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A Coronavirus Phone Line is available for families to call at 716.817.7445. An afterhours Coronavirus hotline is available for families and people enrolled in our Day Habilitation Programs and Vocational Services to share questions at 716.529.6505. Concerns may also be emailed to COVIDconcern@people-inc.org.

People Inc. also maintains an Emergency Closing Line for program participants, families and staff containing updated information about weather-related program closures. Call 716.817.5700 (Western New York) or 585.441.9393 (Greater Rochester Region) to find out if your program or location is closed.

Updates on Programs, Services and Protocols Due to COVID-19 & Influenza

While many of our People Inc. services remained in full operation throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to date, others were suspended or significantly altered. Adjustment, as needed, will be made across the Western New York and Finger Lakes regions, based on geographic case prevalence. The People Inc. Emergency Preparedness Team is proactively engaged in monitoring any potential changes in our service areas and will adjust agency policies accordingly. 

Our primary goal is to maintain a safe and healthy environment for both the people we support and our employees. To be as transparent as possible, and allow for families and others to best plan, we will continue sharing updates to programs, services and protocols. We appreciate your support, as we continue to work together through this extremely challenging time.

  • As of September 14, 2022, the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) released a new guidance document amending the requirements for mask use, making them not mandatory under normal operating conditions. It however, include several instances when masks are mandated. Also, please note this is for all certified OPWDD programs only and does not extend to other New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) healthcare facilities, such as MD Offices, hospitals, etc. 
  • As of July 8, 2022, OPWDD is now allowing people receiving services that live in an IRA, who are fully vaccinated (& fully boosted if eligible) OR anyone who has had COVID-19 within the previous 90-days to follow the CDC Guidance and are not required to quarantine if exposed to someone in the home. For those not required to quarantine, wear a well-fitted mask around others for 10-days in all settings and locations. However, people moderately or severely immunocompromised (weakened immune system) are required to isolate at least 10-days regardless of vaccination status. For people residing in an ICF, the entire home still is required to isolate when there is a positive COVID-19 case.
  • As of January 26, 2022, OPWDD announced that emergency regulations, 14 NYCRR § 633.26, continue to require all staff and visitors in certified facilities to wear masks at all times, even in light of the recent Nassau County Supreme Court decision and the resulting stay which was granted related to indoor mask mandates. These regulations further provide that people who receive services must wear masks when visiting public facilities unless the person cannot tolerate wearing a mask due to a disability.
  • As of January 14, 2022, and as a result of the Federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) vaccination rule, regarding Intermediate Care Facilities (ICF) Only—ALL People Inc. Employees with regular and consistent contact (e.g., DSPs and Facilities Technicians etc.) are required to be vaccinated, with a final dose received by February 26. Employees without consistent contact are NOT required to be vaccinated. All Non-People Inc. Employees (e.g., Contractors, DQI Auditors, Telehealth, VNA etc.) are required to be vaccinated.
    • Please Note: Families are not required to be vaccinated to visit their loved ones.
  • As of January 6, 2022, Visitations to People Inc. certified residential facilities are required to be scheduled with at least 24-hours' notice to allow for adequate planning and prescreening. To avoid multiple families visiting at one time, to permit multiple families to visit on any given day, and to allow adequate cleaning of high-touch surfaces, visits will be staggered and will include a start time and end time. No more than 2 adult visitors, per family (from the same household), will be permitted in the home at a time. For visitors under the age of 18, management approval is required.
  • As of January 4, 2022, OPWDD issued new interim visitation guidance for certified residential facilities that put back in place COVID-19 screening and temperature checks for families and non-People Inc. employees (e.g., contractors, OPWDD DQI auditors, care managers, etc.) Temperature checks will be conducted upon arrival.
  • October 5, 2021: A vaccine mandate was announced by New York State Governor Kathy Hochul. This new requirement, established within New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) and Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) agency regulations, does not apply to our People Inc. operations. This mandate will apply to all people working at the psychiatric hospitals in the OMH network, as well as those working at ArchCare, the specialty hospital certified by OPWDD. Families, please note that this does NOT apply to People Inc. staff and there is no change affecting our services at this time. People Inc. continues to monitor this closely and will provide updates, as they become available.
  • August 19, 2021: People Inc. adjusted our masking protocols, based on revised OPWDD guidance, throughout the agency effective immediately, as follows:
    • ALL People Inc. employees, vendors and visitors are required to wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status
    • During transportation, masks are still required for OPWDD programs, regardless of vaccination status. 
  • February 15, 2021: Many of the People Inc. Day, CAPP, YALT and Respite programs began reopening, but not all. See chart in next section.

Thank you for your continued observation of the protocols that best keep the people we support and our staff as safe as possible.

We will continue to post updates to this information online, and as always, families are welcome to call group homes or programs for specific questions or participate on our family conference calls.

