At the age of 47, Becky's like took an isolating turn. “I became irritable,” said the self-employed office cleaner from Independence. “I cried all the time. I was just a basket case.” In addition to mood swings, Becky suffered severe hot flashes and night sweats. “I hadn’t been to a doctor in 16 years because I had no insurance and couldn’t afford it,” she said.

“But the way I felt scared me. I didn’t know what was happening.” Fortunately, the staff at Cabot Westside Medical and Dental Center did.
Blood work and other tests revealed Becky was not only entering menopause, her blood pressure was soaring. But thanks to affordable medication and regular checkups, she’s back in control again.

Safety Net

Becky is just one of 7,900 patients—90 percent of whom are Hispanic—who regularly seek treatment at Cabot. Located at Summit Street and West Pennway, the clinic has been treating the Greater Kansas City area’s underserved population since 1906. 

Cabot's bilingual staff provides comprehensive primary care and dental services for people with little or no insurance, who pay on a sliding scale according to income.

“I thank God there’s Cabot for people like me because it's helped me immensely,” Becky said. “And if there’s ever a time I can afford insurance, I’d still like to stay with Cabot. The staff treats me like an individual; I’m never just a number to them.”