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My mom told me she didn't turn it on by choice. Then my brother came to stay for the holidays and turns out it doesnt work. Had the gas company come out and they said it was broken. She doesn't have labor protection so they can not fix it. So now I have a 66 year old lady that will not leave the house in a house that is freezing. I dont know what to do. I call around and I've been giving two numbers for PCA but they are closed today because of the bad weather. She has space heaters now but I have fears on that and the stove. I have a young friend whose house burned with her, her unborn child and 2 yr old in it. It was on the news. I also take care of my dad but he is easier to deal with more willing to except what I tell him is helpful. Mom thinks I'm trying to take her sanity from her. I dont want her to get more depressed than she is but what do I do? Who do I call? Can anyone help her and if so, how do I find them? OK I vented a little too, sorry, but I hope you can provide me some guidance. Thank you. Lucy

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Lucy posted over a week ago and hasn't come back, we have no way of knowing if her mom is in Texas or Wisconsin, but we do know she is only 66 years old. I don't get why this thread is still alive.
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Lucy, so many times there are parents who can no longer afford to keep living in their house as their social security cannot afford to pay for repairs, such as a broken furnace.

This is a tough decision, do you and your brother chip in to get the furnace repairs or replaced? Then the water pipes break due to the cold. Would you and your brother chip for that, too? Before you know it, you will be rebuilding your parents house.

I would have thought that with the broken furnace and lack of funds would be a wake up call for your Mom but apparently not. Time for her and your Dad to move to a senior apartment complex where the rents are based on their income.

I know, lot easier said than done.... [sigh]
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Maybe someone in the family has a credit card & mom can pay them back? Or there are repair companies that may finance a new heater for her on a payment plan. Going forward it might be a good present for you & your brother to gift her one of those appliance warranties.
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I guess you r saying that Mom can't afford to fix the heater. How much would it cost? Can't u and brother pay to fix it. My old gas heater was 30 yrs old when we had a new one put in. Not because because it was broke, just because we thought it was time. Very little goes wrong with gas heaters.
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Lucy, is your mother disabled in any way? If she is a typical 66 year old she should be able to look out for herself, many are still working full time at that age. It also makes a difference where she is living, no heat in 30 or 40 degree weather is a whole different thing from no heat in -30 or -40. Space heaters can be used safely until her primary heat source is repaired as long as proper precautions are taken: keep them away from bed linens, curtains or other flammables, don't use extension cords, always have working smoke alarms and a CO alarm if using gas appliances, plan an escape route and a safe place to go once outside.
If mom has physical or mental problems that keep her from caring for herself then you need to alert local authorities that she is a vulnerable adult in need.
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