The chart in the next section will continue to be updated to reflect status changes of a program or service.

Update Details for Programs & Services (Chart)

Updated 9.15.2022

PROGRAM

TYPE

DETAILS

Residential Group Homes

Visitation at  Group Homes

ALL People Inc. employees, vendors and visitors are not required to wear a mask inside the group home under normal operating conditions. (Subject to change if the site needs to go into isolation for COVID-19 and/or Influenza protocols.)

As of July 8, 2022, based on guidance from OPWDD: Visitations are preferred to be scheduled with at least 24-hours' notice.

As of July 8, 2022, OPWDD is now allowing people receiving services that live in an IRA, who are fully vaccinated (& fully boosted if eligible) OR anyone who has had COVID-19 within the previous 90-days to follow the CDC Guidance and are not required to quarantine if exposed to someone in the home. For those not required to quarantine, wear a well-fitted mask around others for 10-days in all settings and locations. However, people moderately or severely immunocompromised (weakened immune system) are required to isolate at least 10-days regardless of vaccination status. For people residing in an ICF, the entire home still is required to isolate when there is a positive COVID-19 case.

Medical Appointments

Family/Guardian may attend medical appointments and procedures as necessary. However, attendance is also based on the specific health care facilities' COVID-19 guidance and policies. Most health care facilities and providers are still requiring the use of face masks, regardless of vaccination status and still have some capacity limitations in place. (Subject to change if the site needs to go into isolation.)

Person Served Return to Group Home

As of July 8, 2021, there are no restrictions for return to the group home. (Subject to change if the site needs to go into isolation.)

Community Activities

As of July 8, 2021, there are no restrictions on community activities. Establishments may still require the use of face masks, regardless of vaccination status and have some capacity limitations in place.(Subject to change if the site needs to go into isolation.)

Senior Living

Common Areas

Tenants and visitors who are unvaccinated are required to wear a mask in the common areas.

Affordable Apartments (Mixed Income/Tax Credit Apartments)

Common Areas

Tenants and visitors who are unvaccinated are required to wear a mask in the common areas.

Day Habilitation, Community PreVoc, CAPP, DHWW, YALT

General Operations

Operations primarily open to persons who live at home with their families or reside in other agencies' residential programs due to continued restrictions on capacity in buildings (social distancing). 

There is no longer a requirement for 50% capacity on vans and buses.

The Lancaster Day Hab Program is closed and will not reopen.
There are no longer site-based prevocational services.
Information is provided on the Day and Employment Chart.

Employment Services

General Operations

Community-based employment supports have continued, following employer/placement’s status.
Limited Contract Manufacturing is operational at 181 Lincoln location. 
Janitorial/Carpet Cleaning operations have continued to serve customers throughout the pandemic. 
Transition services have resumed with school districts.

Free-standing Respite

General Operations

Traditional respite services at the Downing Respite Center are operational. Traditional respite services at the Northtowns Respite Center are not operational at this time.

Site-Based Respite

General Operations

The following changes were made as of 2.9.2021, or after, for our respite sites: 

Open:

  • 1860 Buffalo Road Afternoon Respite (Rochester)
  • After the Belle Afternoon Respite (Buffalo) 
  • After Work Respite (Depew/Lancaster)
  • Buffalo Afternoon Respite (Buffalo)
  • Del-Ton Weekend Opportunities (Tonawanda) 
  • Iris Afternoon Respite (Hamburg) 
  • Ken-Ton Afternoon Respite (Kenmore-Tonawanda) 
  • Late Afternoon Respite (Buffalo) 
  • Lockport Recreation Respite (Lockport in community programming)
  • Northtowns Afternoon Respite (Lockport) 
  • OMG (formerly known as On Main and Grove) Afternoon Respite (East Aurora) 
  • Orchard Park Weekend Opportunities (Orchard Park) 
  • Recreation Respite (Depew/Lancaster)
  • Southtowns Afternoon Respite (Hamburg) 
  • TLC K-5 Afternoon Respite (Amherst) 
  • TLC (formerly known as Themed Learning Club) (Amherst)

Not opening at this time:

  • Mt. Hope Afternoon Respite (formerly known as Rochester After School Respite)

In-Home
Behavioral

General Operations

Continued uninterrupted operations, with precautions in place.

Community Habilitation/ 
In-Home Respite

General Operations

Continued uninterrupted operations, with precautions in place.

Recreation Respite

General Operations

Program reopened.

Rehabilitative Health Services

General Operations

Continued operations, open for in-person and virtual visits.

Home Health Care

General Operations

Continued uninterrupted operations, with precautions in place.

Headway of WNY

General Operations

Continued uninterrupted operations, with precautions in place. Virtual support groups held the first and third Tuesday each month.

Deaf Access Services

General Operations

Continued uninterrupted operations, with precautions in place.

