flitterbit wrote:
> Christine Dabney wrote:

>> Mine too. An old man just died somewhere in NYC or NJ cause his
>> house was barely heated, if that.

> If you're referring to the one I'm thinking of, the electric company
> put some kind of current-restricting device on his meter because he
> was apparently about $1,000 in arrears in paying his electrical bill.
> The article I read alleges that no one at the utility explained to
> him how this works, with the result that he continued to use
> electricity as he always had, reached the limit, and the whole works
> shut down, leaving
> him without heat. The poor guy was found wearing multiple layers of
> clothing and covered in as many blankets as he owned, but it wasn't
> enough.

That was in Michigan. Poor guy. That was a sad story.

nancy

On Jan 31, 2:40�pm, "Nancy Young" > wrote:
> flitterbit wrote:
> > Christine Dabney wrote:
> >> Mine too. �An old man just died somewhere in NYC or NJ cause his
> >> house was barely heated, if that.
> > If you're referring to the one I'm thinking of, the electric company
> > put some kind of current-restricting device on his meter because he
> > was apparently about $1,000 in arrears in paying his electrical bill.
> > The article I read alleges that no one at the utility explained to
> > him how this works, with the result that he continued to use
> > electricity as he always had, reached the limit, and the whole works
> > shut down, leaving
> > him without heat. �The poor guy was found wearing multiple layers of
> > clothing and covered in as many blankets as he owned, but it wasn't
> > enough.
>
> That was in Michigan. �Poor guy. �That was a sad story.

That's a very common event with elderly folks who live alone. Often
they have plenty of money but they simply stop paying their bills,
they become too old to care for themselves. Many times a spouse dies
and they just go downhill. Sometimes social services steps in
because they're alerted by neighbors but often not. Whenever utility
companies install those limiting devices social services is notified
(could just as easily be a single mom with infants as an elderly
person living alone). This is not the fault of the power company,
social services EFed up.

Sheldon wrote:
> On Jan 31, 2:40�pm, "Nancy Young" > wrote:
>> flitterbit wrote:
>>> Christine Dabney wrote:
>>>> Mine too. �An old man just died somewhere in NYC or NJ cause his
>>>> house was barely heated, if that.
>>> If you're referring to the one I'm thinking of, the electric company
>>> put some kind of current-restricting device on his meter because he
>>> was apparently about $1,000 in arrears in paying his electrical
>>> bill. The article I read alleges that no one at the utility
>>> explained to him how this works, with the result that he continued
>>> to use electricity as he always had, reached the limit, and the
>>> whole works shut down, leaving
>>> him without heat. �The poor guy was found wearing multiple layers of
>>> clothing and covered in as many blankets as he owned, but it wasn't
>>> enough.
>>
>> That was in Michigan. �Poor guy. �That was a sad story.
>
> That's a very common event with elderly folks who live alone. Often
> they have plenty of money but they simply stop paying their bills,
> they become too old to care for themselves. Many times a spouse dies
> and they just go downhill. Sometimes social services steps in
> because they're alerted by neighbors but often not. Whenever utility
> companies install those limiting devices social services is notified
> (could just as easily be a single mom with infants as an elderly
> person living alone). This is not the fault of the power company,
> social services EFed up.

Here, when they cut off your utilities, they are supposed to
notify the police or fire department, I forget which. I think
it should be a law that they inform someone other than the
homeowner what's going on. Putting a note on the door
was a lame way to deal with this situation, that's for sure.

nancy

In article >,
"Nancy Young" > wrote:


> Here, when they cut off your utilities, they are supposed to
> notify the police or fire department, I forget which. I think
> it should be a law that they inform someone other than the
> homeowner what's going on. Putting a note on the door
> was a lame way to deal with this situation, that's for sure.

My MIL (mother in law) was a horribly obnoxious person. As she got
older, she just totally lost control of everything. However, she was
adamant that she wanted to stay in her house, it was her whole life.
Some government social services agency tried to help. They would get
people to take care of her. She just wasn't a nice person, though. So
they just ripped her off. They stole everything that wasn't nailed
down, and emptied out her checking account. They would go to the
grocery store to "buy food for her", using her checks, but mostly they
bought booze, and *then* they took a less cash to pay for their trips to
the bars! So the guy came to shut off her gas and electric, since after
the booze, there was no money to pay the bills. The guy could see there
was something wrong, and so he didn't shut it off, and he notified APS
(Adult Protective Services) since it was clearly elder abuse.

