KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Despite icy and snowy conditions remaining around the metro, caregivers have fought through the elements this week to help out senior citizens in need.
On Tuesday, Beverly Green loaded up her car and headed up to Platte City from the Right At Home offices in KCMO.
This week, she said conditions outside have made things a bit more difficult.
“I was out in the blizzard and I’ll go out in the blizzard to make sure that they have everything that’s needed,” she said. “Our caregivers use endurance to get to people in need.”
Green was joined by 41 Action News as she drove on several snow-covered roads and navigated around icy patches.
Once she arrived at her client’s home, she had to work around a very icy driveway.
The experience for Green has been common for caregivers around the metro, who can’t let the weather get in the way of their duties.
“Us just trying to get into the home can be a challenge. There’s not snow everywhere but there’s ice everywhere,” said Ashley Hamf, the manager of Right At Home. “A lot of people’s houses don’t face where the sun is going to melt their driveways.”
For Hamf, winter weather means plenty of coordinating via phone and computer with the team of caregivers.
“Storms always bring an interesting element. We may have to have someone come in early, go in late or maybe stay late,” she said. “[The senior citizens] are not getting out of bed or getting their meals if we don’t show up.”
On Tuesday, Beverly Green helped an older client clear her stairs of snow and ice.
While the metro will likely deal with plenty of more snow and ice in the months ahead, Green told 41 Action News that she would be ready.
“It’s not about the caregiver and the issue they have getting to work,” she said. “It’s about that client who needs what they need.”
