macular degeneration, macular, diagnosis Full of Lint – My Macular Degeneration Journey/Journal

Full of Lint

Earlier in the week I offered a housekeeping tip. I actually have another one! Make sure the vent for your dryer has been cleaned.

The clothes washer has not been working properly, won’t spin, but even taking that into account, the dryer seemed to be taking forever. The one thing I know we can do for ourselves is clean the vent hose so I asked my husband to do it.

It was sort of full of lint. We all know that that is another invitation for a fire, not to mention a lot of wasted electricity and money from long drying times. Time flies when you are older and it just may be your dryer vent hose has not been cleaned within the recommended year (even though you could swear you did it last week!).

Do me – and yourself – a favor and clean the vent hose. Fires are bad for anyone but a fire and low vision could be nasty.

That, however, does not solve the problem of the washer that will not spin. That will require a repairman. Hopefully it won’t require a new washer.

Which got me to thinking: is there a way to get free appliance repair for those who are low vision or blind? Did not find that but – glory be! – I found a possible way to get free replacement appliances!

The Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is allowed to replace your appliances. This is not guaranteed because all of the money comes out of the same pot and is often spent on things like home heating, but if you need an energy efficient refrigerator or washer, it would not hurt to inquire.

Qualifications are pretty much what you would expect. You can not earn more than 150% of the poverty level or more than 60% of your state’s median income level. In other words, a pretty low income is required.

Other than replace energy-hog appliances, LIHEAP helps people with energy bills and weatherization. The whole idea is to reduce the amount of income that is spent on energy in the home.

Now, obviously I would not qualify. I will have to get my washer repaired on my own dime. However, those of you who are living on limited incomes may wish to call 1-866-674-6327 and inquire about the program. This number belongs to the National Energy Assistance Referral project and it is manned from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. mountain time. That would be 9 to 7 eastern time, 8 to 6 central and 6 to 4 Pacific time. Any other time zone? You are on your own.

Hopefully that nugget of information will give you one other possible resource for getting through this AMD mess and all the not so little messes that may have come along with it. Disabled and “of a certain age” too frequently go along with low income in America. Anything that can make the financial struggle a little easier can be a good thing.

Me? I call your friendly, neighborhood appliance repairman first thing Monday. I have laundry to do.

Next: The Cowardly Lion

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