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA

On Sat, 31 Jan 2009 18:18:01 -0800, Dan Abel > wrote:

>So the guy came to shut off her gas and electric, since after
>the booze, there was no money to pay the bills. The guy could see there
>was something wrong, and so he didn't shut it off, and he notified APS
>(Adult Protective Services) since it was clearly elder abuse.

Thank goodness there's some agency to step in when family
doesn't/can't/won't.


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

Nancy Young wrote:
> flitterbit wrote:
>> Christine Dabney wrote:
>
>>> Mine too. An old man just died somewhere in NYC or NJ cause his
>>> house was barely heated, if that.
>
>> If you're referring to the one I'm thinking of, the electric company
>> put some kind of current-restricting device on his meter because he
>> was apparently about $1,000 in arrears in paying his electrical bill.
>> The article I read alleges that no one at the utility explained to
>> him how this works, with the result that he continued to use
>> electricity as he always had, reached the limit, and the whole works
>> shut down, leaving him without heat. The poor guy was found wearing
>> multiple layers of
>> clothing and covered in as many blankets as he owned, but it wasn't
>> enough.
>
> That was in Michigan. Poor guy. That was a sad story.
>
> nancy
>
>
Sad indeed, especially since it seems there was no one in this poor
man's life to watch out for him or take charge of his affairs.

While I understand utility companies' need to be paid, it strikes me as
irresponsible that the power company didn't educate this guy about the
device they were installing. Whether or not they'll be deemed negligent
remains to be seen.

flitterbit wrote:
> Nancy Young wrote:
>> flitterbit wrote:

>>> If you're referring to the one I'm thinking of, the electric company
>>> put some kind of current-restricting device on his meter because he
>>> was apparently about $1,000 in arrears in paying his electrical
>>> bill. The article I read alleges that no one at the utility
>>> explained to him how this works, with the result that he continued
>>> to use electricity as he always had, reached the limit, and the
>>> whole works shut down, leaving him without heat. The poor guy was
>>> found wearing multiple layers of
>>> clothing and covered in as many blankets as he owned, but it wasn't
>>> enough.
>>
>> That was in Michigan. Poor guy. That was a sad story.

> Sad indeed, especially since it seems there was no one in this poor
> man's life to watch out for him or take charge of his affairs.

I'm not clear if he didn't have the money or just didn't have the
wherewithall to pay his bills. Regardless, I think they have
learned their lesson and will have to take steps to make sure
the person understands they need to lower their use with this
device installed.

Luckily most of us can put our finances on auto pilot these
days, assuming you have the money, you can arrange to have
your bills paid automatically. If you don't have the money, what's
the answer. I don't know. Where I live you can apply for assistance
with your utilities.

> While I understand utility companies' need to be paid, it strikes me
> as irresponsible that the power company didn't educate this guy about
> the device they were installing. Whether or not they'll be deemed
> negligent remains to be seen.

Yeah, let's see his relatives pop up looking for a payday out of
this. Then we can find out why no one looked in on him during
this nasty cold snap. He was 92, for pete's sake.

You could see the neighbors felt awful about it.

nancy

Nancy Young wrote:
> flitterbit wrote:
>> Nancy Young wrote:
>>> flitterbit wrote:
>
>>>> If you're referring to the one I'm thinking of, the electric company
>>>> put some kind of current-restricting device on his meter because he
>>>> was apparently about $1,000 in arrears in paying his electrical
>>>> bill. The article I read alleges that no one at the utility
>>>> explained to him how this works, with the result that he continued
>>>> to use electricity as he always had, reached the limit, and the
>>>> whole works shut down, leaving him without heat. The poor guy was
>>>> found wearing multiple layers of
>>>> clothing and covered in as many blankets as he owned, but it wasn't
>>>> enough.
>>>
>>> That was in Michigan. Poor guy. That was a sad story.
>
>> Sad indeed, especially since it seems there was no one in this poor
>> man's life to watch out for him or take charge of his affairs.
>
> I'm not clear if he didn't have the money or just didn't have the
> wherewithall to pay his bills. Regardless, I think they have learned
> their lesson and will have to take steps to make sure
> the person understands they need to lower their use with this
> device installed.
>
> Luckily most of us can put our finances on auto pilot these
> days, assuming you have the money, you can arrange to have
> your bills paid automatically. If you don't have the money, what's
> the answer. I don't know. Where I live you can apply for assistance
> with your utilities.
>
>> While I understand utility companies' need to be paid, it strikes me
>> as irresponsible that the power company didn't educate this guy about
>> the device they were installing. Whether or not they'll be deemed
>> negligent remains to be seen.
>
> Yeah, let's see his relatives pop up looking for a payday out of
> this. Then we can find out why no one looked in on him during
> this nasty cold snap. He was 92, for pete's sake.
> You could see the neighbors felt awful about it.
> nancy
>
>
It'll be interesting to see how this develops. So often it seems
elderly folks who're all alone have family, but said family is scattered
around the world/country. Having good neighbours can take the place of
close family to some extent, but there are obvious limits to what they
can do.

