An expert has revealed what temperature people of a certain age should heat their homes to as December continues to be a chilly month.
Older Brits should keep their homes at a steady temperature (Image: Getty)
Pensioners over the age of 70 should keep their homes above a certain temperature, an expert has explained. As a rule of thumb, the NHS says that people should heat their homes when temperatures outside fall below 15C. Meanwhile, experts say that, in general, you should set your thermostat to around 18 to 20C when switching your heating on. However, this depends on the age of the people living in the household.
Neil McKenzie, home safety expert at Halton Stairlifts, explained that the thermostat should be adjusted accordingly depending on the age of the people using it. “Most people are heating their homes incorrectly for their age bracket, which on one side can lead to health issues and on the other, unnecessarily high energy bills,” he said. He revealed how warm the home should be for different age groups, including people aged 70 and over.
He revealed that thermostats should be set to between 20C and 23C for people over 70. This is because older people need to maintain proper warmth to ward off serious health concerns.
“This is because elderly people have significantly reduced circulation and often take medications that can affect their body’s temperature regulation,” Neil said. “And cold homes for over-70s aren’t just uncomfortable, they can be dangerous.”
Meanwhile, Age UK recommends that older people heat their rooms to at least 18C. This should mainly be areas like the living room and the bedroom, where people tend to spend the most time when at home.
Neil added: “For homes with children, you should aim for temperatures between 18-20°C in main living areas during the day. Although this can be reduced to around 16-18C at night when children are tucked under duvets.
“This is because children tend to be more active than adults around the home, so they generate more body heat naturally. This means they actually need slightly cooler ambient temperatures than you might expect.
“Adults under 50 can comfortably maintain their homes at 18C during the day. This provides adequate warmth while helping to manage energy costs during the winter months. In fact, many adults actually sleep better in cooler rooms around 15-16°C, provided they have appropriate bedding.”
