When pancreatic cancer disrupted Kathy\u2019s life, she was caring for her elderly mother, her partner with severe health issues, and three grandchildren. But what happens when the caregiver needs care? Thanks to a Blue KC nurse case manager, that question wasn\u2019t unanswered for long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The case manager flagged Kathy as someone who would benefit from the advocacy and assistance of our Community Health Worker (CHW) program<\/a>. Miranda Coffey, supervisor of Community Health at Blue KC and a CHW herself, reached out and slowed a trajectory that was going nowhere good fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kathy was already in a difficult position with her health and the care of her family. When she ran out of paid time off from her job at a local school, that meant she lost pay on chemotherapy and recovery days. And the dominos kept falling. Soon she couldn\u2019t pay rent. Then her landlord threatened to evict her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Panicked about her living situation, finances, and possibly not being able to continue treatment, Kathy was relieved to have Miranda\u2019s assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Miranda\u2019s plan started with talking to the landlord, who agreed to a rent extension. She then contacted Metro Lutheran Ministries, a local agency, which provided $2,400 in rental assistance. This was enough for Kathy to pay lapsed rent and renew her lease. Importantly, it meant that she could continue her treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am not sure I would have made it through without your assistance,\u201d Kathy told Miranda. \u201cYou kept my entire family from having to go to an emergency shelter, and I would have stopped my chemo treatment\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With her job\u2019s summer break and summer pay schedule starting in July, Kathy had peace of mind knowing she would have a much-needed break from work, receive a regular paycheck, focus on her health, and not have to worry about rent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There was one more thing Miranda made sure Kathy didn\u2019t have to worry about \u2013 food. Especially on chemo days when it was difficult to cook, Miranda arranged for a local community organization to deliver meals. To fill gaps in the family\u2019s food supplies, they stocked up at neighborhood food pantries that Miranda recommended with the help of Harvesters Food Locator tool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blue KC\u2019s Community Health Worker program<\/a> and our Community Support Tool<\/a> provided solutions when Kathy\u2019s world was spiraling. Both are part of our Community Health initiative that focuses on advancing health, reducing gaps in care, and supporting Kansas City\u2019s communities.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\r\n\t\t\tPanic<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Peace<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Caring takes a community<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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