flitterbit wrote:
> Nancy Young wrote:
> > flitterbit wrote:
> >> Christine Dabney wrote:
>
> >>> Mine too. �An old man just died somewhere in NYC or NJ cause his
> >>> house was barely heated, if that.
>
> >> If you're referring to the one I'm thinking of, the electric company
> >> put some kind of current-restricting device on his meter because he
> >> was apparently about $1,000 in arrears in paying his electrical bill.
> >> The article I read alleges that no one at the utility explained to
> >> him how this works, with the result that he continued to use
> >> electricity as he always had, reached the limit, and the whole works
> >> shut down, leaving him without heat. �The poor guy was found wearing
> >> multiple layers of
> >> clothing and covered in as many blankets as he owned, but it wasn't
> >> enough.
>
> > That was in Michigan. �Poor guy. �That was a sad story.
>
> > nancy
>
> �>
> �>
> Sad indeed, especially since it seems there was no one in this poor
> man's life to watch out for him or take charge of his affairs.
>
> While I understand utility companies' need to be paid, it strikes me as
> irresponsible that the power company didn't educate this guy about the
> device they were installing.

They most likely did explain the device, or attempt to, in person, by
mail, by phone, even a note in his door, but obviously the man was
very advanced in years and didn't respond, and didn't understand/
remember... that's likely how he got into that situation... the
utility company should have contacted social services. Very often
people that age, especially veterans, have long ago amassed huge sums
of money, typically by direct deposit into a checking account... just
SS alone can add up quickly... I know a lot of people won't want to
believe it but a lot of people can't spend their entire SS check each
month, I can't spend all mine. But they become senile and can no
longer function, and so stop paying bills. And very often there are
no family members. Lots of these people live all alone, they become
anti social and so neighbors don't intervene. Social services is
supposed to visit when utility bills are not paid, often they visit
too late... were minor children involved they'd be there in a NY
minute, but not for the elderly.

There was an elderly couple living about a half mile down the road
from me. They retired and had a gorgous A-frame built on 22 acres.
Some five years ago the wife died. The man stopped paying all bills,
not even heating oil was delivered anymore. All the plumbing froze,
he lived about a year using empty containers for a toilet. One day
the police were called because he was out in the road ranting and
babbling incoherently. He was brought to a state facility. His house
went into default for non payment of taxes. A bank purchased it at
auction, made all the repairs, and it's now up for sale. It turned
out that this man had well over a million dollars in various accounts,
the state took all that too.

It's very important that as one ages they participate in some
community organizations, even if only to pay the dues but not attend
functions. Had this man been a member in the local VFW someone would
have periodically checked on him, especially when he missed his dues
payment. Had he enrolled with meals on wheels someone would have
brought food every day, the authorities would have been notified well
before his condition deteriorated so badly. I have a PO Box in town,
a couple of times they phoned me to pick up my mail because I hadn't
for a couple of days longer than usual and my mail was overflowing. I
live in a small town so most every local business I deal with knows
me... once when my cable remittance somehow didn't get there my phone
began ringing off the hook wanting to know why I was canceling the
service, a cable sales person came to my door twice. But I imagine in
large communities no one notices or cares when customers become non
responsive.

The bottom line however is that it's not the utility company's
responsibility to care for the aged, but they should have notified
social services... perhaps they did, but social services is not always
very reliable except where it comes to buck passing.

On Sun, 1 Feb 2009 09:16:36 -0800 (PST), Sheldon >
wrote:

>The bottom line however is that it's not the utility company's
>responsibility to care for the aged, but they should have notified
>social services... perhaps they did, but social services is not always
>very reliable except where it comes to buck passing.

The people who interact with the public at social services is also
over worked.