Lothlorien Therapeutic Riding Center

General Operations

General operations resumed, with precautions in place.

Long-Term Care Ombudsman Services

General Operations

In-person and virtual advocacy in line with November 2021 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid guidance.

Senior Companion Program

General Operations

Operating at clients’ homes and doing telephone wellness calls.

Family Alert: Updated Important Message to Families of Loved Ones Supported Through our Residential Program Updated 5.24.2021

Apr 01, 2021


As the Western New York and Finger Lakes regions continue to address the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, People Inc. is committed to keeping your loved one safe, as well as people living and working within our group homes. As a result of our commitment to everyone’s safety, the following guidelines and requirements have been established. Please know that we are continuously reevaluating the ever-changing recommendations by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). For further information, contact the supervisor of the group home where your loved one resides or submit questions to COVIDconcern@people-inc.org or 716.817.7445.

As of May 17, 2021, we are still under Mask Protocols! Although there have been some recent announcements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and New York State, People Inc. is still restricted and observing the same Mask Protocols. The majority of our staff and program sites fall under the OPWDD regulations, so our Mask Protocols are still in place – There is NO change as of this time. We are closely monitoring this and will promptly announce any changes in policy. Thank you for your continued observation of the protocols that best keep the people we support and our staff as safe as possible.

Effective Thursday, May 20, 2021, the following policies were updated:

  • Visitor Policy (families coming to the group home to visit) 
  • Community Activities Policy (e.g., haircuts, shopping, and walks outside, etc.)
  • Home Visit Policy (families taking their loved one home to the family home) 

Please continue to read for important information for families. The chart of all programs and services has also been updated and is available here.

Visitor Policy: visits are now permitted with prior notification.

  • Family visitations inside or outside of the residence on the property are now permitted and are required to be scheduled with at least 24-hours’ notice to allow for adequate planning.  
  • Family member should call the residence upon arrival, to let staff know they are there and ready to visit with their loved one.
  • Family members will use hand sanitizer upon arrival and follow meticulous hand hygiene throughout the visit.
  • Staff will complete COVID-19 symptom screening questions and take the family member’s temperature upon arrival.
    Please note: as of April 1, 2021 visitation will be denied if a family member has traveled internationally (including Canada) within the past 7-days and tested positive for COVID-19 or within the past 10-days and are quarantined.
  • Staff will also review the visitor policy requirements with the family member.
  • If, at any time, the residence has a person under investigation for COVID-19, and/or person or staff test positive, this policy will be suspended for that specific home until the positive case(s) are resolved and past the required quarantine period of 14-days. If, at any time, the residence is identified as being a micro-cluster/cluster zone all visitation will be suspended.

Community Activities Policy: Some community activities are resuming on a limited basis (hair appointments, walks outside, visiting a convenience store, etc.), however, please note that these activities are only with a staff member from the residence and some may require approval from management. The agency must ensure that in order to prevent further community spread, or increased risk of infection, the following conditions are met:

  • People receiving services shall not participate in community activities, if any person or staff member working in the home is suspected or confirmed positive for COVID-19;
  • Any person who had close or proximate contact to a confirmed positive person receiving services within the last 14-days, or any person experiencing symptom(s) consistent with COVID-19, such as fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or trouble breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting and diarrhea may not participate in community activities.

Home Visit Policy:

As a result of positive COVID-19 rate increases in New York State, families are discouraged from taking their loved one home for home visits, if the household has a high-risk of exposure and/or will be hosting visitors from outside the immediate household.

If your loved one has come to your home for a visit, there are a revised set of required questions which will be completed with the family by management of the home, prior to the person returning. The responses will be reviewed by the COVID-19 Emergency Management Task Force member prior to your loved one returning. There may be times, such as for an extended stay lasting more than 72 hours, where the management team will determine if COVID-19 testing of your loved one is required. Our Nursing staff will work with you to assist in scheduling testing and getting the results of the test should that determination be made.
Update: as of April 1, 2021, if the person is fully-vaccinated and 14-days past the 2nd dose/shot for Moderna or Pfizer OR 14-days past the 1st dose/shot for the Johnson & Johnson AND within 90-days, COVID-19 testing is not required for extended stays.
A home or family visit will not be possible if any member of the household has traveled internationally (including Canada) with the past 7-days and tested positive for COVID-19 or within the past 10-days and are quarantined.

Resources:

We will continue to post updates to this information, and as always, families are welcome to contact us with questions:

  • The Coronavirus Phone Line established for families to call is 716.817.7445. The voicemail is checked and responded to directly. 
  • An email address to address concerns from families is COVIDconcern@people-inc.org.
  • An afterhours Coronavirus hotline is now available for the people and families of people enrolled in our Day Habilitation Programs and Vocational Services to express questions and concerns. The number is 716.529.6505.