Does anyone provide aid/assistance for people who don't have air conditioning?

Call the Office of Aging. See if there are programs. Maybe your electrical Company. They may even be able to offset some of the cost.

Use fans when running a/c. It helps to circulate the cool air. Make sure curtains are closed where the Sun comes in. If cooking, if u have a over the stove fan, use it. It pulls the hot air off the stove and cools it down. Houses tend to warm up at dinner time.

brendak60, it would be great if there such programs where a new air condition system is installed into a home. But there could be roadblocks such as no central heating where the same duct work can be used for A/C. And if such programs existed it would be funded by the State taxpayers.

Depending on where your parents live, check to see if there will be any cooling shelters, such as community centers, schools, senior centers that would be open during the day to help the seniors spend their day in air conditioning.

Chances are a motel/hotel would be out of reach cost wise for those really hot days/nights.

Does the house have a basement? If yes, is there an easy access? Basements usually are cooler than the rest of the house. My parents [90+] during a brown-out where the electricity went out, took into the basement lawn chairs and some battery operated lanterns. Of course, one would need to plan ahead for bathroom stops.

Back in the olden days I remember reading that people had upstairs sleeping porches to use on hot nights.

One could get some ice and have a fan blow over the ice. I am making ice now for this weekend in case the power goes out, then I can put ice in zip lock bags and use those to place around me to help cool down.

Make sure there is enough finger type food in case the power does go out and cooking is out of the question.

Brenda, we are in Streetsboro, which isn’t that far from you. I know that there are cooling centers around. I’ve seen them reported on the news. If you call CF City Hall, they can tell you where they are. Also, we have a community officer here in The Boro. He’s through the fire department and he will find help for people who need it. Call the FD and see if you have one as well. Or, you could call our’s. He’s Lt. Bucks and the non-emergency # is 330-626-4664.

Also, unsolicited advice, but summer comes around every year and we have summers here that are as brutal as our winters. Have you considered moving Mom and Brother into an air-conditioned apartment on the bus line? There are some nice ones in The Falls.

Short term, please call AAA or your local fire department or EMT services.

A handyman solution is making an air condition from a cooler using a fan and a 4" U shaped plastic pipe connection (see https://tiphero.com/coolest-coleman-cooler ). Amazon has a very good fan for this purpose that uses AC or batteries (Treva 10-Inch Portable Desktop Air Circulation Battery Fan - 2 Cooling Speeds - With AC Adapter) for $22. The plastic pipe connector is about $1.50 and you can use the cheapest Styrofoam or plastic cooler you can find. Styrofoam may be easier because you can cut the lid with a knife. I use silicone sealant because it's gap filling to connect the fan and pipe, but duct tape will do. You just need to freeze ice blocks ahead of time. I have found ice blocks that sit up and not just rest on the bottom of the cooler work best. I use old cottage cheese containers and coffee cans to freeze the blocks, then stack them on a freezer shelf with wax paper between them. As the ice melts, I add more blocks but don't remove the water until the cooler is about half full. I also empty the melted ice water into the sink and use it to wet or dampen wash clothes to cool down. I'm not suggesting you can cool down a whole house this way, but I know you can cool down a room or two.

Close curtains to keep the heat outside. Consider hanging heavier towels or blankets over window curtains in full sun to slow the heating effect. Watch two thermometers, one in the shade outside (like on your porch or under a tree) and one inside your house. Don't open windows anytime it's hotter outside. When the overnight temperature drops and it's actually cooler outside than in, open the windows and use fans to exhaust air on one side of the house while pulling in fresh air on the other side.

Long term economical solution for a home without any HVAC venting may be installing ductless heat pumps. The air exchanger for each zone is mounted on an exterior wall with only two small holes cut through the wall for the hoses from the heat pump. They come in 2-4 zone models and cost from $800-$2500. It takes an electrician to run the electrical lines but you may be able to get someone from Habitat for Humanity to install for free. My brother (the electrician and general handy man) recently installed two units in an older 3BR ranch house; one 3 zone unit for the bedrooms ($1200) and a 2 zone unit on the other end of the house for the eat in kitchen and living room ($800). Your local electric company may sponsor loan programs to purchase and install these units.

Good Luck staying cool this weekend.

I live where temperatures are often over 100° in the summer.

