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June 18, 2020 Phased Reopening Update
While many of our People Inc. services remained in full operation throughout the COVID pandemic to date, others were suspended or significantly altered. A planned and gradual reopening of our programs is anticipated, based on a variety of factors to support our primary goal – maintaining a safe and healthy environment for the people we support and our employees. To be as transparent as possible, and allow for families and others to best plan, we are sharing the below information.
Our reopening is reflected in lettered
“phases” – Phase A, B, etc. – which may not, and are not meant to, correspond
directly with the externally-issued government “phases." Progression, pause or
reversal of our phases will be determined by our Emergency Management Team
based on continual monitoring and regulatory guidance. Updates may be made
rapidly as a result. Some phases may be brief in duration, but are important to
pace through in order to ensure the people we also deeply care about are as
safe as possible. We appreciate your support as we work together through this extremely challenging time.
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 also posted on our website (next one on June 30). A special Coronavirus Phone Line has been established for families to call, 716.817.7445, and is checked every hour 24/7 and responded to directly. A special email address has been established as well, so that concerns can be addressed at COVIDconcern@people-inc.org.
PHASE A – Effective June 15, 2020
|
Program |
Type |
Details |
|
Residential Group Homes |
Visitation at Group Homes |
Prescheduled outdoor visits at group homes* between the hours of 9 a.m-9 p.m. with limit of 2 family visitors that have been pre-screened, and observe other safety precautions provided in advance. Details are included in the family letter. *No visits will be scheduled at a location if a quarantine is in place. |
|
Medical Appointments |
Family/Guardian can attend emergency medical appointments and
procedures in accordance with any precautions established by medical provider |
|
|
Person Served Return to Group Home |
Phased approach for return to group home begins with testing.
Additional safeguards outlined in operational policy which will be reviewed
in detail with family/individual as part of the process. |
|
|
Community Outings |
Resume community walks, going to parks, drive-thru meals and
community for haircuts. |
|
|
Senior Living |
Common Areas |
Services continue, Community rooms and communal patios presently
closed |
|
Tax Credit Apartments |
Common Areas |
Services continue, Community rooms and communal patios presently
closed |
|
Day Habilitation/ Community PreVoc |
General operations |
Day program buildings* are presently closed. Supports being provided
remotely. (*exception, some space at 181 Lincoln) |
|
Employment services |
General operations |
Community-based employment supports have continued, following
employer/placement’s status. Limited Contract Manufacturing operational at
181 Lincoln location. |
|
Free-standing Respite |
General Operations |
Traditional respite services presently closed. Sites redirected as a
regional resource to care for people with disbilitilies who are positive and are
recovering. |
|
Site-Based Respite |
General Operations |
Presently closed. |
|
In-Home Behavioral |
General Operations |
Continued uninterrupted operations, with precautions in place. |
|
Community Habilitation |
General Operations |
Continued uninterrupted operations, with precautions in place. |
|
Elmwood Health Center |
General Operations |
Continued operations, open for in-person and virtual visits |
|
Home Health Care |
General Operations |
Continued uninterrupted operations, with precautions in place. |
|
Ombudsman services |
General Operations |
Remote support, in line with operator’s visitor policies |
