Helping elderly parents with heating controls

[Needtosoundoffandbreathe]

My parents, in their 80s, are struggling with their heating controls. They've recently had the traditional pin circular timer on the fairly new boiler (it's maybe 2 years old) and separate wired in thermostat replaced with a digital controller and thermostat in one because they couldn't get the heating to do what they wanted it to. I had to go round at short notice at the weekend because the heating hadn't come on.

Well it wasn't on because the temperature in the house wasn't below the temperature the heating is set to come on at. They had the boiler on the incorrect setting too so it wasn't communicating with the controller. Anyway, I demonstrated correct setting and showed them how to manually put the heating on when they need it.

I've now realised there's a fundamental lack of understanding of how the thermostat works. Added to which, 21 or 22 degrees is not warm enough for them. I feel like I'm going mad because I've suggested turning up the setting to 24 or 25 degrees if they're not warm enough, but there's a reluctance to do this, which I think is because they're worried they'll get it wrong and either break it or get a huge gas bill. I'm going to have to go round again (50 mile round trip. I work full time in a demanding job and my sibling is 200 miles away) to change it. It's a two minute job.

Does anyone have any tips for how to deal with this? I think a large format display controller would be helpful as both were struggling to read the controls. Maybe they should get something like Hive and I can control the bloody thing from a distance? It's not even particularly cold yet.

Hive is all very well, and it's handy to be able to control it from a distance. But it's not remotely intuitive to manage, in my experience. Using the actual thermostat takes so many button presses it's ridiculous. And the programme layout on my phone is confusing. You now have to pay extra for the functions that used to be free.

I've had to leave an A4 sized list of instructions for anyone who might need to use it in my absence, or need to transfer the account. Taking over my late mother's house recently brought home to me that had she had Hive I'd have been absolutely stuck, and unable to do anything with her heating.

Do you have elderly parents? They feel cold and are not comfortable. They are not "messing" with it, just hadn't understood the new controller needed a different setting on the boiler. I was able to resolve it and when I see them this weekend I'm going to turn up the temperature setting.

I don't think something like Hive is the answer. It will overcomplicate things.

Had the same problem with my mum - an oldish combi-boiler, and if there was a button or dial to turn or press... she would press it, and turn it! So nothing worked. Tried to tape over, but she removed the tape.

Fitted a "Tado Wireless Smart Thermostat X – Starter Kit with Bridge X and Stand, Boiler and Hot Water Control via App". They're about £130 from B&Q, Screwfix, or amazon.

It replaces the wired thermostat. Should be cheap to fix - then you control remotely.

I went round there earlier and their house is warm. It was 26 degrees in the dining room without the heating being on. It had been on earlier with the controller in a cold place (there is one!) Anyway, temperature setting upped and hopefully that's the end of it as we move from autumn to winter.

Hive is definitely worth the money, you’ll save it in fuel driving backwards and forwards within the year.