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

On Feb 1, 1:59�pm, sf > wrote:
> On Sun, 1 Feb 2009 09:16:36 -0800 (PST), Sheldon >
> wrote:
>
> >The bottom line however is that it's not the utility company's
> >responsibility to care for the aged, but they should have notified
> >social services... perhaps they did, but social services is not always
> >very reliable except where it comes to buck passing.
>
> The people who interact with the public at social services is [are] also
> over worked.

Gubermint employees overworked... you probably think the DMV employees
are over worked too... when do I stop laughing...

On Sun, 1 Feb 2009 11:32:15 -0800 (PST), Sheldon >
wrote:

>On Feb 1, 1:59?pm, sf > wrote:
>> On Sun, 1 Feb 2009 09:16:36 -0800 (PST), Sheldon >
>> wrote:
>>
>> >The bottom line however is that it's not the utility company's
>> >responsibility to care for the aged, but they should have notified
>> >social services... perhaps they did, but social services is not always
>> >very reliable except where it comes to buck passing.
>>
>> The people who interact with the public at social services is [are] also
>> over worked.
>
>Gubermint employees overworked... you probably think the DMV employees
>are over worked too... when do I stop laughing...

Get real. My DMV is so busy, you need to make an appointment...
otherwise be prepared to spend a few hours waiting in line.


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

On Feb 1, 2:41�pm, sf > wrote:
> On Sun, 1 Feb 2009 11:32:15 -0800 (PST), Sheldon >
> wrote:
>
> >On Feb 1, 1:59?pm, sf > wrote:
> >> On Sun, 1 Feb 2009 09:16:36 -0800 (PST), Sheldon >
> >> wrote:
>
> >> >The bottom line however is that it's not the utility company's
> >> >responsibility to care for the aged, but they should have notified
> >> >social services... perhaps they did, but social services is not always
> >> >very reliable except where it comes to buck passing.
>
> >> The people who interact with the public at social services is [are] also
> >> over worked.
>
> >Gubermint employees overworked... you probably think the DMV employees
> >are over worked too... when do I stop laughing...
>
> Get real. �My DMV is so busy, you need to make an appointment...
> otherwise be prepared to spend a few hours waiting in line.

You don't get it. Your waiting for hours is due to their
masturbating.

In article >,
flitterbit > wrote:

> Nancy Young wrote:

> >
> > That was in Michigan. Poor guy. That was a sad story.

> Sad indeed, especially since it seems there was no one in this poor
> man's life to watch out for him or take charge of his affairs.
>
> While I understand utility companies' need to be paid, it strikes me as
> irresponsible that the power company didn't educate this guy about the
> device they were installing. Whether or not they'll be deemed negligent
> remains to be seen.

It can be very hard. Often older people don't *want* someone to watch
out for them, or worse yet, take charge of their lives. But sometimes
it's necessary. My father has lost his short term memory. It's
completely gone. Even a five minute conversation, in person or on the
phone, is difficult. In five minutes, he will ask exactly the same
questions three times. I give exactly the same answers. I know that
two minutes later, he remembers nothing of it. If he was in the
situation of the man above, the employee could have explained the
situation to him, and he could have been called every week. Two minutes
later, no memory. It isn't always easy to understand. My father is
still very smart. He understands everything he is told, as long as it
doesn't take more than about a minute. He remembers everything about
his childhood and World War II, with crystal clarity.

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA

On Sun, 01 Feb 2009 10:56:41 -0800, Dan Abel wrote:

> In article >,
> flitterbit > wrote:
>
>> Nancy Young wrote:
>
>>>
>>> That was in Michigan. Poor guy. That was a sad story.
>
>> Sad indeed, especially since it seems there was no one in this poor
>> man's life to watch out for him or take charge of his affairs.
>>
>> While I understand utility companies' need to be paid, it strikes me as
>> irresponsible that the power company didn't educate this guy about the
>> device they were installing. Whether or not they'll be deemed negligent
>> remains to be seen.
>
> It can be very hard. Often older people don't *want* someone to watch
> out for them, or worse yet, take charge of their lives. But sometimes
> it's necessary. My father has lost his short term memory. It's
> completely gone. Even a five minute conversation, in person or on the
> phone, is difficult. In five minutes, he will ask exactly the same
> questions three times. I give exactly the same answers. I know that
> two minutes later, he remembers nothing of it. If he was in the
> situation of the man above, the employee could have explained the
> situation to him, and he could have been called every week. Two minutes
> later, no memory. It isn't always easy to understand. My father is
> still very smart. He understands everything he is told, as long as it
> doesn't take more than about a minute. He remembers everything about
> his childhood and World War II, with crystal clarity.