One solution to keep them cooler during a heat wave is to wet a sheet and put that over them, then have a fan to blow over the damp sheet. It works better if the sheet is on your skin but may be too much for a senior. At night do the same thing, go to bed with a damp sheet and by the time it dries the weather should be cooler.

Get some electrolytes, whether you order them online or purchase at a local medical and safety supply store or they can drink Gatorade. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are caused because of our electrolytes being to low, sweating causes this to happen, so replenishing these vital nutrients is essential.

Please have your dad take them to, since he is at risk because of his physical activities and being exposed to the same heat.

Since your brother is working why can't he buy some window A/C's?

Ever thought about putting your mum in assisted living? Your brother can take care of himself. If you mum is on Medicaid she can also go to a nursing home if unable to care for herself. Nursing homes have controlled comfortable environments. Another alternative is have your mum live with you.

With temperatures like that she is at high risk of heat exhaustion, skin issues, difficulty breathing, and so on.

If none of the above solutions are acceptable, CALL her electric company. They have programs for the indigent. If she is on Medicaid this will not be difficult.

We have Weatherazation program in our town. They help low income families with heating and cooling their homes. It's a goverment program so that might take a while to get approved. Area Agency on Ageing, Salvation Army or Goodwill. Our local "Market Place" on face book has used window air cond. all the time for sale. My Dad was always cold too . He would love this heat wave the US is having. Lots of flaverd water and water mellon helped. Hope some of these help.

I know you said you purchased a portable ac but as you said it doesn't cool the house enough.Purchase some floor fans or if you can afford it another ac.
I also agree that the brother should contribute to buying an ac but if not do what you can for your parents.

I live in Florida and our Area Council on Aging will help with a air conditioner.
Make some calls there is help out there. Even her doctor might have some input

Don’t try to cool the entire house, just do certain portions of it. Close doors to segregate the areas, hanging sheets or blankets in open doorways if necessary. Doesn't look very pretty, but is very effective. Windows shut, blinds closed, curtains closed, too. These all work for those hot hot summer days and those cold cold winter days.

Move the air around with oscillating fans (I find the low or medium speeds work best). Or ceiling fans (medium speed).

If you have FB, put out an ISO (in search of) for small window ACs & put the reason down (elderly parent). You would be pleasantly surprised how generous people can be.

Before we put in central air on the 2nd floor of our home where the bedrooms are, we had window units in the bedrooms. As our house faces south & there is no shade, those rooms could get HOT. During the day, heavy curtains, blinds & windows closed made a huge difference, as did keeping doors open and the ceilings fans on medium to just move the air around. The ceilings fans would go off, the ACs would go on, & the doors would be shut about an hour or 2 before bedtime. When it was time for bed, the room would be nicely chilled; AC would be turn off, ceiling fan put on low, and door kept shut. Very very effective — and we still do that for the 2 floors without central air.

I don’t like AC much, so I used all the old-fashioned ways of keeping cool. When my husband worked in an environment with no AC & the temps got well above 100 consistently, I would put the AC on in 1 room so he could cool down when he got home. That, and a quick cool shower, did wonders for him.

Oh, and cool cloths nearby, even if just to put on the wrists or neck for a short bit of time. Good luck!

I have a condo in the tropics which can be hot and humid. Even though we have air conditioning, we use it very little as it is too cold and very expensive to use. However, for us, the most comfort is simply using a fan to keep the air circulating.
For the short run, floor and table model fans work fine, even better if they rotate. Want to get a little more elaborate... install a ceiling fan w/ blades. It's moving the air that really makes the difference in comfort.

I lived in an old house in Utah for many years that had no AC. I'd close the blinds before the hottest part of the day began and kept a good quality Vornado fan running. I'd have an ice bag on my lap and sip icy water from a thermos. It was comfortable and pleasant and preferable to AC for me.

I live in an area where AC is rarely needed. When it does get in the 90’s or higher, I do as already suggested to keep the house cool. I also go for a swim in the ocean around dinner time.

that cools my core and although Is is still 90+ degrees in the house I am comfortable. If Mum is no longer able to keep her core warm, she may not need AC, but just need hydration.

There are more hot places in the world that do not have AC, than those that do.

In Arizona there is a designated “Community Action Program” for each County. I don’t know if this is a state funded program or a federally funded program, but this is just the sort of thing they help with. You might try googling “Community Action Program” and attaching your county to the search. Thoughts are with you. Your family is fortunate to have someone so caring.

