As the winter chill clenches Nashville in its frosty grip, Metro Social Services has kicked into high gear to protect the city's most vulnerable – its seniors and the disabled. With the season's most severe weather on the horizon, MSS has rolled out its Severe Weather Response program to ensure these individuals aren't left in the cold, according to a statement on Nashville City's website.
In the spirit of preemptive care, home ambassadors have been busy delivering emergency meals on top of their regular meal service. A key part of the plan, these additional rations will serve as a lifeline should the storm render their clients unable to access food. The department currently maintains that their daily meal deliveries will continue undeterred, despite the worsening forecast. Not only are they supplying food, but during their visits, these ambassadors double as a check-in force, ensuring each home's appliances are functioning and that their clients are storm-ready.
The cold snap has also prompted Social Services to amp up their Senior Welfare Check program to Level 2. This involves an increase in the frequency of calls made to clients who may not have family or friends able to perform this vital service. The calls now include crucial, weather-related queries to assess the well-being of recipients in these extreme conditions.
"We know that many of our clients live alone and do not have family members nearby to check on them," MSS stated, emphasizing the need for these thorough checks. Under Level 2, they check if heaters are working, if driveways need clearing of snow or ice, and if there is enough prescription medication in case the weather affects travel, as per Nashville City's website.
