Best Thermostats for the Elderly: Helping Seniors Keep Comfy!

Crank up the heat and let’s get cozy!

There’s no denying that as we age, adjusting the temperature on a thermostat can become a bit of a trial.

Whether it’s due to decreased mobility or declining cognitive function, some seniors may struggle to adjust the temperature in their homes.

Fear not though — these smart thermostats are lifesavers for the elderly! Gone are the days of fiddling with tiny buttons and squinting at confusing displays. It’s time for seniors to enjoy effortless comfort, energy savings, and the perfect climate in your home sweet home.

In this guide we’ll cover some of the best thermostats for the elderly, with a focus on thermostats with simple controls, clear displays, and smart thermostats that can auto-adjust to help save you big money on your electricity bills.

Importance of Thermostats for Elderly

Keeping comfortable in the home becomes a primary focus for the elderly, who may often spend a lot of time at home due to retirement or mobility issues.

Not only that, elderly individuals are more susceptible to extreme temperatures, both hot and cold. There are a number of reasons why elderly seniors tend to feel cold a lot, from medication side-effects to thinning skin.

But regardless, feeling warm and cozy in your home shouldn’t be a hassle.

Thermostats, of course, adjust the temperature to suit your preferences, ensuring that you’re neither too hot nor too cold.

Additionally, many smart thermostats today come with programmable features that allow you to set the temperature to automatically adjust at certain times of the day. This can be particularly helpful for seniors who may forget to adjust the temperature or have mobility issues that make it difficult to get up and change the thermostat.

Some thermostats can even be controlled remotely if need be, and can even limit power usage when not sensing movement for a set amount of time, which can save you some serious electricity bills if you go away for the weekend and forget to make thermostat adjustments.

Features to Consider When Choosing Thermostats for Seniors

• Large Display. When it comes to choosing a thermostat for elderly individuals, it’s important to consider the display size. A large display can make it easier for seniors to read the temperature and make adjustments. Look for thermostats with displays that are at least 3 inches in size.
• Voice Control. Voice control allows seniors who may have mobility issues or difficulty seeing the display to make adjustments using their voice. Some thermostats even have talking prompts that let users know what buttons they have pressed and what the current thermostat settings are.
• Remote Access. Remote access is a great feature for caregivers who want to monitor and adjust the thermostat from a distance. This feature allows you to control the thermostat from your smartphone, tablet or computer (usually through a companion app). It’s especially useful for caregivers who may be caring for elderly individuals who live alone or who are unable to make adjustments themselves.
• Easy-to-Use Buttons. Finally, it’s important to consider the ease of use of the thermostat’s buttons and the general UX. Look for thermostats with large, easy-to-read buttons or easy-to-turn dials that are clearly labeled. Some thermostats even have buttons that light up in the dark or light up automatically when the user walks by, making it easier for seniors to make adjustments at night.
• Compatibility. Naturally, you’ll want to make sure the smart thermostat is compatible with a senior’s home. Nearly all smart thermostats require a C-wire or alternative compatible power accessory.
• Room Sensors. Some smart thermostats come with room sensors, or the option to purchase several room sensors. This can allow you to adjust the temperature per room, or even allow the thermostat to sense which rooms are in use, and auto-adjust accordingly
• Integration With Other Smart Devices. Some smart thermostats can also connect to other home sensors or cameras (sold separately) and can even alert you when a window or door has been left ajar, further saving money on energy costs (a big bonus for seniors who are forgetful and may leave a patio door open).

Top Thermostats for Elderly Seniors

1. Nest Learning Thermostat

The Nest Learning Thermostat is a favorite top pick for many elderly residents because it has a simple and easy-to-use design combined with smart tech that makes controlling the temperature in one’s home easier and more efficient.

The Nest’s user interface is intuitive, with a clear display and large font, making it easy for seniors to read and adjust the temperature. The thermostat’s dial control system is easy to navigate, allowing users to turn the dial to their desired temperature, eliminating the need for small buttons that can be difficult for seniors with reduced dexterity.

But the coolest thing about the Nest is likely how it learns based on your temperature usage.

The Nest Thermostat has a learning feature that adjusts the temperature based on the user’s habits and preferences. Over time, the thermostat learns when the home is occupied and when it is empty, and it adjusts the temperature accordingly to maximize comfort and energy efficiency.

This is especially beneficial for older seniors, who may have difficulty remembering to adjust the thermostat themselves when they’ll be out of the house for a while.

We also love that these smart temperature adjustments can help seniors save money on their energy bills — which can be particularly important for those on a fixed income. The Nest Thermostat even can provides energy reports, allowing users to track their energy usage and identify areas where they can cut back.

The Nest Thermostat is also equipped with handy safety features that can be particularly beneficial for older seniors. The device can send alerts to a caregiver’s smartphone if the temperature in the home drops too low or rises too high. The caregiver can then check on the senior and ensure all is well.

