My Mom needs assistance with a broken air conditioning unit. Is there any help for her?

Some Area Agencies on Aging also have free air conditioners for seniors. Check with them or your local Bureau of Senior Services. I know how difficult it is if there are medical issues involved.

Sue16, your profile says your Mom lives at an independent living.... would she be responsible for her own air conditioner in the building? I would contact the building management and ask what is required.

Ditto calling the 211 phone number. Here in CA, trained Volunteers sit by the phone and you give them the help request, and they make phone calls or refer to a reference book that lists community sources of help for a variety of problems, which they match to your specific problem.
ALSO = The three digit number system starts at 211 and continues to 911, for example, 211,311,411,511,611,711,811,911, each number is a source of specific help, like locate gas and electrical pipes before digging, taking a bus or train, etc.

Don't know if you are referring to a window unit or a complete central air system. I live in Houston TX where the heat can be very intense and just a window unit will not do much good. I would suggest you call 211 which I believe is available statewide. They should be able to provide you with charitable organizations, etc. who may be able to help.

Here in the St. Louis area there are FREE air conditioners for the elderly on low income through the electric company. Inquire at your local city hall for more information. Good Luck!

I live near Cleveland, Oh. and only recently found out that the city I live in has a Community Service Center which helps people with problems like your Mothers. There are curtain guide lines which need to be followed...age of the person, their income, utilities included in house payment or not. I requested a window air condition from this agency, not really thinking I would get one. Less then a week, I was notified that a new 6000 BTU window A/C was ready for me to pick-up at their office. They also said I qualified for two large floor fans. Red Cross, and Catholic Charities, Rescue Missions also help people in need like your mother. Good luck and wish the best for her.

A PORTABLE FAN WILL LOWER THE TEMP 5 or 6 degrees. I use one.

ask your VA about the Aid and Attendance assistance. If your veteran served
Active military duty and received an honorable discharge, as his widow you may
Qualify for financial help. Re ently this was a feature on the evening news as a
Little known benefit for veterans. VA form 21-2680

VA Aid and Attendance is VA Program for Low Income Vets and their Low Income Widows =
There are military service time and low income eligibility requirements, and best is to find
someone to help you with the info, then the paperwork = often your County Veterans
Services Officer, or Reps with VFW, AL, Viet Nam Vets, Purple Heart Vets, etc etc
The Key is to find a Highly Motivated person in these groups to quickly determine if she
is eligible and help with the paperwork = These, people, often Volunteers, are the Key
to a Quick Determination of Eligibility who have a Can Do Attitude, vs just happy sitting
at a desk types, with a low energy level, as I have seen before. I am a Vet, but not
in the Aid and Attendance Program, just know about it from Vet Briefings over the last
20 years.
Also, every community has Volunteers that look to help low income people with
problems like needing an air conditioner = just a matter of finding them = Lots
of Good Suggestions here, God Bless !!

What kind of AC are we talking about? You can get a window unit for around a hundred dollars new, and I see people posting ads for second-hand-ones in my neighborhood for $50. See if one of your family lives in an area where freecycle.org operates -- that's an online bulletin board for people who want to give stuff away.

Here in Ohio we have the Central Ohio Breathing Association. They have a program where they get air conditioners for people with breathing problems that can't afford there. See if there is a lung association or breathing association in your area.

Contact local HVAC shops, they are human too.

If your mom is not a vet, then the VA probably isn't going to provide assistance. (Been down that road ourselves.) Doesn't hurt to try but don't be surprised if you get turned away empty handed.

We recommend you try:

1. A medium to large local church. Churches often have funds set aside to help in cases like this.

2. Local county senior resources. Where we live, there is handyman assistance but have no idea how long the wait would be. Considering the danger of the situation, there could be emergency funds available through the county as well.

3. Any local Veterans Service Organization, like the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, especially if your dad was a member of one of them.

Will pray that one of these work out.

Perhaps you or a family member could buy a new one? Have you spoken with the VA to see if she gets any benefits