Orkney’s home carers went to amazing efforts over the weekend to ensure visits to some of our most vulnerable folk continued.
Relief home carer, Kayleigh Swannie, set off from her home in Stromness before 7am on Saturday to attend to her service users – however she encountered some deep drifting snow near Voy in Sandwick and her vehicle became stuck.
She called on her partner, Kevin Johnston, to come to the rescue with his tractor but first he had to clear the 4ft drifts that had built up around his property at Swartland Road, Dounby. An hour or so later, Kevin managed to reach Kayleigh and towed her vehicle back to his home.
They didn’t give up, however. After checking in with the Homecare Service, Kayleigh was redirected to carry out nine visits in the Dounby area which was badly affected by the wintry conditions – only made possible thanks to Kevin and the tractor!
Kevin spent the rest of Saturday helping dig out others who had become stuck and clearing roads while ensuring Kayleigh was able to carry out all her visits safely.
Kayleigh, 22, has been a relief home carer since 2017 but is also studying accountancy at college.
“Everyone was very grateful to see us from the service users, some of whom are very vulnerable folk, to the ones who were stuck in the snow drifts that we were able to dig out.
“I’ve never experienced anything like this before – the snow was blowing back in as fast as we were clearing it and easily 4-5 ft high in places. I can hardly believe it still but thanks to Kevin and the tractor we were able to get around safely.
“Although Saturday was the worst, it has been tricky for about a week. I left my car on many occasions at the bottom of roads and walked through the snow to get to folk’s houses. Anyone would do the same – we are in the home care profession to help others, especially given some of the folk we visit are among Orkney’s most vulnerable. It was important to do all we could to ensure the visits could go ahead if at all possible.”
Kayleigh was enjoying a well-earned break from work on Sunday and how did she spend it…alongside Kevin in the tractor helping OIC Roads and others in the massive community-spirited clearing of the roads out west!