that must be heartbreaking as well as annoying. is he aware of his
deficit?

your pal,
blake

In article >,
blake murphy > wrote:

> On Sun, 01 Feb 2009 10:56:41 -0800, Dan Abel wrote:

> > My father has lost his short term memory. It's
> > completely gone. Even a five minute conversation, in person or on the
> > phone, is difficult. In five minutes, he will ask exactly the same
> > questions three times. I give exactly the same answers. I know that
> > two minutes later, he remembers nothing of it. If he was in the
> > situation of the man above, the employee could have explained the
> > situation to him, and he could have been called every week. Two minutes
> > later, no memory. It isn't always easy to understand. My father is
> > still very smart. He understands everything he is told, as long as it
> > doesn't take more than about a minute. He remembers everything about
> > his childhood and World War II, with crystal clarity.
>
> that must be heartbreaking as well as annoying. is he aware of his
> deficit?

Unfortunately, yes. He's just waiting for the end. At 92, he's
outlived most of the people he has known.

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA

Dan Abel wrote:
> In article >,
> blake murphy > wrote:
>
>> On Sun, 01 Feb 2009 10:56:41 -0800, Dan Abel wrote:
>
>>> My father has lost his short term memory. It's
>>> completely gone. Even a five minute conversation, in person or on the
>>> phone, is difficult. In five minutes, he will ask exactly the same
>>> questions three times. I give exactly the same answers. I know that
>>> two minutes later, he remembers nothing of it. If he was in the
>>> situation of the man above, the employee could have explained the
>>> situation to him, and he could have been called every week. Two minutes
>>> later, no memory. It isn't always easy to understand. My father is
>>> still very smart. He understands everything he is told, as long as it
>>> doesn't take more than about a minute. He remembers everything about
>>> his childhood and World War II, with crystal clarity.
>> that must be heartbreaking as well as annoying. is he aware of his
>> deficit?
>
> Unfortunately, yes. He's just waiting for the end. At 92, he's
> outlived most of the people he has known.
>
Oh, man; I can just imagine how frustrated and unhappy he must feel.

My stepfather's mother is 102 and nearly blind and deaf but has no
cognitive deficit whatsoever. She's also pretty much just waiting to
die, in part because she can't do many of the things she used to. Yes,
she has lots of family who adore her, but it's not the same as having
contemporaries, either siblings or friends. At least a decade ago she
said she didn't want to live to see 100, but given her overall
robustness, she could last a lot longer. She's Latvian, from extremely
tough stock; her oldest daughter is 80, has as much energy as someone a
quarter her age, and doesn't look a day over 60.

In article >,
flitterbit > wrote:

> Dan Abel wrote:
> > In article >,
> > blake murphy > wrote:
> >
> >> On Sun, 01 Feb 2009 10:56:41 -0800, Dan Abel wrote:
> >
> >>> My father has lost his short term memory. It's
> >>> completely gone. Even a five minute conversation, in person or on the
> >>> phone, is difficult. In five minutes, he will ask exactly the same
> >>> questions three times. I give exactly the same answers. I know that
> >>> two minutes later, he remembers nothing of it. If he was in the
> >>> situation of the man above, the employee could have explained the
> >>> situation to him, and he could have been called every week. Two minutes
> >>> later, no memory. It isn't always easy to understand. My father is
> >>> still very smart. He understands everything he is told, as long as it
> >>> doesn't take more than about a minute. He remembers everything about
> >>> his childhood and World War II, with crystal clarity.

> >> that must be heartbreaking as well as annoying. is he aware of his
> >> deficit?
> >
> > Unfortunately, yes. He's just waiting for the end. At 92, he's
> > outlived most of the people he has known.
> >
> Oh, man; I can just imagine how frustrated and unhappy he must feel.
>
> My stepfather's mother is 102 and nearly blind and deaf but has no
> cognitive deficit whatsoever. She's also pretty much just waiting to
> die, in part because she can't do many of the things she used to. Yes,
> she has lots of family who adore her, but it's not the same as having
> contemporaries, either siblings or friends. At least a decade ago she
> said she didn't want to live to see 100, but given her overall
> robustness, she could last a lot longer. She's Latvian, from extremely
> tough stock; her oldest daughter is 80, has as much energy as someone a
> quarter her age, and doesn't look a day over 60.

