Thermal comfort and older adults

The majority of the increasing number of older adults wishes to age-in-place. Appropriate and comfortable housing is of great importance to facilitate this desire. One of the aspects of concern is thermal comfort. This is normally assessed using the model of Fanger, however, one might ask if this model is sufficiently accurate to be used for older adults. This paper provides a short overview of the model, its applicability and implementation, and discusses aspects of the living environment that offer older adults the best possible indoor climate.

[1]  Gail Brager,et al.  Expectations of indoor climate control , 1996 .

[2]  P. Fanger.  Moderate Thermal Environments Determination of the PMV and PPD Indices and Specification of the Conditions for Thermal Comfort , 1984 .

[3]  Report of the World Health Organization. Active ageing: a policy framework. , 2002, The aging male : the official journal of the International Society for the Study of the Aging Male.

[4]  Ilkka Korhonen,et al.  Health monitoring in the home of the future. , 2003, IEEE engineering in medicine and biology magazine : the quarterly magazine of the Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society.

[5]  Standard Ashrae.  Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy , 1992 .

[6]  D.H. Stefanov,et al.  The smart house for older persons and persons with physical disabilities: structure, technology arrangements, and perspectives , 2004, IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering.

[7]  P. Fanger,et al.  Extension of the PMV model to non-air-conditioned buildings in warm climates , 2002 .

[8]  A N Exton-Smith,et al.  Urban hypothermia: preferred temperature and thermal perception in old age. , 1981, British medical journal.

[9]  E. Hoinville,et al.  Temperature requirements in old age , 1980 .

[10]  K. Tsuzuki,et al.  THERMAL SENSATION AND THERMOREGULATION IN ELDERLY COMPARED TO YOUNG PEOPLE IN JAPANESE WINTER SEASON , 2002 .

[11]  J. Clinch,et al.  Fuel poverty, thermal comfort and occupancy: results of a national household-survey in Ireland , 2002 .

[12]  George Havenith,et al.  Temperature regulation and technology , 2001 .

[13]  A. Kalache,et al.  Active ageing: a policy framework. , 2003, Advances in gerontology = Uspekhi gerontologii.

[14]  K. Cena,et al.  Thermal comfort of the elderly is affected by clothing, activity and psychological adjustment , 1986 .

[15]  B. W. Jones,et al.  Measurement and prediction of the insulation provided by bedding systems , 1987 .

[16]  Collins Kj,et al.  1983 Henderson Award Lecture. Thermal homeostasis in old age. , 1983 .

[17]  K. Tsuzuki,et al.  THERMAL COMFORT AND THERMOREGULATION FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE TAKING LIGHT EXERCISE , 2002 .

[18]  F. P. Ellis,et al.  Sweat responses in the aged. , 1976, Age and ageing.

[19]  Gail Brager,et al.  Thermal comfort in naturally ventilated buildings: revisions to ASHRAE Standard 55 , 2002 .

[20]  J. F. Nicol,et al.  The validity of ISO-PMV for predicting comfort votes in every-day thermal environments , 2002 .