder and not bulky.
I'm a fan of those quilted or polar fleece vests under whatever outer layers are in use.
I have a heated mattress pad that has separate controls for each side of the bed--it's nice to get into a warm bed as it gets colder.

Many if not most people with an underactive thyroid feel cold all the time, even on a hot July day. These are the people who wear a sweater when other people are wearing shorts! If your doctor hasn't had her take a thyroid test for quite a while, schedule an appointment right away.

My dad had to wear a stocking cap all the time, summer or winter. Keeping his head warm helped. Also before I’d give him his shower I’d take a small portable heater into the bathroom and get it really warm in there before it was time to undress. These things helped him not be as chilled.