If you’re a low-income senior in Virginia and the summer heat is becoming dangerous or unbearable in your home, there’s a program that can help. It’s called Senior Cool Care, and it provides free fans, window air conditioners, or portable air conditioners to eligible older adults across much of the state.
Here’s what you need to know.
What Is Senior Cool Care?
Senior Cool Care is a public-private partnership between Dominion Energy and the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). The program helps low-income older Virginians stay cool and avoid heat-related illness during the hottest months of the year by providing a fan, window air conditioner, or portable air conditioner at no cost.
The program runs annually from May 1 through October 31, which lines up with the hottest stretch of the Virginia summer.
Importantly, once you receive a unit through this program, it’s yours to keep. You don’t need to return it at the end of the season. That said, local agencies running the program can’t repair or replace a unit if it breaks down later, so you’d need to look elsewhere for that kind of help down the road.
Who Is Eligible?
To qualify for Senior Cool Care, you generally need to meet these requirements:
- You’re 60 years of age or older
- You live within Dominion Energy’s service area
- Your household income falls at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level
- You have a genuine need for additional cooling in your home
How Do I Apply?
Senior Cool Care isn’t something you apply for directly through the state or even online. Instead, it’s administered locally through Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) across Virginia.
Here’s how the process works:
- Find your local Area Agency on Aging. You can call the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services at 1-800-552-3402 to get connected with the AAA serving your area, or ask them for the list of participating agencies. They have a downloadable list here.
- Contact that agency directly. Applications are only accepted between May 1 and October 31, so reach out once the window opens for the year.
- Get screened for eligibility. Your local AAA will confirm your age, income, and cooling need.
- Receive your unit if you are selected. Depending on your local agency, you may be able to pick up your fan or air conditioner, or have it delivered — this varies by agency, so ask what your options are when you apply.
Remember, this program lasts as long as funding is available so it is important to reach out as soon as possible.
What This Program Doesn’t Cover
Senior Cool Care provides the cooling unit itself, but it does not cover:
- Delivery or installation of your air conditioner
- Your electricity bill, including the cost of running the unit once you have it
If you’re struggling to pay your electric bill, especially in the summer months when cooling costs climb, look into Dominion Energy’s EnergyShare program instead. EnergyShare offers bill payment assistance and is a separate program from Senior Cool Care, so you can potentially use both if you qualify for each.
Relief Recap
Senior Cool Care offers real, practical relief for Virginia seniors trying to stay safe through hot summers on a limited income, and the unit is yours to keep once you receive it. The keys to getting help are simple: confirm you’re in Dominion Energy’s service area, reach out to your local Area Agency on Aging once the May 1 application window opens, and don’t wait until the peak of summer heat to apply, since availability can be limited. If paying your electric bill is the bigger struggle, EnergyShare is worth looking into as a companion resource.