Go get a couple of the smaller 110 window units for a couple of rooms in the house. They are not that expensive. It may feel warm to you, but people who are used to the heat do quite well if you can get the temp to about 78. Even groups that help often provide fans or a small window unit - it's not likely your going to find someone to do central air/heat if that's what you're thinking about. Oh yes, and some floor fans to direct the a/c you have and move it around the room. Does wonders even if you have ceiling fans

Your parents may not feel the heat like you do. My mother(92) actually had her heat on when it was in the upper 70s. Make sure they drink though

Sorry, I wish there was an easy answer. Air conditioning units are expensive. I bought one for one room so I can escape there when needed. The other thing that saves me is a "cooling towel" made of PVA..available on line and at many stores from $5 to $12... about... 25 inches by 16 inches...get it wet and put around shoulder/ neck...put one on lap...when it is less cool...wave and snap it in the air and it is cool again. It will dry flat and hard...just put in water again...wash out in soapy water once in a while...I have put it on my head, slept with it on my body at night and when I am too hot, it helps my brain function and body have a bit more energy. The heat really is so hard to deal with. I do not know in her dementia if she could remember to use it...but worth a try until you can get more
room air conditioning.

I’m sorry to hear about the temperature concerns your family is facing. I am also struggling to understand why my 80 year old mom will not use her window AC in her home. The heat index was over 100 and surprisingly with a ceiling and table fan blowing, I did not sweat and she was comfortable. I bought her Gatorade to mitigate dehydration and her favorite ice cream flavor. All seemed to be okay and I’ve checked in more frequently to ensure she was doing well. My issue is that she doesn’t do much on her own or just until I get there. But I agree with many responders that a long term plan will be needed with these increasingly hotter summers.😓 Good luck!

One time when I stopped in to see/check on/help my mother in her condo, she had the thermostat set to heating, not cooling. It wasn't heating the house, but the place was nasty (to me.) I am used to not having AC, however being in that place that day, sweat instantly kicked on!!! I switched it over (she had whole house AC.)

As others have said, when some get older, they tend to be cold and not feel the heat so much. When we had a days-long heat wave last year, I stopped in at the MC unit to visit (no AC in any cars either.) Several of them were sitting there with sweaters or light jackets on! Those same people kept asking me if I was cold (in jeans and tank top only.) THEY were all cold despite the AC being on! When I was there the other day, it seemed warmer than usual (nurse concurred), yet many were still wearing sweaters, etc., and saying they were cold.

I resisted ACs in my previous house for a long time. The upstairs BRs would get nasty during extended heat waves, so we would "camp" downstairs to sleep. I finally got one, which was a window unit - people would tell me that isn't enough. It was for us - I didn't need it to be 60, just tone it down AND bring down the humidity. For me the humidity is a killer - when people ask if I'd move south, no way! Way too hot and humid for my taste (not to mention hurricanes, tornadoes and floods!)

This house I have now has crank windows, so I can't use window units (they make them, but they are expensive and too heavy for me.) Last year I got a large portable unit. The window piece wouldn't work with my windows, so I am using a slider unit with pet door for the exhaust (bought it for a different reason, cats are not allowed out!) and it "works." However it ran all day yesterday and the room it is in showed over 80 degrees with about 70% humidity! The rest of the house was just as or more nasty. Better than the alternative though.

Given that mom probably doesn't feel the heat as much as you, the portable unit might be enough. You might consider getting a dehumidifier - dry heat is more comfortable than humid heat! Beware though (I found out the hard way), you will likely need to use both, as the dehumidifier generates heat while running! Fans moving the air around (don't point them at the person) do help as well. Moving air feels a bit cooler (I used a ceiling fan before resorting to setting up the AC (in the NE we don't generally have a lot of days like this!) I did try using a box fan to blow down the hall yesterday, attempting to blow some of the "cooler" air to the rest of the house, but it didn't help much. Hopefully the portable unit can be located somewhat centrally (mine cannot.) At least it would help cool more of the house. Closing off areas not used could help as well, not as much space to cool.

After running all day and night and all day today (is almost 4pm now), it got down to about 78 overnight and is hovering around 80 again, with just over 70% humidity here. Icky, but it is better than nothing.

