Best way to keep my dad warm apart from have the heating on 24.7

[TheOpalFox]

Sadly I can’t have my heating on 24.7!!!! And my dad is elderly and sits in his chair all day.
Whats the cheapest heater to run? Someone said an oil filled radiator? Someone else said halogen? Thankyou I have it on 21 degrees and he’s still cold so need a heater by him? Thanks

Gas central heating is cheap but is better used to warm the whole house rather than one spot where the person who needs to keep warm is.

Heated blankets I think are the most efficient in terms of keeping people warm and the costs down.

All electric radiators are 100% efficient but tend to be very expensive to run to keep people at high temperatures as they are often situated several feet away.

People seem somewhat obsessed with oil filled radiators but they are no more efficient in terms of thermal output than any other radiator.

I have a Berkshire heated throw for my chair in the living room. 4 heat settings & 4hr cut out. It's velvety soft & not too heavy. I have mobility problems & it's easy to move. Currently available in Costco for approx £32.
On my bed I have the Dreamland one. 6 heat settings & 3 timer settings. Heavier but nice & warm.

Would he wear an oodie? I have to say though a heated gilet is great. I sometimes wear one to work. OK I resemble the Marshmallow man as I have to wear it under my work fleece but it does mean you don't get cold when getting up to go to the loo or whatever
Hat and thermals especially socks.

Heated throws and hot water bottles. You can put a hot water bottle under his feet, or even heated slippers/foot muffs.

Hats keep in a lot of heat and a cosy scarf for his neck and chest area.

Warm drinks and soup help as well.

I think its all been said but an electric throw was the best investment I made. I went with Keplin via Amazon and I use it all the time. I'd also suggest a gilet (traditional or heated) as that is a good layer that can go on top of anything and fingerless gloves. If you could get him moving more - at least once an hour that might help a bit. "Heat the person not the home".

Thermal longsleeved top and leggings to wear under his usual clothes. If you can find a 100%merino wool set that will be better than synthetic materials claiming to be thermal.

then as other have said, hot water bottle or heated blanket to warm him rather than the room. But it might be the thermal clothes are enough to take the edge off without need a hot water bottle or heated blanket

What everyone else said but also to add sheepskin slippers.

Thin wool or cashmere layers. I would recommend a high neck jumper or even a buff to stop heat escaping around the neck.

If you can get Icebreaker in the U.K., get some of their base layers. The higher the number, the better.

basically I agree with everyone else - heat the person not the room.

Way, way back in the midst of time as a staff nurse I took the temperature of all the elderly ladies on the ward i worked on. It was the height of summer & hot and each and everyone of them was verging on hypothermic. In very large part the way we human keep ourselves warm is by moving about. If you can get your dad moving around - not always possible but if you can get him standing up and walking around every hout, even just a few paces it really helps generate warmth. If he can't stand then arm exercises can also help. Trouble is when we feel cold we sort of tighten up and stop even fidgeting so we have to be deliberate in choosing to move.

Layers
Warm socks
Slippers
Dressing gown
Blankets
Hot water bottle
Hot drinks and food

I also recommend a heated blanket but take care if he has thin skin or any cuts or wounds.

This is a great recommendation. If he is mobile can you get a reminder to do some movement every hour? Chair exercises in YouTube maybe?
But second everyone else
Sheepskin slippers
Heated throw
Heated seat pad/booties
All on sale in Costco at the moment

Warm clothes really help.
I brought my mum an oodie and a hearted blanket.

I think the advantage of oil filled heaters is when they're switched off they still give off heat for a short while as opposed to fan heaters that when they're off the heat stops straight away.

On the other hand the radiators tend to be for heating a space while a fan heater you'd normally point towards yourself.

Not sure about heating options. But i got my FIL one of these to wear when he was feeling cold all the time. Its really lightweight and not very bulky so can be worn under or over other clothes

https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/products/E472808-000/00?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=18135315258&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgP_JBhD-ARIsANpEMxwchmb3YFeI3HpBt2YKdc7gPtpb2XGwT5_rqzNgQTJIsYiNsUbnVaAaAt-DEALw_wcB&colorDisplayCode=09&sizeDisplayCode=004

Heated blanket

A woolly hat, fingerless gloves and thick socks and slippers should also help

Turtle doves, the recycled cashmere wrist warmers also really help.

Definitely layers, including tops that are long enough to stay tucked into trousers, and socks long enough not to leave a gap at the trouser legs.

I have one of those Oodies I have worn when wfh without the heating on for about 4 years. It is great as it comes with you when you need to moved to another room for any reason, and isn't a trip hazard as a blanket potentially might be.

My dbrother has a heated gilet - which he swears by and of course he can go out in that.

Definitely this!

If there are reasons he can't have a heated blanket or hot water bottle then it's the above.

Dad found sherpa blankets good.

If he can then heated blanket or a plug in water bottle ie no filling with hot water would be best.

I love my heated throw when I'm sat at my desk

Is your dad disabled or ill? Just wondered why he is sitting in a chair all day. My neighbours are in their 90s, one is off to the health club every morning for a swim and one was out for hours helping our gardeners with the garden last week. Even if he goes out for a five or ten minute walk he will feel the benefit coming back in to the warm.

Trapping air between layers helps, so wearing two pairs of socks, a heat tech vest, flannel shirt, sweater / fleece.

Check if he could get a social tariff to heat the house better.

Regular hot drinks help, and will get him moving.

I’ll definitely repeat suggestions already shared by others, but hey, they’re good ones.

Keeping him comfortable is the right approach—older people really do feel the cold more, especially if they’re sitting still for long periods, so it’s not a weakness, just physiology. There are plenty of ways to help without running the heating all day.

If he’s in one spot, it’s cheaper to warm the person, not the whole room. An oil-filled radiator near his chair gives steady heat and is safer for long use than fan heaters, while halogen heaters are best avoided. Direct warmth works even better: electric throws or heated blankets cost very little to run, hot water bottles are simple but effective, and thermal socks, slippers, and layers keep heat in. Chair placement matters too—if it’s near a window, door, or outside wall, he’ll feel colder. A draft excluder, a blanket over the back of the chair, or moving it slightly away from a cold wall can make a big difference. Warmth from the inside helps as well—regular hot drinks and warm meals go a long way. Keeping the house at 21° is already great; if he’s still cold, it’s not about spending more, just giving targeted warmth.

If the chill persists, mentioning it to the GP could be wise, as issues like poor circulation or anaemia can make someone feel colder. In these tough cost-of-living times, local heat and layers remain the kindest and most affordable solution.

Headed throw. He will be toasty!