How can I keep him warm?

[IDrinkCoffee]

DF (77) lives alone (with lots of help from family and friends) but is on state pension/pension credit/disability with no other income. He's got a 3 bed house and doesn't want to move as it's been the family home for 40+ years.

With soaring energy costs we're thinking ahead to winter and how to keep him warm! He spends most of his time in the living room and bedroom and says that as long as the living room is warm, he'll be fine as when he goes to bed, he gets under the covers. It seems pointless then to heat the whole house with central heating.

I've been looking into oil radiators and fan heaters but opinions/reviews are mixed. Some say they're cheap to run and some say they're not! Can anyone recommend an economical heater for a small room, probably 15ft by 15ft? The goal is to ensure he's toasty warm without having to pay a fortune!

Electric blanket? Hot water bottles?

Oil filled radiators are great - also an electric blanket/throw. We huddle under our electric blanket until bed and then hot water bottle/duvet!

Just turn the thermostats on the radiators in the unused rooms to off / frost setting.

Assuming he has central heating, you could buy thermostatic valves for the radiators, and turn the ones in the rooms he isn't using down low (probably better than off to avoid damp).

buy him an oodie to wear. Proper one.

Will he be entitled to any of the winter fuel help schemes?

I think there is winter fuel payment, cold weather payment and warm home discount.

How about fleece PJs and an electric blanket/ Onlyneeds to be on for 15 minutes to warm the bed. Fleece PJs and an extra fleece blanket on top of the duvet will keep him warm all night. Also thick bedsocks

I've WFH for decades, way before lockdown, and live in a massive fleece dressing gown over my clothes during the day to keep heating costs down. Just chuck it off if i have to answer to door to any one or obv when going out.

On top of what others have said :
This time of year second hand cashmere is cheaper on eBay and charity shops . Buy him a few layering pieces. It doesn’t need to be washed every week as he won’t be sweating. Buy him a second hand fleece stretch top that mountaineers wear- they have thunb holes on the sleeves and if you get a hoody one it keeps head one ( recommended Rab Power Stretch Hoody)
Make him wear the hoody over the cashmere.
Check out wool socks.
Lidls have feet/ neck /body heat devices frequently on sale that may be on eBay right now

Yes, this. An electric throw is excellent though, pennies to run and you can get toasty warm.

Thank you for all these suggestions!He doesn't like electric blankets as he prefers the bed sheets to be cool rather than warm and yes, he's got some good quality hooded hoodies!

I guess we were thinking that an oil filled radiator might be more efficient/cheaper than running the central heating (even with radiators turned off elsewhere). To be honest, it's completely shocking that we live in a world where this is a consideration!

Not an electric blanket for the bed but a heated throw. I have one for WFH in winter. With that and an oodie, I'm toasty.

Yes like PPs said, a throw for wrapping round him on the sofa rather than on the bed. I bought one for my Mum who sounds similar to your Dad, she loves it, keeps her warm and cosy for very little money.

Like this;

https://www.lakeland.co.uk/61802/dreamland-velvety-electric-heated-throw-grey-and-red-check-135-x-180cm?src=gfeed&gclid=Cj0KCQjw7KXBhCoARIsAPdPTfjqq2frXlfhGJZf--eOAyDBKJfNlbqEoIoFuQEWK23D9zs6-BvmiSgaAqi3EALwwcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Does he have gas central heating or fires? Gas is far cheaper than electricity - the price of gas per kWh is about a quarter of that of electricity.

My mother in law hates using the heating but has a heated throw she wraps around her.

My elderly widowed grandfather had a lodger (another older gentleman). They kept each other company, could raise alarm if either was unwell, & of course lodger provided some income to help with household costs.

I’ve worked from home since covid and I would definitely recommend an oil filled radiator.

I’m worried about power cuts. My parent lives alone and has a stair lift and just an upstairs toilet. I’ve put a kettle upstairs, tea, biscuits and emergency snacks but she eats them all 🙈 if the power goes off and she is downstairs, Lord knows

My elderly mum also has this heated throw and has saved a lot in heating bills since she got it - I highly recommend this too

Definitely a heated throw. I have a friend whose husband doesn't want to turn the heating on (environmental reasons) and a group of us bought her one after she looked fucking blue on a zoom call. She admitted it has made a huge difference to her.

can I ask why you are worried about powercuts if everyone will be trying hard to use less fuel? A "just on case" commode might be a good idea if she will agree?

@godmum56 yes, the commode is a good idea that was suggested and rejected. I’ve had to channel ‘frozen’ on this and ‘let it go’ lol Re: power cuts hopefully I’m over anxious about that! Maybe as I’m rural and mine often goes off. She isn’t though: She is registered as a vulnerable with the supplier though quite what they would do I don’t know!

On the topic of heated throws, she also rejects that idea, though with her mobility problems I would worry about it being a trip hazard.

Couple of soft comfortable hats or snoods
Scarves
Fingerless or normal gloves

it varies but you can find out on the suppliers website. I am registered as "older customer or some such with my water firm and also with my electricity company (its me age lol) when they turn the water off, they deliver me bottled water and last year when there was a long power cut in the cold spell they brought round hot meals but I didn't want one. You had to be able to get from your front door to the van to get one though.
I know about channeling Frozen, my late beloved Mum was the same and same setup, one loo and that one upstairs with a stairlift.

Blanket under the bottom sheet on the bed.

A warm beanie - keeping your head warm retains the heat.

This and a dressing gown or oodie he can wear while in the kitchen preparing meals.

I'd turn the radiators on low in all the other rooms that he doesn't use.

His local borough council will have a keep warm scheme that is full of advice and practical help

Something like this

www.eastsussex.gov.uk/social-care/support-to-stay-at-home/keep-warm

It's really worth looking this up and taking to his local borough council to see what help is available