We'll see how it goes with my father. His kidney has been in failure
mode for 15 years, but isn't causing any problems. However, there is no
reserve kidney function. Any serious medical problem will cause kidney
failure, and there's not much that can be done. My father has an
agreement with his doctor not to do anything drastic to prolong his
life, like dialysis. It would give him a few more weeks, but he would
be miserable.

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA

On Mon, 02 Feb 2009 11:58:51 -0800, Dan Abel wrote:

> In article >,
> blake murphy > wrote:
>
>> On Sun, 01 Feb 2009 10:56:41 -0800, Dan Abel wrote:
>
>>> My father has lost his short term memory. It's
>>> completely gone. Even a five minute conversation, in person or on the
>>> phone, is difficult. In five minutes, he will ask exactly the same
>>> questions three times. I give exactly the same answers. I know that
>>> two minutes later, he remembers nothing of it. If he was in the
>>> situation of the man above, the employee could have explained the
>>> situation to him, and he could have been called every week. Two minutes
>>> later, no memory. It isn't always easy to understand. My father is
>>> still very smart. He understands everything he is told, as long as it
>>> doesn't take more than about a minute. He remembers everything about
>>> his childhood and World War II, with crystal clarity.
>>
>> that must be heartbreaking as well as annoying. is he aware of his
>> deficit?
>
> Unfortunately, yes. He's just waiting for the end. At 92, he's
> outlived most of the people he has known.

my dad has also reached the 'outlived' stage. his thinking is a little
slowed (like mine, sometimes), but nothing full-blown.

your pal,
blake

Dan Abel wrote:
> In article >,
> flitterbit > wrote:
>
>> Nancy Young wrote:
>
>>> That was in Michigan. Poor guy. That was a sad story.
>
>> Sad indeed, especially since it seems there was no one in this poor
>> man's life to watch out for him or take charge of his affairs.
>>
>> While I understand utility companies' need to be paid, it strikes me as
>> irresponsible that the power company didn't educate this guy about the
>> device they were installing. Whether or not they'll be deemed negligent
>> remains to be seen.
>
> It can be very hard. Often older people don't *want* someone to watch
> out for them, or worse yet, take charge of their lives. But sometimes
> it's necessary. My father has lost his short term memory. It's
> completely gone. Even a five minute conversation, in person or on the
> phone, is difficult. In five minutes, he will ask exactly the same
> questions three times. I give exactly the same answers. I know that
> two minutes later, he remembers nothing of it. If he was in the
> situation of the man above, the employee could have explained the
> situation to him, and he could have been called every week. Two minutes
> later, no memory. It isn't always easy to understand. My father is
> still very smart. He understands everything he is told, as long as it
> doesn't take more than about a minute. He remembers everything about
> his childhood and World War II, with crystal clarity.
>
>
Alas, this is all too true; I'd hope, though, in such cases that the
utility rep would make an effort to find someone who could act, but I
know this isn't always possible.

I'm sorry about your dad; it's got to be hard for all of you, because
chances are he has some awareness of what he's missing and is probably
frustrated as a result.

flitterbit wrote:

> Sad indeed, especially since it seems there was no one in this poor
> man's life to watch out for him or take charge of his affairs.
>
> While I understand utility companies' need to be paid, it strikes me as
> irresponsible that the power company didn't educate this guy about the
> device they were installing. Whether or not they'll be deemed negligent
> remains to be seen.

How do we know they didn't educated him about it?
It really is a very sad story.
I wonder how the neighbors are feeling now- perhaps kicking themselves
for not keeping a closer eye on an elderly neighbor? <sigh>

Goomba wrote:
> flitterbit wrote:
> > Sad indeed, especially since it seems there was no one in this poor
> > man's life to watch out for him or take charge of his affairs.
>
> > While I understand utility companies' need to be paid, it strikes me as
> > irresponsible that the power company didn't educate this guy about the
> > device they were installing. �Whether or not they'll be deemed negligent
> > remains to be seen.
>
> How do we know they didn't educated him about it?

A WW II Vet has to be like at least 90 years old.... often it's not
possible to "educated' folks that age, especially regarding new
fangled technological devices. A man that age knows how to get milk
out of a cow with his eyes closed but don't ask him to explain a flush
terlit.