Founded in 1975, JABA is Central Virginia’s leading provider of information and services for seniors

Our mission is to promote, establish and preserve sustainable communities for healthy aging that benefit individuals and families of all ages.

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Helping Your Loved Ones Age in Place

Cool Aid overview 2008

Cool-Aid Program

Make Heat Bearable!

Cooling seniors and area residents with heat-related illness.

Mission

To help seniors and the disabled or severely ill of all ages prevent heat and humidity related illness or death caused by excessive heat during the summer months.

How Heat Affects Our Community

- In the United States, each year more people die from “excessive heat events” – where temperatures rise 10°F or more for an extended period – than from hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes combined.

- High levels of humidity can make it very difficult for the body to cool itself. When the body loses the ability to cool itself, the core body temperature can increase rapidly causing heat stroke. Heat stroke can damage vital organs permanently.

Individuals with Increased Risk

- Older adults and young children with breathing difficulties are at the highest risk.

- Living alone or in a home without air cooling equipment; being confined to a bed; or being unable to provide self-care also increases the risk of illness or death due to excessive heat for vulnerable individuals.

- Existing health conditions such as chronic illness, mental impairment, obesity and breathing related illnesses can heighten an individual’s vulnerability.

Services

JABA’s Cool-Aid program operates from June 1 to August 31:

Applicants may be eligible to receive one or more of these services during the summer.

- Pickup or installation of a window air conditioner

- Pickup or delivery of a fan

- Installation of a ceiling fan, attic fan, or whole house fan

- Payment of an electric bill, up to $200 for the summer

Eligibility

Cool-Aid is designed to help people who are:

- Live in the City of Charlottesville, or the Counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, or Nelson

- Low income (within 150% of the Federal Poverty Line)

- 60 years of age or older

- People under 60 with a medical need or disability requiring cooling assistance

Funding

Funding is provided by:

- Private contributions

- Virginia Dominion Power’s Fan Care Program

- Virginia Department of Social Services

Demands for Cool-Aid are greatly influenced by publicity efforts, as well as word-of-mouth information circulated about the service. Several special fundraising events are held in the summer in partnership with local businesses and channel 29. All are fundraising events.

Public service announcements in newspapers and on local radio stations also occur.

If sufficient funds are not generated to meet the demand for services, then a waiting list is employed.