They are not only delivering food to the front doors of the elderly, but they're also making sure the seniors are keeping cool.
With Mother Nature's heat selector on "very high" for the next several days, those who look in on the elderly are also keeping an eye on the thermostat.
Chestnut Hill Meals on Wheels delivers freshly prepared food five days a week. However, in this heat wave, volunteer drivers also make sure clients are not sitting in overheated homes.
While this isn't an issue with many clients, some still choose not to use their air conditioning systems properly.
"She does nto like to use her air," said volunteer Kim Morris of a particular client. "She will use a fan and open the windows and doors, but when it's 102 degrees out, you still worry that it might not be enough."
Outreach Coordinator Jamie Dolby says some elderly clients don't notice overheated conditions and others worry about cooling costs. One woman refused to use her air conditioner until her niece was called and laid down the law.
"I ended up having to call the niece who was her emergency contact, saying 'we've tried, we need you to try,'" Dolby said. "The next day when we went by, she had turned it on. She wasn't happy that we called her niece about it but in the end, it's really about keeping them healthy."
So a timely reminder: If you have an elderly loved one, friend, or neighbor who lives alone, right now might be a good time to touch base to make sure they are doing OK in the heat.