(bad timing for this heat wave - running low on funds and was hoping electric bill would continue coming down... not anymore...)

P.S. If there is any way to get help installing AC, they do have units that can be installed (heat pumps) that do not need to have venting - aka for people like me who have hot water heating systems, no duct work. They are not cheap, but if there is assistance available (some states/electric companies) have programs for the elderly.

Get whatever big fan you can find/afford and put it in or near the shadiest window in the house. Close all the rest and open at least one in each room the furthest from the fan and let the air just blow thru.
It's been over 100 up to 105 for much of the last two weeks here in CO. Dry enough here we used swamp coolers to add moisture. Sure makes a difference in my place. It's been on high three weeks now except one day I used the shop vac to suck out the sludge build up. Got to smelling like a "swamp".

If you have a multi floor place, put the fan in a lower room, or basement and open the top most, furthest window to let it blow out.

-Buy more window fans
-If possible, stay in the lowest room of the house
-Close all curtains
-Close all blinds
-Provide ice water

I have a house without central air and before the new windows (the old ones were terrible sources of air leaks) I strung curtains to separate the kitchen and living room since the window AC was in the living room- HUGE improvement! Granted, it kept only that area cooler while the bedrooms were warm, but in extreme temps every little bit helps. They don't 't have to be anything expensive or fancy, either, just something to keep the cold air contained.

Lots of other excellent ideas have been posted on here that you should implement now because even if you get some kind of assistance you might not get it installed until October or later... mid-July is a busy time for AC installations and repairs so be prepared to wait.

And do make sure your mom is staying properly hydrated :)

Thank you for your suggestions. I agree, everyone has been very helpful, and I appreciate it!

I am not sure if you found a solution yet, but in certain areas, the utlity companies will install a new HVAC system and bill her electric bill in small installments. I would call whoever she is getting her electric bill from and ask if they have a plan like that. In my state the electric company is required to keep your home comfortable to live in if you have a medical condition. All that is needed is a doctors note stating that the home must be conducive to the medical condition which means heating and cooling. Also, there are many HVAC companies that will install heating and air for financing. Our new unit cost $2600 but the company financed us and we paid $62 a month until it was paid off. If she cant afford that, they may be able to lower the montly payment. Especially if her unit is not like the BIG one we got. Also check witht he local church or Catholic church. They generally have some funding for medical or weather related emergencies. Last but not least, if any of the aforemention does not work in your area, contact your city officials, they should be able to help you. Good Luck and God Bless.

You can try an internet search for community service non-profit charities in your area. Luckily we have many organizations that assist with such issues. I'm sure, partly because we are in Las Vegas, NV and the heat can and often is deadly. I would suggest Lutheran Social Services, Catholic Charities, Habitat for Humanity, Seventh Day Adventists, to name a just few. There are many civic and philanthropic organizations as well, you just need to know where to look. Your states' department of health and human services should be able to suggest other available resources.
It has been mentioned previously, your local power company likely has programs for this type of assistance. Hope this helps and that the relentless heat is gone quickly. Make sure they are all staying hydrated in the meantime. Good luck.

brendak60;

I know in my previous state and the current one, the power companies do have some programs for helping everyone save money on tasks like this. I also figure many states have programs for the vulnerable. I checked your profile, which says you are in OH - if that's where mom and brother are as well, check this link:

https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/ohio_agency_on_aging.html

I didn't read every bit of it, as I don't live there, but there are a number of programs that might be beneficial to both mom and brother. In particular, it does cover something regarding heating/cooling:

"The Home Energy Assistance Program, or HEAP, is a financial assistance program for low-income residents of Ohio. Representatives at your office agency on aging can help you apply. A focus is usually for seniors, disabled, and others who are most vulnerable. Money can help pay heating and cooling bills."

If you call them, perhaps they can find a program which will benefit your mother.

Might be some useful information in this or the links it provides:

https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/free_air_conditioners.html

Getting a free unit might be tough this time of year, but it never hurts to ask!

Thanks for your help!

You can also put ice cubes (make a heavy supply of these) and place them in a bowl, then place the bowl behind the box fan. A friend of mine did this when they couldn't afford air conditioners and it cooled them off considerably. You may want to take note of the nearest cooling center-Just in case, if gets more hotter and more dangerous for them.