Jul 21, 2006 5:20 pm US/Central
County Offers Assistance To Keep Elderly Cool
(CBS 11 News)
As the temperature outside climbed past 100 for the 10th day in a row, Cybil Tinsley's neighbor grew more concerned.
"We're worried about the fact that it's so hot and she's in the house with all that heat and I'm afraid she's going to die in there," neighbor Delphia Charlton said of the East Dallas woman.
"We all keep an eye out but she won't let us help at all. we can't get in the house."
Neighbors say Tinsley lives alone and has no nearby family. The last family member who visited was her grandson last Christmas, Charlton said.
The 102-year-old is not the only one opting to stay indoors during the Texas summer.
What concerns neighbors and officials the most is that Tinsley refuses to us her air conditioning because of the high electric bills that result.
On Friday, Dallas Fire-Rescue crews checked on Tinsley and recorded 95 degrees inside her home.
Officials said that temperature is likely to increase and could be fatal.
Tinsley refused to go to the hospital and emergency workers said her vital signs were OK, but that she might not be able to continue being well in a hot house.
Lt. Joel Lavender says elderly and those with serious medical conditions do not respond well to hot weather.
"The main thing is the elderly, their bodies do not acclimate to heat and cold the way they used to. We basically have to be our brother's keeper and make sure our elderly people are doing OK, we can't afford to loose them."
Dallas Health and Human Services representatives tell people there is away around refusing to use the AC.
"They should contact us to look at which program they can fit in," said Zachary Thompson, DCHHS director.
He said there is help available for people in this condition.
There are a few programs through the county where senior citizens and others can receive free air conditioning units as well as assistance with energy bills.
Thompson said there's about $2 million in funding, and so far more than 3,000 residents already have received this aid.
DCHHS officials hope to assist 8,000 by the end of summer.
Most people, however, don't know the assistance is there and some will wait too late to apply, officials warn.
They encourage members of the community to take action and help out the elderly.
Thompson said concerned citizens should find out if their elderly neighbors, friends and relatives have a working air condition unit or and if they're having difficulty paying their electric bills.
"If they can get that information and put them in contact with Dallas County, we can get that information and begin working with those individual, " Thompson said.
For more information about the assistance programs or free AC units, call the DCHHS heat emergency hotline at: 214-819-6001.
(CBS 11 News)
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