Its 88 here today.
My parents have never had an air conditioner.
They don’t have a fan downstairs.
My mom, however, is wearing a long sleeved sweatshirt.
Are elderly people cooler than us younguns?
Elderly people should be kept cool in hot weather. They are less efficient at shedding excess body heat than younger people, they have a reduced sense of heat awareness (they don’t necessarily feel hot even when their body temperature is rising), and they often do not get very thirsty, even when they are getting dehydrated.
So make sure your elderly person is not over-dressed for the weather, that they wear sun protection, and that they do frequently drink cool fluids. Avoid alcohol or highly caffienated beverages, as they can lead to excessive water loss and (in alcohol’s case) a reduced awareness of self and surroundings.
QtM, MD
Looking out for kids and old people
In general, yes. Most elderly folks have to keep the temperature of their houses higher than when they were younger – poor circulation and whatnot, you know.
Of course, there’s cool and then there’s cool. You can probably thrash them in basketball.
RR
Yes, I’ve noticed a lot of elderly people coming into Kmart the past few days-in hot, humid 80 degree weather-with sweaters, jackets, etc. One woman had a wool hat!
I have a friend who is a social worker in a nursing home. She says that in hot weather, residents will frequently complain that they’re cold and ask for a sweater, even when the air conditioning is not on.
The evidence just keeps growing and growing…
If you mean the evidence that you are a moron, then I have to agree.
LouisB:
Keep personal insults out of this forum. Thank you.
DrMatrix - General Questions Moderator
And here I thought this was going to be a thread about elderly folks who are “with it.” My grandma is pretty cool; she’s 85 and has a black leather miniskirt. She looks great in it, BTW, much better than I would.
Of course, she doesn’t wear it much anymore because of the knee replacement scar. She’s still pretty darn cool in my book, though.
I think old people are cool too, in fact I believe we entering an era of its hip to be old!
I had always heard (Yeah, I know, unscientific as hell) that it was an issue of metabolism.
That is, young’uns have a higher metabolism and thus are warmer than the aged oldies who’s furnaces have begun to go out.
FWIW.
my grans nearly 86, likes wrestling, and can kick my arse at tekken 3. and shes always got a jumper on, no matter what the weathers like.
“I think old people are cool too, in fact I believe we entering an era of its hip to be old!” – It’s “hip” to be whatever the baby boomers are going through. 
Eventually all the human interest/latest craze stories will be funeral home fashions.
-signed,
jealous son of boomers
That thirst-desire thing is true but to a lesser degree it’s weak for younger people as well. If you feel thirsty you are already dehydrated.
Could you please clarify that comment?
Squish, you’re gonna regret asking.
Oh, no, I’m not! 
I’ve had so much fun with Uekte…
Cecil damn it, this is not going to happen in this forum without some bannings.
Uetke, you are not to comment in this thread. At all. For any reason.
Everybody else, you are not to bait him. At all. For any reason.
Any problems? Take it to email or the pit. Anyone taking it here is done.
Capice?
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s&threadid=120051
For those that want to discuss Uetke a little more.
I think it also has to do with the fact that most elderly people seem to lose body mass (I don’t know whether it’s fat, muscle, or both) as they age - a natural part of getting older. And just as naturally, they may feel colder than they are used to, or even just cold in general.
I have the same problem due to my figure (6’ at 125 pounds), and so I’m often cold, unlike the rest of my family.
PS - I’m not saying my family is overweight (far from it), but rather that they’re far more muscular than I.
PPS- I seriously thought this thread was about how elderly people were cool (as in “hip”)