I found out tonight that my elderly neighbors do not turn on their heat in the winter because they cannot afford it. They spend close to 900 dollars a month on medications that they have to have. She was telling me that she has the new Medicare part D plan and that they are in the donut hole now. I work in healthcare and I know this is a problem among the elderly but it breaks my heart. I do not have a lot of money to help them pay for them either but I want to help them in any way that I can. I want to rest assured that they have heat this winter before it gets cold. What can I do?
2006-09-27 15:00:01 · 23 answers · asked by lili 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
please don't make snide comments about me mispelling advice it was a typo and i can't fix it now.
2006-09-27 15:01:21 · update #1
call the electric co. tell them those people need a % of there bill to be cut back. you never know., there are communty grants, call the city. gov ask them who could help. on there bill. call some buisness s talk with the owner ask them for help. i did this for some people once and people gave. call some churchs in the area,and ask them for help. see if they go to a church, if so, they may be to proud, then call there preacher telling him the problem. when i got sick and to proud to ask for help. they cut off everything during the winter, i closed in my bedroom and lit some rubbing alcohol in a pot to warm the room, but this could cause a fire if your not carefull.see if they have children to help them. they might be to proud to ask them for help. god bless you.
2006-09-27 15:13:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
That is very sad. I am sorry. Well first where do you live because there is a big difference between California winters and like Michigan winters. None the less winter is cold but the colder it gets the more serious the situation is...
I understand there isn't much you do as far as giving them money. Perhaps you can start a blanket drive for them. Sometimes you can get big companies to donate heating blankets or even regular ones. Also reach out in your community and ask for help. You can go to local organizations such as the local lions club and ask for money (to buy blankets or to help with the high bills.). Churches are always willing to help either with a money or helping by driving donations for blankets.
Also there is government money everywhere you just have to know how to find it, I am sorry I don't know how to get it but if you look you will find it. Go to your city council, or the local welfare office, I know sometimes elderly people are very proud and don't want government assistance but it's better then them freezing all winter. Start by collecting blankets and get the media involved, I am sure you will see it all snowball if you just keep trying, you can do it! Good Luck.
2006-09-27 15:12:00 · answer #2 · answered by Tajuana 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Let them live with you for the winter. Seriously, if you have a finished basement or an extra bedroom--why not let them live with you? It wouldn't cost you anything as long as they bought their own groceries and things like that. They could pay you a little for the water bill for showers but it's better than paying tons to heat their home.
Or, donate a little to them to help them improve the house so it's more heat efficient. Putting plastic over the windows helps keep heat in, getting a space heater for the rooms they are in the most keeps rooms warm, putting rugs on the floors (if they don't have carpet) would help keep the floor warm, ect. Also, if your neighbor is baking in the oven remind her to leave the oven door open a little after she's done to let the heat out and warm the house. It will only warm it a little but still will make it slightly warmer. Opening curtains in the daytime to let sunlight in will heat any room as well. And don't forget about body heat either. Flannel and other thick fabrics help keep your body heat in which is better than any furnace! Get them some nice fuzzy slippers for their feet. It's a fact that if you're feet are warm then the rest of your body is warm also. Just some ideas :-)
2006-09-27 15:05:12 · answer #3 · answered by BeeFree 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Get them some information/application for HEAP, this agency will help with a one time voucher towards your heat ($175), there's Salvation Army, Catholic Social Services and local Churches. You could consider the purchase of a $20 electric heater (they work well and don't run up utilities considerably. If they can show proof of what they pay out (rent, utilities, medications, telephone service) they may qualify for food stamps which would give them more cash on hand. SBC offers a discount on phone service for the poor and disabled (it might help also). Contact their family members, do they realize what these people are going through?
2006-09-27 15:12:49 · answer #4 · answered by tamara.knsley@sbcglobal.net 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps they can buy a little heater from Walmart. They sell these around winter time. They are small and cost only about 20-30 dollars. I have one and I use it for my room so I don't have to use the heater to heat up the whole entire house, just my room. It's nice and has an emergency shut off if it falls over or gets too hot or something. She could keep it on a low setting. It even oscillates. :)
2006-09-27 15:03:29 · answer #5 · answered by ananswerer 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I know that some power companies have a program where people who lack heat during the Winter can have their bill paid for by an in-house charity (Virginia Power runs such a charity). Try looking into it.
And many churches have just such a program. Do either you or them know of any church nearby that might help?
2006-09-27 15:04:08 · answer #6 · answered by Randy G 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There should be programs in your community for assistance in this. My electric company gives the option of donating a couple of dollars each month to their assistance program. Also several of our churches have financial assistance for people like that. If they are too proud to seek out the help, maybe you can do the legwork for them. Maybe find a church who would make an anonymous payment to the electic co?
2006-09-27 15:05:16 · answer #7 · answered by msuzyq 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Contact your Area Agency on Aging and/or the local welfare office. Tell them your story and your concerns. There are programs to help low-income and income-restricted persons afford their medications, heating (and cooling) bills, groceries, etc. I know a lot of older people shy away from "welfare", but it's inhumane to expect someone to live without heating or cooling because of their medications.
2006-09-27 15:04:13 · answer #8 · answered by kc_warpaint 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If they have a fire place you could provide them with fire wood through the winter and more than likely it won't cost you anything but effort and time.
If they don't have a fire place maybe have a neighborhood barbecue or just your own bake sales, garage sale, etc....sounds corny but it is a way to raise funds. If you really want to "rest assured" you'll have to be a torch bearer for a while.
2006-09-27 15:11:30 · answer #9 · answered by Doc J 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Find out who their gas company is and call them. Many companies have special programs in place for this very reason. They can offer a budget plan. Also try your local neighborhood association or city government. They often have programs and resources for the same.
2006-09-27 15:05:33 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