In fact, a caregiver even has the potential to control the Nest remotely through their smartphone or tablet (a senior can adjust the temps remotely as well).

For seniors who aren’t super mobile, the Nest is compatible with voice-controlled smart assistants like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, allowing seniors to adjust the temperature with simple voice commands.

And, if you decide to commit to the Google system (Google is the creator of Nest), your thermostat can even be integrated with other smart home devices, such as smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, to provide additional safety measures for seniors living alone.

The Nest is designed to work without a C wire in most homes, but for some systems (such as zone controlled and heat pump systems), you’ll need a C wire or other compatible power accessory.

Luckily, the Nest is reportedly compatible with 85% of heating and cooling systems.

Pro Tip: Not sure if your home is compatible with Nest? Use the online Nest Compatibility Checker on the Google Nest support page

2. Honeywell Home T9

The Honeywell Home T9 is another solid pick in the world of smart thermostats, ideal for seniors who want to control their home temps with ease.

The Honeywell Home has a large touchscreen display that is easy to read and navigate. It can display the indoor temperature alongside the time and outdoor temperature on the home screen.

But what really sets the Honeywell apart is the fact that it can be connected to multiple room sensors, and can then adjust the temperature for specific rooms. It can even sense which room a user is actively using and focus on that room in particular.

Pretty cool, and an easy way to save energy.

Another significant advantage of the Honeywell Home thermostat is its compatibility with various smart home systems, including voice-controlled assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

This allows seniors to manage their home’s temperature using simple voice commands, making it an ideal solution for those with limited mobility or those who prefer not to interact with a touchscreen or buttons.

Additionally, the Honeywell Home thermostat can be controlled remotely through a smartphone app, granting seniors or their remote caregivers the ability to adjust the temperature from the comfort of their chair, bed, or independent location.

This combination of user-friendly design, smart home integration, and remote control capabilities makes the Honeywell Home thermostat a great choice for seniors seeking a convenient and accessible way to manage their home’s climate.

Note: The Honeywell T9 is compatible with forced air (gas, oil or electric), hot water and steam, and heat pumps with electric backup. It does NOT work with electric baseboard heat (120-240V). In all cases, a C-Wire or appropriate c-wire power adaptor is required.

3. Emerson Sensi Touch

The Emerson Sensi Touch thermostat is another excellent smart thermostat option for seniors, offering a large, high-definition touchscreen display and intuitive interface. It uses a touch-screen interface and doesn’t rely on a dial adjustment, which some seniors might prefer.

The Emerson has an impressive collection of scheduling capabilities, which allow seniors to create personalized heating and cooling schedules based on their daily routines.

This ensures better comfort along with energy savings by reducing energy consumption during times when the home is unoccupied.

The Sensi Touch thermostat is compatible with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, as well as Apple HomeKit, providing seniors with more flexibility when it comes to integrating the thermostat into their existing smart home ecosystems.

Fans of the Emerson over the Honeywell note that this unit’s display can be set to stay on (many other automatically dim when they don’t sense motion), and will light up blue when cooling or orange when heating, without requiring the device to “wake up”, which a few users found annoying with other thermostats.

The Emerson is also popular with those who have concerns about data privacy — Emerson Sensi makes it clear they don’t sell any of your data to advertisers (unlike the Nest, which is owned by Google and provides some of your temperature-setting data for advertisers).

4. Ecobee SmartThermostat with Voice Control

The Ecobee SmartThermostat with Voice Control is another practical smart thermostat option for seniors.

Like other smart thermostats, the Ecobee can be controlled via built-in voice control, which is a huge advantage over traditional thermostats for those with limited mobility or dexterity. It can be controlled remotely too – perfect for caregivers who want to keep tabs on a senior’s home temperature.

The Ecobee also emphasizes energy efficiency, with features such as geofencing, scheduling, and occupancy detection, which help seniors save money on their energy bills without sacrificing comfort.

If the user desires it, the thermostat can learn the users’ preferences and adjust the temperature based on their habits.

The Ecobee SmartThermostat is compatible with multiple smart home platforms, including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, and Samsung SmartThings.

Integration with other Ecobee security products and sensors is a key advantage of the Ecobee SmartThermostat, offering an all-in-one smart home solution for seniors.

For example, the Ecobee SmartThermostat can be paired with Ecobee SmartSensors to optimize the temperature in different areas of the home, as well as with door and window sensors, which can then alert you if a door or window has been left open.

Pretty awesome to help out a forgetful senior!

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Choosing the right thermostat for elderly seniors is crucial for their safety and comfort. Whether you prefer a simple, easy-to-use thermostat or a more tech-savvy one, there are many options available to choose from.

We love that so many tech-packed thermostats today combine easy temperature monitoring and adjustment with smart scheduling and auto-adjustment that can save seniors on a limited budget big money in terms of heating bills.

Plus, with the ability to send alerts to a caregiver, you never have to worry about an elderly relative getting too cold or overheating during extreme seasons.